Jewish History

Reign of Henry I

Jan 1, 1100

King Henry granted charters to Jews which allowed for freer settlement. In King Henry's eyes, this was a way to increase revenues. For the Jews, this was a chance for a better life ("File: King")(Birnbaum).

Jews in England

Period: Jan 1, 1100 to Jan 1, 1300

Possibly Happy?

Jan 1, 1117

... but let's be honest: probably not ("Funny").

Reign of Stephen

Jan 1, 1135

During his reign, Stephen often freed Christians from the debts they owened to Jews, as long as some of the debt owed was given to the king. The Jews were also heavily taxed at this time. Despite this, however, Stephen was still kind enough to protect the Jews from the violence of the Second Crusade ("File: Stephen")(Birnbaum).

Civil War Between Matilda and Stephen

Mar 26, 1141

When Civil War broke out between Matilda, the daughter of Henry I, and her cousin Stephen, Jews suffered greatly. The Jewish people living in Oxford, for example, had to pay a large ransom to both sides to keep their houses from being burned ("Sword")(Birnbaum).

First Medieval Ritual Murder Libel

Jan 1, 1144

A 12 year old boy, William, was found dead the night before Easter. Jews were accused of killing William in a mock crucifixion. When the Jews were summoned to a Church court, they refused out of fear of torture. They used the excuse that only the king had jurisdiction over them. Although William became regarded as a martyred saint, there was no immediate backlash agaisnt the Jews.

Return to Germany

Mar 26, 1168

When Frederick Barbarossa complained to King Henry that several Jews had left Germany for England, Henry forced many of the richer Jews to return to Germany.The Jews who did not have to return were forced to pay a fine of 5,000 marks ("Flag")(Birnbaum).

Saladin Tax

Jan 1, 1186

The Saladin Tax was issued to support the Third Crusade. Jews were taxed 25% of their income and personal property worth, while non-crusading Christians were taxed 10% of only their property ("Amazon")(Birnbaum).

Jewish Massacre

Sep 3, 1189

During Richard's coronation, he was encouraged to ban Jews, and refuse gifts offered from them. The people of England took this to mean the Richard supported the persecution of Jews. This led to riots and organized massacres in several cities. In London, for example, 30 Jews were killed ("Richard")(Rogers).

Mass Jewish Suicide

Mar 16, 1190

During the feast of Shabbat ha-Gadol, the Jews of York, England, were corned in Clifford's Tower by a violent mob. The Jews had two choices: conversion or death. Most of the Jews choose to take their own lives; those who tried to escape were murdered ("SE6051")(Dickerson).

Jewish Massacre Part 2

Mar 18, 1190

On Palm Sunday in Bury St. Edmunds, 57 Jews were killed by a group of rampaging Crusaders. Shortly after, the local abbot, Samson, obtained persomission to expel all Jewish residents from St. Edmunds. Samson's abbey, coincidentally, was in debt to Jewish money lenders ("TL8564)("Chronology").

Debts to Jews

Mar 26, 1194

When King Richard returned from the Third Crusade, he took all the debts owed to slain Jews into the royal treasury. He also introduced a system where deeds between Jews and non Jews had to be kept in locked chests, called archae, in the main centers of Jewish residence ("Tansu")(Birnbaum).

Jews Imprisoned and Taxed

Nov 1, 1210

Much of the Jewish population was imprisoned by King John. In order to be freed, the Jews had to pay a tallage--a type of tax--of 66,000 marks. One Jew, Abraham of Bristol, refused to pay his share. In punishment, a tooth was pulled out of his mouth every day until he agreed to pay. By the time Abraham gave in, he had lost seven teeth ("Jail")(Birnbaum).

Fourth Lateran Council Enforced

Mar 30, 1218

On November 11, 1215. Pope Innocent III expanded upon old anti-Jewish decrees. For example, one thing that the Fourth Lateran Council decreed was that Jews had to wear a Yellow Patch to distinguish them from Christians. About two and a half years later, on this day, England began enforcing these decrees ("Talk")(Birnbaum).

Oxford Synod

Jan 1, 1222

The archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton, held a provincial church council at Oxford. This council forbade Jews from building new synagogues and own slaves. The council also outlawed the marriage of Christians and Jews. These regulations set by the council, were hardly enforced ("SP5106")(Manix).

Confinscation of Synagogues

Dec 14, 1243

King Henry III confinscated many Jewish synagogues, and converted them to be used for other purposes. One synagogue became the chapel of St. Mary, and another was turned into St. Thomas' Hospital ("St.")(Birnbaum).

Henry III Establishes More Restrictions on Jews

Jan 31, 1253

Henry III ordered Jews worshipping in Synagogues to be quiet so Christians wouldn't have to hear them. He also banned Jews from employing Christian nurses or maids, and prevented them from converting to Christianity ("File: Henry")(Birnbaum).

Ritual Murder Libel of Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln

Aug 29, 1255

When the body of Little Saint Hugh was found in a well, it was alleged that Jews starved the little boy, and murdered him during a ritual. Secular authorities and the Church combined forces, and sent 91 Jews to the Tower of London to be excuted. Richard and several friars, however, stopped the executions after 18 Jews had been killed ("TQ330")(Birnbaum).

Beginning of the Reign of Edward I

Jan 1, 1272

Unlike some of the kings before him, Edward I viewed the Jews as a monetary asset. He confiscated their property, taxed them heavily, and was determined to get rid of the Jewish practice of usury, or lending money at unreasonably high interest rates. This led to the depletion and impoverishment of several Jewish communities ("File: Edward")(Birnbaum).

Statutum de Judaisno

Jan 1, 1275

After King Edward banned the practice of usury, the Jewish bankers were replaced by the Lombards of Italy. Jews were then encouraged to work in agriculture, crafts, and other local trades. Many people, however, refused to hire Jewish workers because of local prejudice. The Jews became finacially drained, and were no longer consider an asset ("File: A")(Birnbaum).

Jews Arrested for Alleged Fraud

Nov 17, 1278

680 Jews were arrested, jailed, and tried for supposed coin clipping and counterfeiting, along with many Christians. Prior to the trials, the judges were instructed to be biased, which led to the death of 269 of the Jews. The Jews lost 16,500 pounds in fines and confinscated property. Despite this event, the Jews didn't go into hiding ("Handcuffs")(Birnbaum).

Grant with Clause Concerning Jews

Jan 1, 1288

When Roger Beriman granted one acre of his land in Little Baddow, Essex to Ralph atte Ree, he included a clause that said Ralph couldn't allow Jews to live on the land because Jews were often unwilling to swear oaths of fealty, and anti-Semitism had been escalating in England. Although this clause only concerned one acre of land, it was still one more place Jews couldn't reside ("No")(Lorenzo).

Explusion of Jews from England

Jul 18, 1290

Edward I, pressured by his barons, the Church, and even his mother, initiated the first national explusion of the Jews. By November, 4,000 Jews left their homes and fled to France. They had to pay their own way to get out, and were often robbed and cast overbooard by the captains who were transporting them ("Albanus")("Expulsion").