439 ⟶ Theodosian Code Restricts Jewish Rights

The Codex Theodosianus, the first imperial compilation of la...

Year

439

529

1179

1222

📜 Theodosian Code Restricts Jewish Rights

The Codex Theodosianus, the first imperial compilation of laws. Jews are prohibited from holding important positions involving money, including judicial and executive offices. The ban against building new synagogues is reinstated. The anti-Jewish statutes also apply to the Samaritans. The Code is also accepted by Western Roman Emperor, Valentinian III.⟶

Byzantine EmpireRoman LawCodex TheodosianusLegal DiscriminationSamaritansCivil RightsWestern Roman Empire

Italy

Turkey

France

⚖️ Justinian's Laws Restrict Jewish Rights

Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great publishes Corpus Juris Civilis. New laws restrict citizenship to Christians. These regulations determined the status of Jews throughout the Empire for hundreds of years: Jewish civil rights restricted: "they shall enjoy no honors". The principle of Servitus Judaeorum (Servitude of the Jews) is established: the Jews cannot testify against Christians. The emperor becomes an arbiter in internal Jewish matters. The use of the Hebrew language in worship is forbidden. Shema Yisrael ("Hear, O Israel, the Lord is one"), sometimes considered the most important prayer in Judaism, is banned as a denial of the Trinity. Some Jewish communities are converted by force, their synagogues turned into churches.⟶

Byzantine EmpireJustinian ICorpus Juris CivilisServitus JudaeorumLegal DiscriminationReligious PersecutionShema Yisrael

Turkey

Egypt

Israel

Greece

📜 Third Lateran Council Restricts Jewish Rights

The Third Council of the Lateran, Canon 26, forbids Jews to be plaintiffs or witnesses against Christians in the courts or withhold inheritance from descendants who had accepted Christianity.⟶

Catholic ChurchMedieval PeriodReligious LawDiscriminationLegal RestrictionsCouncil of the LateranAntisemitism12th Century

Italy

📜 Council of Oxford Restricts Jewish Rights

Council of Oxford: Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton forbids Jews from building new synagogues, owning slaves or mixing with Christians.⟶

Medieval PeriodCouncil of OxfordSynagogueEconomic RestrictionsStephen LangtonSegregation

United Kingdom