History Video Blog #25

I have many memorable storm experiences, but my most memorable experience in a storm occurred in England, not in the US. I was with my daughter, Hope, in the City of York in northern England, and we were touring the castle there. There is a particular part of the castle with a notorious reputation that we were touring when the storm occurred. The place is called Clifford’s Tower, the keep or strongest and most protected part of a medieval castle. The tower stands on a little hillock that overlooks York. It was here in 1190 that one of the most tragic and disgraceful events in English history took place.

1190 was the second year of the reign of Richard I, called the Lion-heart. Richard was preparing already to participate in a crusade against the Saracens, and in the wake of this strong anti-Semitic feelings were stirred to a fever pitch in England. Many Jewish people were bankers and money-lenders and many town burghers and nobles were indebted. Hatred of the one owed was the primary motivation for this hatred and it was whipped up by twisted theology that served the ends of the persecutors. There was violence all over the country during this year, but the events at York began when in March 1190, a prominent and wealthy Jewish man of York named Benedict died from wounds sustained in London at the hands of an angry mob.

Back in York a mob whipped up by people who owed Benedict money broke into his house, murdered his widow and children, and carried off all his material wealth. Then they set his house and other houses where Jews lived on fire. All this violence happened because a false rumor had been started that Richard had ordered persecution of the Jews.

About 150 Jews in York petitioned the Warden of the Castle to allow them sanctuary from the mobs. He allowed them into Clifford’s Tower, but they caught wind of his plans to release them to the mobs that then besieged the castle and would not allow the Warden in once they were safely inside. When the Warden could not get in, he called on the Sheriff, Richard Malebys, who besieged the tower.

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3. History Video Blog #28 Why was Richard called Lion heart? Continue reading →...
4. History Video Blog #5 King Canute commands the sea. Continue reading →...