The Massacre of Jewish Communities in Anjou…
1236 CE
The Massacre of Jewish Communities in Anjou and Poitou (1236 CE)
In 1236, during a wave of anti-Jewish violence, Jewish communities in Anjou and Poitou, particularly in Bordeaux and Angoulême, were attacked by crusaders. This massacre resulted in the forced conversion of 500 Jews and the massacre of over 3,000 others, marking one of the most brutal episodes of medieval anti-Semitism in France.
Causes and Context of the Attacks
- The attacks were carried out by bands of crusaders, many of whom were not part of the official army but were radicalized and lawless groups stirred up by crusading fervor.
- Pope Gregory IX had originally called for the crusade, but he had never sanctioned violence against Jews.
- The violence was part of a larger trend of increasing hostility toward Jewish communities in medieval France, often linked to religious fanaticism and economic grievances.
The Massacre and Forced Conversions
- Jewish populations in Bordeaux, Angoulême, and surrounding areas were given the choice of conversion or death.
- 500 Jews chose conversion, while over 3,000 were slaughtered.
- The attacks were not actively stopped by local authorities or clergy, despite the Church’s official stance against forced conversion.
Pope Gregory IX’s Reaction
- Pope Gregory IX, upon hearing of the massacres, was outraged by the brutality and condemned the clergy for failing to prevent the violence.
- His criticism of the local Church leaders reflects growing papal concerns about mob-led religious violence that had spun out of control.
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