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William the Conqueror encourages Jewish merchants and artisans to relocate to England. Many came from France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, seeking a haven from anti-Semitism.
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Henry I allowed the Jewish freer settlement as a way to increase revenues.
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A Jew is charged with killing a sick man. All Jewish are fined 2,000 pounds for this alleged action.
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The war between Matilda (Daughter of Henry I) and her cousin Stephen (grandson of William the Conquerer) affected the Jewish greatly. Stephen eliminated all Christian debts to Jews. Rather, they payed their debts to him.
(1135-1154) -
Jews are forced to pay ransom to both Matilda and Stephen's forces, or else their houses would be burned.
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The Jewish are accused of preforming "blood libels," the ritualistic murder of children. Combined with the rumor of Jews allegedly killing Jesus, England became hostile. "As the public mood turned against Jews, Edward I subjected them to a special tax and...considered forcing them to wear yellow patches."
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The Pope offered to cleanse all debts owed to Jews to all who would join the crusade.
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Henry II protected the Jews, however, he made the Jews lend large sums of money to build cathedrals and invest into church institutions. This made no difference in church popularity.
(1154-1184) -
Frederick Barbarossa complained to Henry II that Jews were leaving his territory. Henry forced the richer Jews to return to Germany, and the rest payed a fine of 5000 marks if they wished to remain in England.
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Henry orders the Jewish have their weapons taken on the grounds that the king would be enough protection. They had little to protect themselves with when riots break out ten years later.
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Jews were taxed 10,000 marks or 25% of their income and personal property worth, while Christian (non-Crusaders) were taxed 10% of their property alone.
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At Richard's coronation, Baldwin, the archbishop of Canterbury, convinced him to refuse all gifts from the Jewish and expel them out of the palace. The crowds interpreted this as him favoring the persecution of Jews. The next day, a pogrom against them took place. Richard did not punish the rioters too severely, which consequently created more.
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England had never truly taken part in the first two crusades, so they joined forces with France and Germany to recapture Jerusalem. Frederick Barbarossa accidentally drown, Phillip II gave up, and Richard only captured Acre and Jaffa. The Jews of England were the only victims.
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The Jewish population in England numbered approximately 2,500 Jews. Until this time they enjoyed relative freedom of movement, education, and the right to own real estate as compared to the other Jews on the continent.
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Barons indebted to Jews, clergymen and those envious of Jewish wealth conspired to kill the Jews of York. They burned several houses and approximately 150 residents fled to the royal castle in York. Led by Richard Malebys, a noble indebted to the Jews, the mob besieged the castle. The Jews had little rations and many killed themselves. On March 16, the citadel was captured and those Jews left alive were murdered. The mob then stole the records of debts to Jews from a nearby cathedral
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Angered by riots and the loss of crown property, Kind Richard renewed the charter issued by Henry II. His chancellor heavily fined the Pudsey and Percy families (mainly involved with the 1190 pogrom in York).
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Fifty-seven Jews were killed in a massacre. Shortly after, the local abbot, Samson, whose abbey was coincidentally in debt to Jewish money lenders, obtained permission to expel all the Jewish residents of the town.
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A dispute broke out between William the Sacristan (Sexton) of the Abbey and his associate Samson. While townspeople and and Jews sided with William, Samson came to power and order the Jews be put under his power. When they refused, they were expelled.
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An Exchequer of the Jews is established. The Crown can now arbitrarily collect taxes on the recorded Jewish holdings and revenue.
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Mishneh Torah is published
