This is the 21st  part of a series on Christianity and the history of antisemitism. While we are often reminded to “Never forget,” many of us were never taught this history.

Christianity, Antisemitism, and the Jewish Diaspora

The Jewish Diaspora, meaning the dispersion of Jews outside their ancestral homeland, was significantly shaped by religious persecution, antisemitism, and forced migrations throughout history. While the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE by the Romans had already caused a large-scale dispersion of Jewish communities, Christianity played a major role in furthering this displacement. In medieval Christian Europe, Jews were expelled from England (1290), France (1306 and 1394), Spain (1492), and Portugal (1497), pushing Jewish populations into new territories, including the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, Italy, and the Netherlands. These expulsions were driven by a mix of religious, economic, and political factors, but religious motivations—often rooted in Christian theology, antisemitic stereotypes, and the desire for religious purity—were central to the forced removal of Jewish communities.

Religious Reasons for the Expulsions

Throughout medieval Europe, Jews were often regarded as religious outsiders in Christian-majority societies. Christian rulers and clergy viewed Judaism as a theological threat and sought to either convert or remove Jews to establish religious uniformity. Several religious beliefs and myths fueled hostility toward Jewish communities, leading to their eventual expulsion.

Christian Theology and Anti-Jewish Sentiment

1. Deicide Accusation
   • Many medieval Christians believed that Jews were collectively responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus (deicide).
   • This charge fueled deep-seated hostility and justified discriminatory laws against Jews.
2. Religious Exclusivity of Christian Kingdoms
   • Medieval Christian rulers sought religious unity, believing that the presence of Jews threatened Christian dominance.
   • Expelling Jews was often seen as a way to purify Christian society and eliminate heresy.
3. Forced Conversions and Fear of Jewish Influence
   • Jewish communities faced intense pressure to convert to Christianity.
   • Christian leaders feared that Jews might persuade Conversos (Jewish converts) to secretly continue practicing Judaism, leading to suspicion and persecution.
4. Blood Libel and Hostile Myths
   • Blood libel accusations falsely claimed that Jews kidnapped and murdered Christian children for ritual purposes.
   • Myths such as Jews poisoning wells and desecrating the Eucharist spread widely, leading to massacres and expulsions.

Specific Expulsions and Their Religious Justifications

The most significant Jewish expulsions in medieval Christian Europe were often justified on religious grounds, with rulers enacting these policies under pressure from the Church, local clergy, and Christian communities.

England (1290) – Expelled by King Edward I

• Religious Justification:
  • Jews were accused of ritual murders (blood libel) and usury (charging interest on loans), which was condemned by the Church.
  • The Catholic Church, under Pope Gregory X and later Nicholas III, pressured rulers to segregate or expel Jews.
• Outcome:
  • All Jews were expelled from England, and their property was confiscated.
  • England remained officially Jew-free for nearly 400 years (until the 1650s under Oliver Cromwell).

France (1306 and 1394) – Expelled by Philip IV and Charles VI

• 1306 – Expulsion by King Philip IV (“Philip the Fair”)
  • Religious Justification:
    • The French Church promoted hostility toward Jews, encouraging their conversion or expulsion.
    • Jews were accused of practicing sorcery and undermining Christianity.
  • Outcome:
    • 100,000 Jews were expelled, and their property was seized.
    • Some returned later but lived under strict restrictions.
• 1394 – Expulsion by King Charles VI
  • Religious Justification:
    • France sought to become a “purely Christian” kingdom.
    • Pressure from the Church and Christian communities led to a complete ban on Jews.
  • Outcome:
    • France remained officially Jew-free for over 300 years, with only a few small Jewish communities surviving in secrecy.

Spain (1492) – The Alhambra Decree by Ferdinand and Isabella

• Religious Justification:
  • Ferdinand and Isabella sought religious unity to strengthen Catholic rule.
  • The Catholic Church and the Spanish Inquisition accused Jews of secretly influencing Conversos and leading them back to Judaism.
  • Fear of Jewish influence on Christian converts led to the belief that complete expulsion was necessary.
• Role of the Spanish Inquisition:
  • The Inquisition targeted Conversos (Marranos), accusing them of secretly practicing Judaism.
  • Even fully converted Jews were often tortured or executed if suspected of practicing their former faith.
• Outcome:
  • Over 100,000 Jews were expelled, fleeing to Portugal, the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, and Italy.
  • Sephardic Jews (from the Hebrew word Sefarad, meaning Spain) carried their traditions and Ladino language to their new homes.

Portugal (1497) – Expulsion by King Manuel I

• Religious Justification:
  • King Manuel I wanted to marry Isabella of Spain, but the condition for marriage was the expulsion of all Jews from Portugal.
  • Like Spain, Portugal feared that Conversos were secretly practicing Judaism.
• Outcome:
  • Instead of immediate expulsion, Manuel forced mass conversions—most Jews in Portugal were baptized against their will and labeled as New Christians.
  • Many secretly practiced Judaism for generations, and those who refused to convert were expelled.
  • Portuguese Jews fled to the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, Italy, and the Netherlands, eventually migrating to South America, the Caribbean, and Asia.

Long-Term Impact on the Jewish Diaspora

The religiously motivated expulsions of Jews from medieval Christian Europe had lasting effects on global Jewish migration:

1. Sephardic Jewish Migration
   • Jewish communities flourished in the Ottoman Empire, Italy, the Netherlands, and North Africa.
   • Later migrations brought Jews to Brazil, the Caribbean, and South Asia (India, China).
2. Rise of Secret Jewish Communities
   • Conversos (New Christians) continued practicing Judaism in secret, particularly in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America.
3. Jewish Cultural and Economic Contributions Elsewhere
   • Sephardic Jews became major traders, bankers, and scholars, playing key roles in economies in Amsterdam, Istanbul, and the New World.

Conclusion

The expulsions of Jews from England, France, Spain, and Portugal were largely driven by religious motives, influenced by Christian theology, fear of Jewish influence, and the desire for religious unity. These expulsions forced Jewish communities to migrate to new lands, ultimately shaping the Jewish diaspora across Europe, the Ottoman Empire, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Despite centuries of persecution, Jewish communities adapted and thrived, carrying their traditions, languages, and cultural contributions into new regions. The expulsion of Jews from Christian Europe remains one of the most significant examples of how religious intolerance and antisemitism shaped global migration patterns.

Jewish Expulsions and Their Impact on Global Migration

The expulsions of Jews from England (1290), France (1306 and 1394), and Spain (1492) forced Jewish communities into exile, shaping migration patterns across Europe, the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, the Netherlands, and beyond. Each expulsion led to Jewish settlements in specific regions, influenced by factors such as religious tolerance, economic opportunities, and historical trade connections. Below is an overview of how each expulsion contributed to Jewish migration to different countries.

1. Expulsion from England (1290) – Migration to France and the Netherlands

In 1290, King Edward I of England ordered the expulsion of all Jews from England, making it the first European kingdom to officially ban Jewish communities.

Where did Jews go after the expulsion?

• Many English Jews fled to France, particularly to Normandy and Paris, where Jewish communities already existed.
• Some Jews also moved to Flanders (modern Belgium and the Netherlands), which had growing commercial hubs with more religious tolerance.
• Over time, some Jewish traders found opportunities in Spain and the Mediterranean, engaging in commerce despite restrictions.

Long-Term Impact

• England remained officially “Jew-free” for nearly 400 years, until Jews were readmitted under Oliver Cromwell in the 1650s.
• Jewish presence in the Netherlands later expanded due to Spanish and Portuguese Jewish refugees in the 16th century.

2. Expulsions from France (1306 and 1394) – Migration to Germany, Spain, and Italy

France expelled its Jewish population twice, first under Philip IV (“Philip the Fair”) in 1306 and later under Charles VI in 1394.

Where did Jews go after these expulsions?

• Many French Jews migrated to Germany (Holy Roman Empire), particularly to cities like Mainz, Worms, and Frankfurt, which had existing Jewish communities.
• Some Jews moved south to Spain, where Jewish life was more established, though they later faced persecution under Christian rule.
• Others settled in Italy, especially in cities like Venice and Rome, where they found some degree of protection under local rulers.
• A smaller number of Jews moved to Provence, which remained independent from France until later annexation.

Long-Term Impact

• The 1394 expulsion was more permanent—France officially remained “Jew-free” for about 300 years until Jewish communities began re-emerging in the 17th and 18th centuries.

3. Expulsion from Spain (1492) – Migration to Portugal, the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, and Italy

The Alhambra Decree of 1492, issued by Ferdinand and Isabella, forced Jews to either convert to Christianity or leave Spain. This was one of the largest expulsions in Jewish history, affecting over 100,000 Jews.

Where did Jews go after the expulsion?

• Portugal (Initially) – Many Spanish Jews fled to neighboring Portugal, but in 1497, King Manuel I ordered their forced conversion or expulsion, leading to another wave of migration.
• The Ottoman Empire – Sultan Bayezid II welcomed Jewish refugees, seeing them as an economic asset. Jewish communities flourished in Istanbul, Salonika (Thessaloniki), and Izmir.
• North Africa – Many Jews settled in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, where they lived under Islamic rule. Morocco became home to a large Sephardic Jewish population.
• Italy – Some Jews settled in Rome, Venice, and Naples, where they established Sephardic communities. Venice, in particular, became an important center for Jewish learning.
• The Netherlands – Some Spanish Jews eventually migrated to Amsterdam, which became a major Jewish hub due to Dutch religious tolerance.

Long-Term Impact

• The Sephardic Jewish identity developed, influencing Jewish culture, commerce, and scholarship worldwide.
• Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), the language of expelled Spanish Jews, remained alive in Turkey, Greece, and the Balkans for centuries.
• Many Sephardic Jews later migrated to the Americas, Africa, and India.

4. Expulsion from Portugal (1497) – Migration to the Netherlands, the Ottoman Empire, and the Americas

In 1497, King Manuel I of Portugal ordered the forced conversion of Jews, leading to the creation of Conversos (New Christians)—Jews who converted but often continued practicing Judaism in secret.

Where did Jews go after the expulsion?

• The Netherlands – Many Portuguese Jews found refuge in Amsterdam, which became a major center of Jewish life and trade.
• The Ottoman Empire – Some Portuguese Jews joined the Spanish refugees in cities like Istanbul and Thessaloniki.
• North Africa – Many settled in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, joining established Sephardic communities.
• South America (Brazil, Caribbean, and Mexico) –
  • Conversos (Marranos) migrated to Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Peru as part of Portuguese and Spanish colonial expansion.
  • Some later fled Brazil for the Caribbean after the Portuguese reinstated the Inquisition in the 1600s.

Long-Term Impact

• Many Conversos remained in Latin America, secretly practicing Judaism for centuries.
• Sephardic Jews from Portugal and Spain helped establish the first Jewish communities in North America (New Amsterdam/New York).

Summary: Where Did Jews Go After Each Expulsion?

Conclusion

The expulsions of Jews from England, France, Spain, and Portugal led to major migrations that reshaped global Jewish communities. Spain and Portugal’s 1492 and 1497 expulsions had the most far-reaching consequences, as Sephardic Jews spread across the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, Italy, the Netherlands, and the Americas. Jewish communities adapted to their new environments, contributing significantly to trade, scholarship, and cultural exchange in their host countries. Despite centuries of persecution, these migrations ensured the survival and continuity of Jewish life worldwide.