Chapter X.—THIRTEENTH CENTURY CONCLUDED.
In Spain during the thirteenth century, the Jews suffered as much as they did in England and in France. At this time there were two Christian kingdoms in Spain: namely, the kingdom of Castile and the kingdom of Arragon; the southern part of Spain formed the kingdom of the Moors, who were Mahometans. The Bishop of Toledo, vexed at the increased numbers and riches of the Israelites in Spain, excited the populace against them, and putting himself at the head of the rioters, entered and plundered synagogues and houses; the Crusaders completed the work so unworthily begun by a Christian bishop, and, according to Jewish writers, this was one of the most severe and bloody persecutions ever endured by their unhappy countrymen: great numbers quitted the country at this time. The Spanish nobles tried to put a stop to the horrible cruelties practised towards the Jews; but Ferdinand the Third, who became King of Castile, a.d. 1226, rather encouraged the persecution, in order to make himself popular with the lower orders, who detested the Jews.
In the kingdom of Arragon, towards the middle of the century, great efforts were made for the conversion of the Jews. One of the clergy, named Raymond, contrived to keep in check the violence of the people, who had a great respect for him; and at the same time he persuaded the king, James the First, who was a zealous Christian, that the best way to convert the Jews was by treating them with kindness, and trying to convince them of their errors. To carry out his views, Raymond caused many of the friars to learn the Hebrew and Arabic languages, and to study the Scriptures carefully, so as to be able to reason with the Jews, and point out to them how all the prophecies in the Old Testament were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. All his attempts to convert the Jews were, however, unsuccessful, although they highly esteemed Raymond himself for his moderation and humanity.
The King of Arragon mean time, so far from sharing the prejudices against the Jews, applied to them for instruction in many matters of learning and science: the great and learned men amongst the Spaniards also encouraged and admired them; but the people, and the ignorant and ill-educated among the clergy, hated and despised them, and would gladly have destroyed them altogether.
In the middle of the century, Alphonso the Tenth, who was then King of Castile, encouraged all learned men, whatever might be their religious opinions; and the favour shown in consequence to the Jews, excited the jealousy of the people, who formed fresh plots for their destruction. The dead body of a man was thrown into the house of a Jew, who was then accused of having murdered the man: this accusation roused the fury of the populace, who put numbers of the Jews to death. The massacre threatened to become general, but the authorities interfered, and declaring that the Jew was innocent of the crime laid to his charge, order was at length restored.
During those times, when the Israelites enjoyed the favour of the kings in Spain, many learned men flourished, and educated pupils, who afterwards became celebrated amongst their countrymen.
The Spanish Jews were again disturbed by an impostor called Zechariah, who pretended that by studying the prophecies, he had discovered the exact day on which the Messiah would appear; and declared that the Jewish people would then be gathered together by the Lord, Who would subdue their enemies and resettle them in their ancient kingdom. The Jews, always too easily deceived, prepared for this grand event by prayer and fasting; and on the appointed day they crowded to the synagogues clothed in white robes. Besides having the mortification of a bitter disappointment, they thus brought upon themselves the insult and ridicule of their enemies.
In Germany, during the thirteenth century, the Jews suffered much, in consequence of their being constantly accused of committing crimes more or less heinous. At one time they were charged with encouraging the Persians and Tartars to attack the country and destroy the Christians; at another time, with preventing the baptism of those amongst them who wished to become Christians; and they were repeatedly accused of murdering Christian children at the time of the Passover. What truth there was in any of these accusations, we do not know, but each was made by the people a pretext for robbery and murder; nor could the authorities save the wretched Jews from the fury of their Christian enemies. On one occasion, when the people of Munich were murdering all the Jews they could find, the town officers, unable to stop the tumult, advised the wretched victims to take refuge in their synagogue, a strong stone building, till the fury of their persecutors should cool down: but in spite of the efforts made by the Duke of Bavaria and his officers, they were all burnt, or otherwise killed in the synagogue. Notwithstanding all these persecutions, many learned rabbis flourished in Germany during this century; and towards its close violent disputes arose amongst the Jews themselves, as to the doctrines which were to be believed and taught. The consequence was, that the Jews were divided into two parties or sects, the Rabbinists and the Caraites: these two sects hated each other, since the Caraites taught that the Talmud, regarded by the Rabbinists with the greatest veneration, was not to be depended upon in any way whatever.
Towards the end of the century, when Germany was disturbed by the wars between Albert of Austria and another prince, who both wished to be Emperor of Germany, a peasant pretended that he was sent by God to destroy all the Jews. This man went about the country declaring his errand, and exciting the people to execute the Will of God. The multitude rose at once, and killed great numbers of the Jews; whilst many of these unhappy people destroyed themselves and their families, to escape from their enemies. Albert would gladly have put a stop to this barbarous persecution; but he was afraid that if he did so, many of his followers, who believed that the peasant really had a divine commission, would abandon him, and take the side of the rival prince. The riot was at last stopped, and a heavy fine laid upon the town of Nuremburg, where it had begun: half the town was already burnt down, by the Jews setting fire to their own houses.
It has been already said, that the Roman Pontiffs, or Popes, often interfered to stop the persecution of the Jews, and to check the mistaken zeal of those who wanted to force them to become Christians. In 1247, Innocent the Fourth wrote a letter in defence of the Jews, declaring that they were not guilty of the crimes laid to their charge; and he also said, that their condition under Christian princes, was far more miserable and wretched than that of their fathers had been under Pharaoh.