Merchant of Venice

Jews vs. Christians

Jan 1, 1100

William Rufus encouraged Jews to enter disputes with Christian clerics. This religious disputation took place at Westminster between the abbot and a Jew from Mainz who did business with the abbey.

Group 4

Period: Jan 1, 1100 to Jan 1, 1200

William II was Shot and Killed

Aug 2, 1100

Henry I became president and gave the Jews many new freedoms. Jewish people were now aloud to move throughout the country without paying tolls, they were promised a right to fair trials, and they had permission to retain land that was taken from them.

Jews Fined

Jan 1, 1130

Jews still faced persecution and were not fully protected by the Crown. They were fined 2,000 pounds on the charge that a Jew had killed a sick man.

Maimonides

Jan 1, 1134

He wrote the Mishneh Torah which is a code for Jewish law and traditions. This Torah was used by all Jews.

Charter of Liberties

Jan 1, 1135

Henry I granted a charter of liberties to the jews. It bound the King to certain laws regarding the treatment of nobles, church officials, and individuals. Some 19th-century historians considered it a landmark document and a forerunner of the Magna Carta.

Civil War Between Matilde and Stephen

Jan 1, 1141

Jewish people from Oxford had to pay ransom to both sides. If they didnt their houses were burned.

First Blood Libel

Mar 25, 1144

A young man disappeared during Easter week. Christians believed that the Jews had kidnapped him but the local sheriff ignored the accusation. However angry mobs forced them to flee the town. Following the event Jews were accused of taking Christian children and using thier blood to make matzah. The unleavend bread that is eaten during passover, because of this it was an excuse to raid Jewish peoples homes.

First Jewish Cemetery Established

Jan 1, 1177

Assize of Arms

Jan 1, 1181

King Henry II enacted this. It had all weapons owned by Jews be confiscated. The kings forces obtained the weapons. This gave the Jews little protection for riots that would occur in the future.

The Third Crusade was Launched

Jan 1, 1189

There was an increase in taxing on the Jews to finance the Crusade. They paid eight percent of the total income towards the royal treasury, but they makeup way less than one percent of the entire population. The Crusade also resulted in riots against the Jews. Many jewish businesses were burned.

York Massacre

Jan 1, 1189

The Jews had lived in York since 1170 and were under the rule of Kindy Henery II. During this time they lived in York castle where they felt safe among the Jewish elite. Once King Henry died however Richard I was crowned and he didn't accept the gifts given to him by Westminister Abbey. This was followed by riots in the streets and burned homes. Many Jews died before Richard I heard a day later and ordered the Jews to be protected. After King Richard left with the Crusade of 1190 a group of crus

King Henry II Died

Jul 1, 1189

He was considered to be the protector of Jewish people in England. Richard I took the thrown. Riots against the Jews worsened. Mobs threw stones at them and burned their houses. Many jews were murdered.

Mob Led By Richard Malebys

Mar 1, 1190

A mix of Crusaders, barons indebted to the Jews, those envious of Jewish wealth and clergymen conspired to kill the Jews of York. They burned several houses and approximately 150 Jews fled to the royal castle in York. Led by Richard Malebys, a noble indebted to the Jews, the mob besieged the castle. The Jews had little rations and many killed themselves.

Citadel was Captured

Mar 16, 1190

Jews left alive were murdered. The mob then stole the records of debts to Jews from a nearby cathedral and burned them.

Exchequer of the Jews

Jan 1, 1194

Richard I was angry at the loss of his chief financial source when he returned to England. He introduced a system of registering in duplicate all debts held by the Jews to safeguard all the taxes he received from them. This was a catalogue of all Jewish holdings. The Crown could then arbitrarily collect taxes on Jewish revenue.