Massacres of the Jews During the Reign of King Richard I

Abstract

During the reign of the English king Richard I, the Jewish population in England was subjected to a series of massacres, particularly in the period from 1189 to 1190. These atrocities stemmed from multiple factors, including the widespread hatred among the Christian community in England toward the Jews due to their differences in religion and ethnicity. Another contributing factor was the religious fervor stirred by the Crusades, along with the role of the Papacy in inflaming hostility between Christians and Jews. However, the most significant cause behind these massacres was the practice of usury by Jews. Since Christians were forbidden from engaging in usury, many English Christians found themselves heavily indebted to Jewish moneylenders. Consequently, Christians often awaited moments of chaos or unrest to attack their Jewish creditors and destroy the financial documents that recorded their debts. This situation became particularly evident following the massacre of Jews during the coronation of King Richard I on September 13, 1189, and the notorious York massacre on March 16, 1190. The latter occurred after King Richard had departed to participate in the Third Crusade, and it resulted in the death of approximately 150 Jews.