Jews in central and eastern Europe were the subjects of, and often, technically, the “property” of, local nobility and royalty. By virtue of this status, the rulers had an interest in protecting the rights of local Jews. These protections were spelled out in official proclamations. 

This is the original certificate issued to the Bratislav (Pressberg) Jewish community by the ruler, the Count of the Palfy family, on February 1, 1780.