Biography:Sklavenkasse
The term Sklavenkasse (slave fund) was used to describe an insurance scheme designated to pay ransom for European seafarers (mainly in the Mediterranean), who had been captured by Barbary Pirates and were sold into the Barbary slave trade. Several Northern German cities set up their own slave funds which impart existed until the mid 19th century. The earliest slave funds were created in the 17th century by members of the Hanseatic League. Later, in the middle of the 18th century, seafarers and shipowners in neighbouring Denmark had to make compulsory contributions to a kind of ransom insurance. The individual premiums were based on the seamen's rank and income.
Hamburg Slave Fund
The Hamburg slave fund was created in 1624 by the Hamburg Admiralty, Hamburg's former harbour authority. The scheme was financed by all seamen embarking in Hamburg who, depending on their rank, had to pay a certain amount of their wages into the scheme. The assets of the Hamburg slave fund were supplemented by regular collections in the city's churches[1] and also depended on private donations.
The idea for the Hamburg slave fund was based on an insurance scheme of the same kind [2] set up in Hamburg two years prior, but only for naval officers. Since the premiums were unaffordable for lower rank crewmen, the general slave fund soon followed with premiums relative to rank and income, which constituted an early form of social insurance.
Between 1719 and 1747 alone, the fund paid 1.8 million "Mark Banco" for the release of a total of 633 seamen[3], with one Mark Banco being defined as 0.305oz (8.66g) of silver[4]. This resulted in an average price per enslaved Hamburg seaman of 867.3oz (24.63kg) silver.
Lübeck Slave Fund
The Lübeck slave fund was established by the city council in 1627. It began operations on May 8th 1629 and existed until the mid 19th century. With the decline of Lübeck's direct shipping connections to the Mediterranean sea, the city's slave fund was highly liquid from the 18th century onwards.[5]
The last ransom payment was made in 1805, while its remaining assets afterwards were used to pay the Sound Dues (1857) and to fund the city's customs authority. Lübeck's slave fund was finally dissolved on July 24th 1861 when the city became part of the German Customs Union.
References
- ↑ Hauke Friederichs: Sklavenhandel: Auf Menschenjagd im Mittelmeer Die Zeit, May 16th 2012
- ↑ Casse der Stücke von Achten: Geschichte der Stiftung „Casse der Stücke von Achten“ und des Hauses Seefahreraltenheim „Fallen Anker“
- ↑ Geert Schmelzer: Pesos für die Slavenjäger. In: marereise. Sonderheft HAMBURG 2012, page 106ff
- ↑ Detlef Wienecke-Janz (Hrsg.), Die große Chronik-Weltgeschichte: Europas Sprung in die Neuzeit, Band 10, 2008, page 292
- ↑ Rezension Graßmann : PDF (p.455)
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