Medieval migration Jews

Why did Jews come to England

William invited the Jews to settle in England. Jews were useful to the monarch as they could read/write/do accounts -which was rare. Kings and Bishops wanted to borrow money to build castles/cathedrals, so Jews were pressed to become moneylonders. For Christians it was a sin to lend money and gain interest/

How were Jews encouraged to moneylend

laws were introduced that banned them from many other occupations, some Jews became rich

the charter of liberties

this allowed Jews to trade and mix freely, King Henry I gave them this, which allowed Jews the monarch’s protection - giving them access to castles if they were in danger. however the Jews were taxed for this, so had to raise their own prices in return

Tension between Jews and Christians

Due to Jews’ high rates of interest, many Christians felt they were on the hated Normans side, causing a divide between them

Non believers

Jews and Muslims were labelled this, as they were seen as ‘other’ - as they were the only non Christians in England. in 1095 the cursades - Christians soldiers fought against Jerusalem’s inhabitants.

Blood Libel 1144 Norwich

boy William found dead in a Cathedral Jews had helped build/ worked in.

The town turned on the Jews and blamed them.

Monk Thomas of Monmouth’s book hating/attacking Jews, claimed knowledge that Jews planned to ritually murder a Christian child every Good Friday to commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion.

Demanded William a saint as ‘miracles’ happened

Why did the population beleive the Blood libel

• Monmouth = self promoting

• Church encouraged this through propaganda, made William a saint

• The blood libel rumour spread across Europe

• Jews were accused of killing children and many Jews were murdered.

King Richard’s coronation 1189

• Christian teachings of Jews involvement in Jesus’ death spread through Europe -Anti-Semitism

• Jews went to offer gifts, had lived happily under previous king. The leaders were stripped/beaten/chased/killed.

• DAY 2 mobs ran through Jewish quarter, 30 Jews and Christian servants were murdered.

• by end of 12thC hatred of Jews was encouraged by Kings/priests/bishops - because they didn’t want to pay back the borrowed money and interest

The crusades

1187 Muslim armies had retaken Jerusalem from crusaders, Richard was leading an army. Jews were beginning to be seen as the enemy, by knights who borrowed from them to travel and fight. Religious hysteria, Crusading violence, and Debt. Fears were spreading of the end of the world, stories about Last Judgement

The York Massacre - March 1190

Barons didn’t want to pay back debts to Jews, propaganda, stirred hatred against them in the civilians. Killing spread. Jews and families fled to castle, for freedom. surrounded by mob holding swords and torches, calling them to come out and convert to Christianity or be burnt alive. Surrenders were murdered. The rest cut each others' throats and committed mass suicide.

Anti-Semitism in 1210-1240s

King John seized Jewish property, killing or torturing those who resisted

Jews were made to wear a distinctive yellow cloth

Jews were expelled from many towns and not allowed to own anything apart from their houses

Anti-semitism 1255 - 1264

- new blood libel - boy found at bottom of well -Jews accused of planning ritual murder- Henry III arrested 90 Jews/hanged those who protested, taking their property.

400 Jews were murdered on Palm sunday

1,000 Jews were beaten to death in London

1275 - Statute of Jewry

Edward I made a law that Jews weren’t allowed to collect interest, many became so poor that they were forced to ‘clip’ the edges of coins and melts down the metal to sell

1290

All Jews were expelled from England

why were Jews expelled?

• Being money lenders- Christians hated them for taking their money and giving it to the

• Came with William as civil servants, with his protection

• Jews -Coronation -wanted same rights from previous monarchs-mob thought they were a threat

• Christian hostility against Jews- were told that Jews killed God/ Jesus, sermons about evil Jews.

• eventual persecution

• Crusaders wanted clear debts before fighting, wanted to kill them, rid their debts

What was the significance of the 'Blood Libel'?

• It increased growing dislike of Jews and divide between Jews/Christians

• The Church used this to their own benefit against Jews, didn’t want to pay back their debt/interest.

• The Church used the 'blood libel' as propaganda against Jews -this spread across Europe, increased accusations and persecution of Jews

 

The church was to blame for anti-semitsm

• they were the ones who encouraged persecution against Jews, and taught Christians about Jews' sins,

• Put the Jews themselves in the money lending occupation, as they forbade Christians from doing it.

• They turned the public against Jews for their own selfish gain of not being in debt or owing money to Jews, and increased divide between Christians and Jews.