Denmark, Morocco and the Jews

Unbounded Jews is the story of Denmark’s (failed) engagement and exchange with Morocco in the 18th century. The story is told through two Jewish family clans, Sumbel and Buzaglo, whose members were adventurers, cosmopolitans, merchants, and diplomats. Denmark made a trade and peace treaty with the Moroccan sultan in 1753, and played a central role in Morocco’s efforts to establish diplomatic relations and trade with other European countries. The 18th century was marked by strong competition among the European powers for colonies and trade with overseas countries. The Danish king Frederik V invested heavily in trade with Morocco – both economically and militarily. Today the adventure has been forgotten. The Danish-Moroccan episode and its dramatic human consequences add significant chapters to Jewish and Danish history. Relying on a wide range of Danish and international archives, Bent Blüdnikow traces the Sephardic Jews across much of the globe to understand their motives, actions, and significance. Bent Blüdnikow is a journalist, writer, and reviewer for a national Danish newspaper. He is a historian and a former employee of the Danish National Archives, as well as being a co-founder of the Society for Danish Jewish History. He has authored numerous books on the subject. His new book, Unbounded Jews: The Game of Denmark and Morocco in the 18th Century is published on 30 September 2024. Join our free mailing list to hear about future talks on Sephardic Jewish genealogy. Please support the work of the Sephardic Genealogical Society in producing Sephardic World talks. A small monthly donation makes a huge difference. #danishhistory #jewishhistory #sephardic