The Clifford Tower Massacre
The Clifford Tower Massacre
After the success of the Norman Conquest of 1066, to keep their hold on the country, castles and fortifications needed to be built, which came at a great cost. At the time, money lending was forbidden to Christians but permitted to Jews; this led to an influx of Jews from Rouen settling in England.
As Christians of the time were suspicious of non-Christians, English Jews were afforded crown protection, and they usually settled in larger towns and cities in the presence of a royal castle. They lived in peace alongside their neighbours until the 12th century, when a growing hostility emerged. Stories of Jews murdering Christian children to perform secret rites were spread among the population, and after his coronation, King Richard I announced his intention to go on a crusade to the Holy Land and raised taxes. Rumours abound that King Richard ordered the massacre of all Jews in England. And riots took place in London where many lost their lives.
Attacks on Jews around the country escalated, and a few months later, when the Sheriff of York left on crusade, a fire broke out in the city. Nobleman Richard de Malbis took advantage of the chaos to break into the home of an employee of a Jewish man he owed money to and destroy all evidence of his debt. The house was looted, and it is said all inside were killed.
Josce, the de facto Jewish leader of York, led the city’s Jews to seek protection inside the castle keep, thought to be the site of Clifford’s Tower. Outside the tower, the looting and chaos continued. The constable left the tower to try and calm the mob, but fearing the rioters would gain entry if they opened the doors, they refused to let the constable back in. This was in essence a challenge to the king’s authority, and now the Sheriff sent troops to join the mob outside the castle walls.
Demands for their deaths or a forced conversion to Christianity were voiced loudly day and night. Richard de Malbis offered safe passage to any Jews who agreed to convert and leave the tower. However, the ones who took this offer were violently murdered as soon as they left their haven. The story goes that, realising that they could not hold out against their attackers for much longer and not wanting to put their families at the mercy of the violent mob, their religious leader, Rabbi Yomtob, proposed a mass suicide. They set fire to all of the possessions they had brought with them, and then the father of each family killed his wife and children before taking his own life.
The timber in the tower caught fire, and the tower burned uncontrollably. It is estimated that at least 150 people died in the blaze or by suicide.
The rioters took the opportunity to destroy all of the records of their debts to the Jews. After the mob had been dispersed, fines of up to £66 were imposed on 59 leading families of York, many of whom either knew the ringleaders or were involved themselves.
Sources:
Clifford's Tower and the Castles of York, Lawrence Butler, p. 14-15
Jewish Colonisation in the Twelfth Century, Joe Hillaby, p.21-22, p.29
English Society in the Early Middle Ages (1066–1307), Doris Mary Stenton, p.197
Lionheart and Lackland: King Richard, King John and the Wars of Conquest, Frank McLynn, p. 120-121
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