Jakob Baunach

Jakob Baunach (* before 1597 in Helmstadt ; † August 23, 1627 in Würzburg ) was a German merchant and senior mayor of Würzburg.

Coat of arms of Jakob Baunach

Life

Jakob Baunach was born in Helmstadt in the 16th century. He came to a lot of money as a shopkeeper and later a merchant and moved to Würzburg in 1597, where he soon began a political career. In 1607 he was elected councilor . On December 7, 1613 he was elected the younger mayor and in 1624 the senior mayor. He held both offices until the following year.

As old tax lists show, Jakob Baunach was one of the richest men in Würzburg around 1625. His coat of arms shows three scallops, which were reinterpreted into three money bags after his death. His house was in a central location, directly opposite the Grafeneckart - the former town hall - and he owned several vineyards near Würzburg as well as the “Zum neue Keller” farm. In addition, he was responsible for the financial affairs of the poor house "Zur neue Zinne" and, as a cellar, for collecting taxes.

His rapid rise in Würzburg society aroused envy and distrust among the citizens of Würzburg. This was due to the same time in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Würzburg from Prince Bishop Philipp Adolf von Ehrenberg operated witch trials particularly dangerous. In 1627 he was arrested along with his second wife on suspicion of witchcraft , who was soon burned at the stake. After an unsuccessful attempt to escape together with a fellow prisoner, the guard in charge was beheaded for helping them escape. Jakob Baunach then confessed to his deeds under torture and bequeathed parts of his property to the church. On August 23, 1627 he was beheaded and his body cremated.

Family life

Two marriages have been proven for Jakob Baunach. His first wife died in 1600 and was buried in the Franciscan Church on November 13, 1600. His second wife was burned as a witch in 1627.

According to the Würzburg council minutes books, his descendants lived in Munich and Prague after the Thirty Years War.

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c Markt Helmstadt (Ed.): Markt Helmstadt. Ortschronik and Heimatbuch . Self-published, Helmstadt 2004, p. 75-77 .
↑ Ulrich Wagner: Würzburg rulers, mayors, town clerks and high school teachers 1525-1814 . In: Ulrich Wagner (Hrsg.): History of the city of Würzburg. From the Peasants' War in 1525 to the transition to Bavaria in 1814 (= history of the city of Würzburg ). tape 2 . Theiss, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-8062-1478-6 , pp. 854-862 .

personal data
SURNAME	Baunach, Jakob
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German merchant and senior mayor of Würzburg
DATE OF BIRTH	before 1597
PLACE OF BIRTH	Helmstadt
DATE OF DEATH	August 23, 1627
Place of death	Wurzburg

[Chronik-75-77-1] Markt Helmstadt (Ed.): Markt Helmstadt. Ortschronik and Heimatbuch . Self-published, Helmstadt 2004, p. 75-77 .

[2] Ulrich Wagner: Würzburg rulers, mayors, town clerks and high school teachers 1525-1814 . In: Ulrich Wagner (Hrsg.): History of the city of Würzburg. From the Peasants' War in 1525 to the transition to Bavaria in 1814 (= history of the city of Würzburg ). tape 2 . Theiss, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-8062-1478-6 , pp. 854-862 .