Timeline of the Jews.

Jewish Charter

Jun 28, 1201

John reissued the charter guaranteeing the liberties of the Jews of England and Normandy (originally issued by Henry I) (Birnbaum) Photo (Official Documents)

Jewish Tallage

Nov 1, 1210

King John imprisons a majority of the Jewish population, and demands they pay a tallage (tax). He wanted 66,000 marks from the Jews. (Birnbaum)
Photo (Static Flickr)

Jews and Badges

Apr 27, 1215

Jews were forced to wear a distinguishing badge, a yellow star shape, on all their clothing. The law was put into place by the Fourth Lateran Council, headed by Pope Innocent III at the time. It also prevented Jews from wearing their best clothes on Sunday and walking out in public on special occasions, such as Easter. (Mills)
Photo (Yellow Badge)

Magna Carta Signed

Jun 1, 1215

King John signs the Magna Carta, which includes provisions preventing debts owed to Jews by minor heirs from earning interest while the heir was a minor. It also declared that a widow dowry could not be used to pay her husband's debt. (Birnbaum)
Photo (Bank of England)

Rule of King Henry III

Period: Oct 18, 1216 to Nov 16, 1272

During his reign, King Henry made life a living hell for the Jews. Most of the major events took place during this time.

Jews and the Christians

Jun 12, 1222

A Provincial Synod in Oxford enacted anti-Jewish legislation, forbidding Jews from mixing with Christians. This was a just another incident in history when segregation took place. They weren't allowed to build any new synagogues either. (Jewish Gen)
Photo (Morning and Evening Prayer in Shona)

Jews Forbidden to Leave

Jun 26, 1227

Jews were forbidden to leave England. They were a valuable source of income for the king because of the heavy taxes they had to pay. (Jewish Gen) Photo (No Entry Sign)

Levied Tax on the Jews

Jan 1, 1230

Henry the third levied taxes to one-third of all the property of the Jews. (Jewish Gen)
Photo (Property Tax)

Capture of the Synagogue

Jan 1, 1232

King Henry confiscates a newly built synagogue. 1232 would mark the beginning of a terrible era for the Jews, as King Henry would rein ruthlessly for the next several decades. (Schoenberg)
Photo (The Conditions of Interpretation)

House of Converts

Jan 1, 1233

Established as a refuge for babtized Jews. A special tax was imposed on the Jewish community to pay for its establishment and maintenance. (Birnbaum)
Photo (Eagerton Road Synagogue)

Converting a Synagogue

Dec 14, 1243

King Henry III turned a confiscated synagogue into the chapel of St. Mary. Many other synagogues were also confiscated and turned into churches, including one which became St. Thomas' Hospital. (Birnbaum)
Photo (Static Flickr)

Jewish Decree

Jan 1, 1253

Jews may only live in towns designated as Jewish communities. This again limited the freedom of the Jews. (Schoenberg)
Photo (Royal Free)

Silence Your Worship

Jan 31, 1253

King Henry ordered Jewish worship in Synagogues to be held quietly so that Christians would not have to hear them when they walked past. In addition, he forbade Jews from employing Christian nurses or maids, and prevented other Jews from converting to Christianity. (Birnbaum)
Photo (Thenovys)

Sell the Jews

Apr 10, 1255

King Henry III considered all of the Jews his own personal property, and he sold all the Jews of England to his brother, Richard of Cornwall, for five thousand marks. (Jewish Gen)
Photo (Nostalgia)

Jews Accused of Blood Libel

May 1, 1255

Jews were accused of killing a Christian boy who drowned in a pool. 100 Jews were executed. The King claimed the boy died because of a Jewish ritual. (Schoenberg)
Photo (Jew Eat Yet)

Jews and Horned Hats

Feb 10, 1267

The Synod of Vienna made it so that Jews were forbidden to dispute with simple Christians and they had to wear horned hats, called pileum cornutum. Many believed that Jews actually did have horns that they were hiding under the hats and that they were children of the devil. (Voll)
Photo (Steinsplitter File List)

Jewish Statute

Feb 28, 1275

Edward the first issued the Jewish Statute, which required all Jews in the kingdom to reside only in the towns where archae were held. If they lived elsewhere, then they were forced to move. (Jewish Gen)
Photo (Statut Des Juifs)

Jew Restictions

Sep 18, 1275

King Edward I of England created the Statutum Judaismo. The law forbade Jews to charge interest, restricted the areas to which they were allowed live, lowered the badge age to 7 and required those above the age 12 to pay a poll tax on Easter. But the law also allowed Jews, for the first time, to lease land for farming and become merchants and artisans. So it wasn't all bad. (The Jewish Chronicle)
Photo (Restriction Signs)

Jews Arrested

Jun 25, 1278

King Edward I charged Jews with coin clipping. Guards went house to house searching throughout England. 680 Jews were thrown into the Tower of London. Many were hanged and their property seized by the Edward. This was a very detrimental loss for the jewish community. (Voll)
Photo (New Jack City)

English Jewry Imprisoned

Sep 3, 1278

As a result of the Statute of Judaism, Jews became poor, and the King couldn't collect taxes. Therefore, they were imprisoned. No less than 293 were exectued as well. This is just another example of unfair treatment that Jews had to face. (Jewish Encylopedia) Photo (Kosher Prisons)

Jew Mobs

Jan 2, 1283

Multiple Riots and Mobs took place in many cities. 26 jews were killed in Bacharach after being charged with murder. In addition, 40 jews were killed in Oberwellel after a murder charge. Munich was most depressing where180 Jews died as they were burned alive in the synagogue. This unfair treatment of Jews only adds to the hypocrisy of citizens at the time. (Mills)
Photo (Velselahata)

Expel the Jews

Jul 18, 1290

Jews were belived to be the origin of all problems in England. All Jews are forced to leave England by ruler at the time, King Edward I. They were given until November 1st to flee the country. (The Kopelman Foundation)
Photo (Expulsion-Jews)