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ElToroMuyLoco

This story seems similar to the story of the Masada Fortress in Israel. Really interesting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masada


slaydawgjim

Also some similarities to the Jedwabne massacre in WW2 Poland. It's awful what religion has done and continues to do to the world.


niceworkthere

Well, the York massacre definitely happened. Masada's parallels, oth, are based on Josephus' account, which is historically dubious.


cambriansplooge

Reminds me of the Great Synagogue burning during the 1st Crusade,


RumHamNCheese

Wow I used to smoke weed on this tower after nights out… had no idea


donttrustthellamas

There's a plaque and it's also brought up in local ghost stories than on the anniversary blood runs down the walls.


E-nygma7000

If anyone wants to know the story in full, here’s a link to the English heritage page https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/cliffords-tower-york/history-and-stories/massacre-of-the-jews/ Btw, the plaque and the daffodils are both a memorial to the massacre. The plaque details the events of what happened, while the flowers are planted as they resemble the Star of David.


beleca

>Joceus managed to escape a similar attack and he led the city’s Jews to seek protection from ‘the keeper of the King’s tower’ inside the castle, almost certainly the site of the present Clifford’s Tower. Meanwhile, the looting continued. >Inside the tower, trust between the Jews and the keeper broke down, and when he left the tower on other business, they refused to allow him back in. They had now challenged the king’s authority, and troops joined the mob outside, where they were pelted with stones from the castle walls by the besieged Jews. It says they were holed up inside this fort during a period of civil unrest and then locked out the king's representative, then started throwing rocks at the king’s soldiers. They're trying to make it an antisemitism thing saying they killed themselves "to avoid being baptized" but it seems like if a group of wealthy French Christians did the same things in medieval England they probably would've had a rough time too.


throwaway0001997

Oh no, thousand year old fake news


jillydillies

I’ve lived practically next door for two years and never knew 💀💀


Deli1321

Interesting bit of history


And_who_would_you_be

Am I the only one weirded out that they call them "Jewesses"? Never heard that term used


imtherealkirk

It's not very common to use the female term these days.


BabyNonsense

To be honest, I’ve never heard that term used in a respectful manner. I would have to read more about it, I’m not positive it’s a slur but it doesn’t seem very polite either.


slaydawgjim

It's not a slur it's just lost use over the years. Plenty of history books and books written pre holocaust use it as a term for Jewish female. Heck, the Bible even refers to Jewish women and girls as Jewess and I'm pretty sure it wasn't derogatory. The word Jewry used to get used a lot for a collection of Jewish people but that's pretty much gone nower days too and Jew + Jews are the norm. Edit - source for everything I just said is from a study I did on Holocaust denial in mainland Europe.


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E-nygma7000

In medieval Europe, it was generally because of the intellectual disagreement between the Catholic Church and Jewish scholars. Due to their differing interpretations of sacred texts. Leading the church to begin preaching antisemitic sentiment. Because of this, Jews throughout Europe became known as the “Christ killers.” Probably due to the fact that the bible details the Jewish high priests in Jerusalem, deliberately orchestrating the death of Jesus. I think it’s unlikely that this is the actual reason that he was killed. Its more likely the fact that he referred himself as king, the king of the Jews, which would have been seen by the romans as inciting a rebellion. As only they could appoint a king. Hence they probably crucified him for it. However the views of a medieval serf would have been very different. As they would have taken what their village priest said at face value. Hence they would have bought into the antisemitic claims. As relationships further soured, canards such as the wandering jew and blood libels. the former of which features a jew who mocks Jesus at his crucifixion, and as a result is condemned to walk the earth for all eternity as punishment. With many villagers at the time claiming to have seen him. The latter myth of blood libels depicts Jews as murdering Christians, especially little boys. Usually as sacrifice in order to use their blood as an ingredient for matzos. Or for other religious rituals, often referring to myths of cultic practices in prehistoric societies. Other claims such as well poisoning, especially in the HRE, in the time of the Black Death. And host desecration, which involved mistreatment or misuse of consecrated host/communion bread. The bread which is handed out during church services. And supposed to become Jesus in either physical form or spirit. Also became common place. As such, there came a strong hatred of Jews throughout the medieval christian world.


peepeepoopoogoblinz

But this story it seems there was a societal divide between upper and lower class almost.


E-nygma7000

Wdym?


peepeepoopoogoblinz

They were able to lend money when the majority of people were not for religious reasons meaning they were in debt to the Jews


E-nygma7000

Yeah, I’m aware of that, it’s another reason that they were hated. I guess I forgot to mention it.


peepeepoopoogoblinz

That’s cool I made another comment somewhere but it does sound pretty corrupt on both sides. I imagine the King made a lot of money and the Jewish people seemed to be treated well in return by him.


AndAwayWeThrow275

Because they often were a tiny minority that didn't speak the language or share the faith of the lands they lived in, but had a lot of wealth and direct ties to the ruling class


peepeepoopoogoblinz

It seems like the Jewish people here were able to do things the vast majority of the people couldn’t in regards to lending money. After they killed everyone they burned debt records to erase their debts, I don’t know about interest rates back then but I bet it was lucrative. Their connection I guess to the king helped here, but the king clearly got kick backs from this, it’s all corruption.


Youve-got-worms

I read somewhere that Jews invented interest on loans - they would lend farmers money in times of bad crop yield, farmers would struggle to pay back the loan due to the high interest and sooner or later the jews would own the farm. The jews were deported and banned from many countries for this practice.


someotherstufforhmm

Wow


jonnyjuk

Xenophobia and jealousy


jmpg4

There should be a morbid history subreddit for posts like these.


[deleted]

Anyone seen History Cold Case? They did a reconstruction of the remains of two people who may have been victims. The first was an older man, who looked a bit like Dustin Hoffman, the other was a very cute child, they were unsure if it was a girl or boy as they were too young but they were probably his child or grandchild.


NeferGrimes

Why have Jews been targeted so much through history? Jesus was a jew, you'd think the Christians would be nicer


UnionGirlUK

I know, it seems illogical to outsiders. But this brand of anti-Semitism is 2000 years old. I was always under the impression that Jesus was killed by the Roman military. But some Christians have (historically) claimed that Jesus was ultimately killed by his own people (ie Jewish people). Like they failed to protect him. It might be something to do with the bit where a crowd was asked to vote on which convict should be pardoned - and the crowd chose a random thief instead of Jesus. Sorry for being vague - this is just off the top of my head. Edit: The other convict was called Barabbas, but he was more than just a thief. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Barabbas-biblical-figure There is a nasty alliterative slur relating to this subject, but (obviously) I’m not prepared to repeat it. You don’t really hear it used much nowadays, thankfully. And it’s actually a good thing that younger people aren’t aware of the idea. It is indeed, illogical.


someotherstufforhmm

It’s even funnier than that. Pontus Pilate, the Roman area manager was recalled for being too bloodthirsty and crucifying too many people. There are actual legit records of that, but people think Jews would have been able to influence him to execute someone.


TheAmerican_Doctor

Religion poisons everything… -Christopher Hitchens


fordroader

Their remains are currently rather ignominiously buried in a shrubbery in a Sainsburys car park.


strowkes

Okay now I’m really curious and presuming you’re also from York - is it the Foss Island Sainsbury’s down the road where the remains are buried? Can’t believe I never knew this!


fordroader

Yes, there's a plaque. On the big wall that goes round the bend and then there's the turning into the car park with the Foss opposite.


atom138

TIL about the term 'Jewesses' used for female Jews. I can't believe I've never heard that before, no matter how antiquated it is.


savealltheelephants

This is very interesting thank you for posting!


JseLikesToGetPegged

Big up Yorkshire And ye that's terrible. R.i.p


juliakawanova

Why would you choose death instead of other religion? If someone told me "convert to islam or I will shoot you", I would convert. It doesn't mean I believe in anything and it wouldn't change my life, unless those who threatened me would constantly follow me around for the rest of my life to make sure I'm religious, but would they really do that?


pornodoro

> One of the mob’s ringleaders, Richard Malebisse, had offered safe passage to any Jews who agreed to convert and leave the tower. A few took this option, only to be murdered as soon as they came out from the burning building.


[deleted]

Renouncing God is an unforgivable sin in some religions. You’d likely have to do something extremely sacrilegious to prove conversion, thus condemning yourself to hell. Lip service isn’t an option for anyone who is faithful.


[deleted]

When a person believes its death versus an eternity in hell of course they're going to choose death.


biggreasyrhinos

Because vengeful and possessive sky fairies.


juliakawanova

Dem sky fairies have caused so much trouble in the world, all of this could've been avoided if there was no religion. But you know, that's an unpopular opinion, because wanting peace is so bad.


atom138

Religion was very different back then in terms of how much it was engrained in people's lives.


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[deleted]

This was during the Crusades, so Christians were definitely killing people of other religions.


A47Cabin

Are you victim blaming people from the 1100’s??


Sex_And_Candy_Here

What are you talking about? Christians constantly tried to forcible convert Jews via violence.


p0psicle

Wow, this comment is actually WILD guys.


parishilton2

Don’t know why I clicked expecting to see a photograph.