Timeline by Brian Fudem

1148

brianfudem — 2025-03-03 14:38:58 UTC

The Christian kings of Aragon and Castile begin reclaiming Spanish territory from the Muslims. Jewish communities find themselves under Christian rule, facing new challenges and changing dynamics.

1248

brianfudem — 2025-03-03 14:42:03 UTC

Jewish revenues contribute significantly to Castile, making up 22% of the total income in the region. This economic importance grants Jews some degree of protection but also creates resentment.

1263

brianfudem — 2025-03-03 14:42:38 UTC

Alfonso X issues Las Siete Partidas, a legal code that establishes the status of Jews in Christian Spain. While it grants Jews certain rights, it also sets limitations that contribute to growing antisemitism.

1348

brianfudem — 2025-03-03 14:42:59 UTC

The Black Death spreads across Europe. Unlike in France and Germany, Spain does not witness mass massacres of Jews, except in select regions. The fear and scapegoating of Jews increase tensions, foreshadowing future violence.

1366

brianfudem — 2025-03-03 14:43:19 UTC

Henry of Trastamara, half-brother of Pedro the Cruel, attacks and wipes out the Jewish community in Toledo. The political instability of Spain creates an increasingly hostile environment for Jews.

1373

brianfudem — 2025-03-03 14:43:38 UTC

Ferrant Martínez, an influential archdeacon, begins delivering virulent anti-Jewish sermons. His rhetoric fuels hostility and paves the way for future violence against Jewish communities.

June 4, 1391

brianfudem — 2025-03-03 14:44:14 UTC

Massacres against Jews erupt in Seville, initiated by Christian mobs. The violence spreads rapidly across Castile and Aragon, resulting in thousands of murders and forced conversions. Entire Jewish communities are destroyed, marking a turning point in Spanish Jewish history. Many Jews convert to Christianity to survive, leading to the rise of Conversos (New Christians), who will face continued discrimination and suspicion.

1412

brianfudem — 2025-03-03 14:44:35 UTC

The Disputation of Tortosa begins, where Jewish scholars are forced to defend the Talmud against accusations of heresy. The debate, held under the authority of Pope Benedict XIII, leads to further restrictions on Jewish practices and forced conversions.

1492

brianfudem — 2025-03-03 14:45:37 UTC

The final expulsion of Jews from Spain is decreed by Ferdinand and Isabella. The Edict of Expulsion forces Jews to either convert to Christianity or leave Spain permanently. This marks the end of a centuries-long Jewish presence in Spain and disperses Sephardic Jews across Europe, North Africa, and the Ottoman Empire.