The Council of Meaux (c. 845) and…

The Council of Meaux (c. 845) and Amulo’s Anti-Jewish Policies

The conversion of Deacon Bodo to Judaism deeply unsettles Archbishop Amulo of Lyon, fueling his fears that social interaction between Jews and Christians could lead to further Christian apostasy. This fear intensifies Amulo’s longstanding anti-Jewish stance, which he had inherited from his predecessor, Agobard of Lyon.

Deacon Bodo’s Apostasy and Its Impact

• Bodo, once a respected deacon, renounces Christianity and converts to Judaism, reportedly fleeing to Muslim Spain, where he takes the name Eleazar.
• His defection is scandalous, as he had been part of the Carolingian religious elite, making his conversion a high-profile case.
• Amulo seizes upon the event as proof that Jews pose a spiritual danger to Christians and must be socially and legally segregated.

The Council of Meaux and the Attempt to Reinstate Anti-Jewish Laws

Under Amulo’s influence, the Council of Meaux (c. 845) proposes reinstating canonical restrictions on Jews that had been imposed centuries earlier under:

• Constantine the Great (4th century)
• Theodosius II (5th century)

These earlier laws had:

• Prohibited Jews from holding public office over Christians.
• Restricted Jewish-Christian interactions, particularly in matters of employment, trade, and social relations.
• Limited Jewish influence in Christian society, particularly within Carolingian governance and the economy.

Charles the Bald’s Response and Jewish Protection

• Despite Amulo’s efforts, Charles the Bald does not fully enforce these restrictions, continuing the more pragmatic Carolingian policy of tolerating Jewish communities due to their economic contributions, especially in trade and taxation.
• However, the Council of Meaux signals a rising tide of ecclesiastical hostility, reinforcing later medieval restrictions on Jewish communities across France and Europe.

Long-Term Consequences

• The Council of Meaux’s proposals contribute to the gradual erosion of Jewish legal status in Carolingian lands, paving the way for future expulsions and restrictions in medieval France.
• The Jewish-Christian divide deepens, as Church leaders increasingly frame Jewish presence as a threat to Christian faith.
• The case of Deacon Bodo/Elezar remains one of the most remarkable instances of apostasy in the medieval period, symbolizing the tensions between religious identity, conversion, and social control in the Carolingian world.

Though Amulo fails to immediately enact his full agenda, his rhetoric influences later Church councils and helps solidify medieval anti-Jewish policies, making the Council of Meaux a key moment in the history of Christian-Jewish relations.