1235 ⟶ Emperor Frederick II Investigates Ritual Murder Accusation
The Jews of Fulda, Germany were accused of ritual murder. To...
Year
1144
1235
1250
1505
1639
1879
🩸 The William of Norwich Blood Libel Case
The case of William of Norwich, a contrived accusation of murder by Jews in Norwich, England.⟶
Blood LibelNorwichFalse AccusationMedieval PeriodAntisemitic TropeReligious Propaganda
United Kingdom🩸 Emperor Frederick II Investigates Ritual Murder Accusation
The Jews of Fulda, Germany were accused of Ritual murder. To investigate the Blood libel, Emperor Frederick II held a special conference of Jewish converts to Christianity at which the converts were questioned about Jewish ritual practice. Letters inviting prominent individuals to the conference still survive. At the conference, the converts stated unequivocally that Jews do not harm Christian children or require blood for any rituals. In 1236 the Emperor published these findings and in 1247 Pope Innocent IV, the Emperor's enemy, also denounced accusations of the Ritual murder of Christian children by Jews. In 1272, the papal repudiation of the Blood libel was repeated by Pope Gregory X, who also ruled that thereafter any such testimony of a Christian against a Jew could not be accepted unless it is confirmed by another Jew. Unfortunately, these proclamations from the highest sources were not effective in altering the beliefs of the Christian majority and the libels continued.⟶
Medieval PeriodBlood LibelRitual MurderFalse AccusationFrederick IIPope Innocent IVPapal Bull
Germany👶 Ritual Murder Accusation in Saragossa
Saragossa Spain: death of a choirboy Saint Dominguito del Val prompts Ritual murder accusation. His sainthood was revoked in the 20th century but reportedly a chapel dedicated to him still exists in the Cathedral of Saragossa.⟶
Ritual murderBlood libelSaragossaSpainAnti-Jewish sentimentMiddle AgesFalse accusationReligious extremismSaint Dominguito del Val
Spain🩸 České Budějovice Jews Tortured and Executed
Ten České Budějovice Jews are tortured and executed after being accused of killing a Christian girl; later, on his deathbed, a shepherd confesses to fabricating the accusation.⟶
Blood LibelFalse AccusationMassacreCzech RepublicMedieval PeriodPogrom
Czech Republic🔪 Łęczyca Jews Accused of Ritual Murder
Jews of Łęczyca are accused of ritual murder after a young child is found dead in the woods. The blame falls on the Jews after a local gentile named Foma confesses to the crime then says he had been coerced into doing it by the Jews. Despite the lack of evidence, two Jewish elders named Meyer and Lazar are arrested and tortured, and eventually quartered publicly.⟶
Blood LibelRitual MurderFalse AccusationPersecutionViolenceTorture17th CenturyPolandJewish Community
Poland
