coleman-the-rothschild-dynasty
coleman-the-rothschild-dynasty
coleman-the-rothschild-dynasty
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The Rothschild Dynasty 17<br />
CHAPTER 4<br />
THE WALLS OFJERICO [FRANKFURT] COME TUMBLING<br />
DOWN<br />
Earlier I referred to <strong>the</strong> fact that only five hundred Jewish<br />
families were allowed to live in Frankfurt Germany. The manner<br />
in which Mayer Amschel handled <strong>the</strong> problem was to become his<br />
trademark. On <strong>the</strong> birth of Napoleon's son, Grand Duke Dalberg<br />
of Frankfurt wanted to go to Paris and pay his respects, but none<br />
of <strong>the</strong> banks would lend him <strong>the</strong> money to make <strong>the</strong> trip.<br />
Old Amschel however, saw <strong>the</strong> possibilities of putting<br />
Dalberg in his debt, and lent him eighty thousand gulden at five<br />
percent. No pressure was put on <strong>the</strong> Grand Duke to repay <strong>the</strong> loan<br />
as long as <strong>the</strong> interest was paid, but at <strong>the</strong> same time, <strong>the</strong>re was<br />
no favor asked by <strong>the</strong> Rothschilds that <strong>the</strong> Grand Duke could or<br />
did refuse.<br />
Amschel and his family were engaged in extensive<br />
smuggling operations in defiance of <strong>the</strong> French boycott of<br />
England out of which <strong>the</strong> Rothschilds made a great deal of<br />
money. Suspicion fell on Amschel, and a raid was set for May<br />
1809.<br />
Dalberg, who never missed a chance to borrow money<br />
from Amschel at lenient rates, tipped him off about <strong>the</strong> pending<br />
raid through his executive Commissioner of Police, von Eitzlein.<br />
Frantic activity placed contraband and incriminating documents<br />
with reliable friends, so that when