July 18, 1290: Jews banished from England

On this day in 1290, King Edward I of England banished Jews from his realm.

In the Middle Ages, canon law prohibited interest on loans. Jews, however, were not subject to canon law, and filled this niche – often, with extortionate rates.

As they had been many times before and would be many times after, Jews were persecuted for their religion and reputation. In 1218, Jews were required to wear a special badge; the Crown levied enormous taxes on them, and seized their assets when it needed an infusion of cash.

The Edict of Expulsion took place on the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av, a day of mourning that falls on the ninth day of the month of Av. According to the Mishnah, a forerunner of the Talmud:

On the ninth of Av it was decreed that our fathers should not enter the [Promised] Land, the Temple was destroyed the first and second time, Bethar was captured and the city [Jerusalem] was ploughed up.

The Edict of Alhambra, issued in 1492, required Jews to leave Spain by July 31 – also Tisha B’Av. (This year, it begins at sunset on Saturday, July 25.)

For more on the events leading up to the Edict, visit Heretical.

Image: Illustration of Edward I from Cassell’s History of England – Century Edition, published circa 1902