Jewish Persecutions in Normandy Under Richard II and the Papal Intervention (1007)

In 1007, the Jewish community of Rouen suffered under severe persecutions instigated by Richard II, Duke of Normandy. The violence was so extreme that many Jewish women, seeking to escape the fury of the mob, drowned themselves in the river rather than face capture or forced conversion.

Jacob ben Jekuthiel's Plea to Pope John XVIII

• A prominent Talmudic scholar and communal leader, Jacob ben Jekuthiel, sought to intercede on behalf of persecuted Jews in Lorraine and Normandy.
• He undertook a journey to Rome in an attempt to gain support from Pope John XVIII to halt the persecutions.

Imprisonment and Escape

• Before reaching Rome, Jacob and his family were imprisoned by Duke Richard II of Normandy, placing them in grave danger.
• His eldest son, Judah, was left as a hostage with Richard, while Jacob, his wife, and their three remaining sons managed to continue to Rome, narrowly escaping death.

Papal Intervention in France

• In Rome, Jacob made a substantial donation to the pope—seven gold marks and two hundred pounds—securing an audience with John XVIII.
• In response, the pope issued a direct order to King Robert II of France, instructing him:

  "Not to kill, injure, or rob Jews, nor to deprive them of their religion."

• This intervention represented a rare papal effort to curb anti-Jewish violence, though it is unclear how effectively the decree was enforced.

Aftermath and Significance

• While Pope John XVIII's order may have temporarily eased the severity of the persecutions, anti-Jewish sentiment in Normandy and France persisted, often fueled by royal and ecclesiastical intolerance.
• The event demonstrated the precarious position of Jewish communities, who often had to rely on diplomacy and financial contributions to secure protection from Christian rulers.
• Jacob ben Jekuthiel’s efforts reflected the desperate measures Jewish leaders took to advocate for their communities, engaging even the highest levels of Christian authority in their struggle for survival.

This episode underscores the fragility of Jewish life in medieval Europe, where legal status could rapidly deteriorate under shifting political and religious pressures, requiring constant negotiation, intervention, and resilience.