Belia of Winchester

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Belia of Winchester (d. after 1273) was an English-Jewish businesswoman and moneylender.[1][2]

Belia was married to Deulebene (d. 1235) and became active in business as a widow.[3] Her mother-in-law Chera of Winchester (d. 1244) was also a prominent moneylender with business in Kent, Nottingham and Devon, and sometimes her business partner.[4] Belia became an important member of the Winchester community.

In 1241 Belia became the only woman in

medieval England elected to be responsible for the Winchester hostage, her brother-in-law Elias, who was answerable for collecting the community's tallage.[5] She moved to Bedford after her second marriage to Pictavin of Bedford and established her business there.[6][7]

She is one of the more documented of many prominent women moneylenders in medieval England, alongside Licoricia of Winchester, Avigay of London; Belassez of Oxford; Comitissa of Cambridge; Floria, widow of Bonevie of Newbury; Floria, widow of Master Elias; Henne, widow of Aaron of York; Henne, widow of Jacob of Oxford; Milka of Canterbury and her daughter, Mirabel of Gloucester.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ Tallan, Cheryl and Emily Taitz. "Entrepreneurs." Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia. 27 February 2009. Jewish Women's Archive. (Viewed on March 16, 2021)
  2. ISBN 978-1-137-30815-3
    , retrieved 20 January 2024
  3. ISBN 978-0-8276-0752-1
    .
  4. ISBN 978-1-4456-7186-4
    .
  5. ^ Jewish Culture and History. Frank Cass in conjunction with the Parkes Centre, University of Southampton. 2000.
  6. S2CID 232252121
    .
  7. ISBN 978-1-137-30815-3
    .
  8. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8
    , retrieved 20 January 2024
  9. JSTOR 29780068
    .
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