This is the third in 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. The goal is to help us recognize when the church uses its power to harm marginalized groups—and to take action.

The Middle Ages and Jewish Persecution: The Crusades, the Inquisition, and Pogroms

In the previous articles, we explored how Christianity began as a Jewish movement but later distanced itself from its Jewish roots due to theological and political motivations. This shift led to the rise of antisemitism within the church, reinforced by replacement theology, anti-Jewish writings of early Church Fathers, and imperial decrees that marginalized Jews.

By the Middle Ages, antisemitism in Christian Europe had become institutionalized, resulting in legal discrimination, forced conversions, massacres, and false accusations against Jewish communities. Some of the most violent and destructive periods for Jews included the Crusades, the Inquisitions, and widespread pogroms.

This article will examine:

The Crusades and the Massacre of Jewish Communities
The Inquisition and the Persecution of Jews
The Blood Libel and its Deadly Consequences
Medieval Pogroms and Expulsions
The Role of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches in Antisemitism
The Long-Term Effects of Medieval Christian Antisemitism

1. The Crusades and the Massacre of Jewish Communities

The Crusades (1096–1291) were religious wars initiated by the Catholic Church to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control. However, Crusaders also turned their violence toward European Jewish communities, seeing them as enemies of Christ.

The First Crusade (1096): The Rhineland Massacres

Before reaching the Holy Land, Crusader armies attacked Jewish communities in Germany and France. Some of the worst massacres occurred in the Rhineland cities:

Worms – Over 800 Jews were murdered.
Mainz – Over 1,000 Jews were slaughtered.
Cologne – Jewish homes were burned, and survivors were forcibly baptized.

The Crusaders, inspired by religious fervor, viewed Jews as the killers of Christ and targeted them as practice for their battles in the Holy Land. Many Jewish communities, realizing they had no escape, chose mass suicide rather than conversion.

Later Crusades and Continued Persecution

Although the main battles of later Crusades took place in the Middle East, violence against Jews continued in Europe. Crusaders burned synagogues, looted Jewish wealth, and forced conversions in England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire.

By the Fourth Crusade (1202–1204), Christian armies even attacked fellow Christians, sacking Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Orthodox Church. This division between Catholic and Orthodox Christianity would later impact Jewish communities in Eastern Europe and Russia.

2. The Inquisition and the Persecution of Jews

The Inquisitions were a series of church-led courts established to root out heresy, but they also became powerful tools for persecuting Jews, Muslims, and other non-Christians.

What Was the Inquisition?

The Inquisition was a church-run system designed to punish those who strayed from Christian doctrine. It was most severe in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, where it targeted Jews who had converted to Christianity (Conversos) but were suspected of secretly practicing Judaism.

The Spanish Inquisition (1478–1834)

The Spanish Inquisition, led by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, was one of the most brutal in history.

Jews were forced to convert to Christianity or leave Spain.
Tens of thousands were tortured and executed for “heresy.”
The infamous auto-da-fé (public executions) saw Jews burned at the stake.
Over 200,000 Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492.

The Inquisition spread fear across Jewish communities, forcing many to flee to the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, and Eastern Europe.

The Portuguese Inquisition (1536–1821)

After Spain’s expulsion of Jews, Portugal followed a similar pattern:

Jewish children were taken from their families and forcibly baptized.
Conversos were arrested, tortured, and executed.
Portugal banned Judaism entirely in 1497.

The Inquisitions left a long-lasting legacy of fear and discrimination, reinforcing the idea that Jews could never fully integrate into Christian society.

3. The Blood Libel and its Deadly Consequences

During the Middle Ages, false accusations against Jews became widespread, leading to massacres, torture, and expulsions. One of the most dangerous accusations was the Blood Libel.

What is the Blood Libel?

The Blood Libel was the false claim that Jews kidnapped and murdered Christian children to use their blood for Passover rituals.

Some of the most infamous cases include:

Norwich, England (1144) – The first recorded Blood Libel case.
Trent, Italy (1475) – Entire Jewish communities were massacred.
Russia (19th–20th centuries) – Blood Libel accusations fueled pogroms.

The Blood Libel was reinforced by Christian clergy, who spread anti-Jewish propaganda in sermons and writings, deepening hatred toward Jews.

4. Medieval Pogroms and Expulsions

Jewish communities in medieval Europe suffered frequent pogroms (violent riots), forced conversions, and expulsions.

England (1290) – King Edward I expelled all Jews from England.
France (1306, 1394) – Jews were expelled twice.
Spain (1492) – The Spanish Inquisition forced Jews to convert or be exiled.
Germany and Poland (14th century) – Jews were blamed for the Black Death and massacred.

These expulsions forced Jews to flee across Europe and the Middle East, but antisemitism followed them wherever they went.

5. The Role of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches in Antisemitism

Catholic Church Policies

The Fourth Lateran Council (1215) forced Jews to wear distinctive clothing, such as yellow badges.
Papal decrees restricted Jewish professions and land ownership.
Forced conversions were common, especially in Spain and Portugal.

Eastern Orthodox Church and Russian Antisemitism

Russian Orthodox clergy supported pogroms, where Jews were massacred in the 19th and 20th centuries.
In the Balkans, Orthodox Christian rulers imposed heavy taxes and restrictions on Jews.
Blood Libel accusations were spread by Orthodox priests, leading to violent riots.

The Russian Orthodox Church played a significant role in state-sponsored antisemitism, influencing Nazi ideology and Soviet antisemitism.

6. The Long-Term Effects of Medieval Christian Antisemitism

By the end of the Middle Ages, antisemitism was deeply embedded in Christian societies.

Jewish communities were segregated into ghettos.
Jews were blamed for economic problems and plagues.
The Church used theology to justify anti-Jewish violence.
Medieval antisemitism influenced later atrocities, including the Holocaust.

Conclusion: The Dark Legacy of Medieval Christian Antisemitism

The Crusades, the Inquisition, the Blood Libel, and Pogroms shaped centuries of Jewish persecution in Christian Europe. While Jesus’ teachings emphasized love and justice, Christian institutions used theology to justify oppression.

Understanding this history is essential to confronting modern antisemitism.

Next in This Series

The next article will examine:

The Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther’s Antisemitic Writings.
How Christian antisemitism influenced the Holocaust.
The role of the modern church in confronting antisemitism today.