CCSS2 1391 Persecution of Jews

“In 1391, Ferrand Martinez, the Archdeacon of Ecija, urged Christians to kill or baptize the Jews.

On June 6, the mob attacked the Judería in Seville from all sides and murdered 4,000 Jews; the rest submitted to baptism as the only means of escaping death.

The riots then spread across the countryside destroying many synagogues and murdering thousands of Jews in the streets. During the months-long riots, the Cordoba Judería was burned down and over 5,000 Jews ruthlessly murdered. More Jews converted as the only way to escape death…

 

Soon after, a series of laws were passed. The Jews were ordered to:

  1) LIVE BY THEMSELVES IN ENCLOSED JUDERIAS

2) BANNED FROM PRACTICING MEDICINE, SURGERY, OR CHEMISTRY

3) BANNED FROM SELLING COMMODITIES SUCH AS BREAD, WINE, FLOUR, MEAT, ETC.

4) BANNED FROM ENGAGING IN HANDICRAFTS OR TRADES OF ANY KIND

5) FORBIDDEN TO HIRE CHRISTIAN SERVANTS, FARM HANDS, LAMPLIGHTERS, OR GRAVEDIGGERS

6) BANNED FROM EATING DRINKING, BATHING, HOLDING INTIMATE CONVERSATION WITH, VISITING, OR GIVING PRESENTS TO CHRISTIANS

7) BANNED FROM HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICES OR ACTING AS MONEY-BROKERS OR AGENTS
8) FORBIDDEN TO ASSUME THE TITLE OF “DON”

9) FORBIDDEN TO CARRY WEAPONS

10) FORBIDDEN TO TRIM BEARD OR HAIR

11) JEWESSES WERE REQUIRED TO WEAR PLAIN, LONG GARMENTS OF COARSE MATERIAL REACHING TO THE FEET, AND JEWS WERE FORBIDDEN TO WEAR GARMENTS MADE OF FINE MATERIAL

 

These laws were strictly enforced, and calculated to compel the Jews to embrace Christianity.”

   – jewishvirtuallibrary.org