Statute of the Jewry
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| Early history (1066-1200) |
| Statute of the Jewry (1275) |
| Edict of Expulsion (1290) |
| Resettlement (1655) |
| Marranos in England |
| Jewish Naturalisation Act 1753 |
| Influences |
| Emancipation |
| Early literature |
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| History of the Jews in Ireland |
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The Statute of the Jewry was a statute issued by Edward I of England in 1275. It placed a number of restrictions on Jews of England, most notably outlawing the practice of usury.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Context
Since the time of the Norman Conquest, Jews had been filling a small but vital gap in the English economy. Usury by Christians was banned by the church at the time, but Jews were permitted to act as moneylenders and bankers. That position enabled some Jews to amass tremendous wealth, but also earned them the enmity of the English populace[2], which added to the popular anti-semitic sentiment of the populace at the time.
When Edward returned from the Crusades in 1274, two years after his accession as King of England, he found that land had become a commodity. Jews traded land for money. Land was often mortgaged to Jewish moneylenders.
As special direct subjects of the monarch, Jews could be taxed indiscriminately by the King. Some have described the situation as indirect usury: the monarch permitting and encouraging Jews to practice usury, and then "taxing" or expropriating the profit. In the years leading up to the Statute, Edward taxed them heavily to finance his forthcoming military campaigns in Wales, which commenced in 1277. When he had finally exhausted the financial resources of the Jewish community, the Statute was passed in 1275.[3]
[edit] Provisions[4]
- Usury was outlawed in every form.
- Creditors of Jews were no longer liable for certain debts.
- Jews were not allowed to live outside certain cities and towns.
- Any Jew above the age of seven had to wear a yellow badge of felt on his or her outer clothing, six inches by three inches.
- All Jews from the age of 12 on had to pay a special tax of three pence annually.
- Christians were forbidden to live among Jews.
- Jews were licensed to buy farmland to make their living for the next 15 years.
The license to buy land was included so that farming, along with trading, could give Jews an opportunity to earn a living with the abolition of usury. Unfortunately, other provisions along with widespread prejudice made this impossible.[5]
When the 15 years passed, Jews were presented with the Edict of Expulsion of 1290.
[edit] Bibliography
- Glassman, David (1975). Anti-Semitic Stereotypes Without Jews: Images of the Jews in England 1290-1700. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143154-5-3.
- Parkes, James (1976). The Jew in the Medieval Community. Hermon Press. ISBN 0-8720305-9-8.
- Prestwich, Michael (1997). Edward I. Yale University Press. ISBN 0-3000715-7-4.
- Rubenstein, W.D. (1996). A History of the Jews in the English-Speaking World: Great Britain. Macmillan Press. ISBN 0-3335583-3-2.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Prestwich, Michael. Edward I p 345 (1997) Yale University Press. ISBN 0-3000715-7-4.
- ^ Rubenstein, W.D. A History of the Jews p 36 (1996) Macmillan Press. ISBN 0-3335583-3-2.
- ^ Prestwich, Michael. Edward I p 345 (1997) Yale University Press. ISBN 0-3000715-7-4.
- ^ Parkes, James. The Jew in the Medieval Community p 394 (1976) Hermon Press. ISBN 0-8720305-9-8.
- ^ Glassman, David. Anti-Semitic Stereotypes p 17 (1975) Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143154-5-3.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The Statute of Jewry, an online version of the Statute.
