The Final Expulsion of the Jews from France (September 17, 1394)

On September 17, 1394, King Charles VI of France issued a royal ordinance expelling all Jews from his kingdom, marking the final banishment of Jews from France until the French Revolution. This decree followed several previous expulsions and readmissions, with Jews having been repeatedly accused of financial and religious offenses by the crown and clergy.

The Expulsion Decree and Its Justification

• Charles VI’s ordinance stated that he had long been aware of "many complaints" regarding the Jews, accusing them of violating agreements made with the crown.
• According to the Religieux de St. Denis, the king was influenced by Queen Isabeau of Bavaria, who advocated for the expulsion (Chronique de Charles VI, ii. 119).
• The official reason given was the alleged misconduct of Jewish communities toward Christians, but in reality, the decision was likely driven by:
  • Financial motives, including royal debts owed to Jewish lenders.
  • Religious pressure from the Catholic Church and popular hostility.
  • Political stability, as scapegoating Jews helped appease social unrest.

Terms of the Expulsion

• The decree did not take effect immediately, allowing Jews time to:
  • Sell their property.
  • Settle outstanding debts.
• Christians who owed money to Jewish lenders were ordered to pay their debts within a set timeframe.
• Jewish possessions held in pawn could be sold if the debt was not repaid.
• The provost was tasked with escorting Jewish communities to the kingdom’s borders, forcing them eastward into the German states.
• Shortly after the expulsion, the king released Christians from their remaining debts to Jewish lenders, further financially disadvantaging the expelled Jews.

Long-Term Impact and Legacy

• This expulsion remained in effect across much of France until the French Revolution (1789), when Jews were officially granted citizenship and allowed to return.
• Many Jews resettled in the Holy Roman Empire, where some territories provided temporary refuge, though they often faced further persecution.
• The decree marked the end of medieval Jewish life in France, closing a chapter of intermittent tolerance and persecution that had shaped Jewish communities in France since Roman times.

The expulsion of the Jews from France in 1394 was one of the most significant medieval expulsions, reinforcing anti-Jewish policies across Europe and shaping Jewish migration patterns for centuries.