The Expulsion of Jews from France and Their Eastward Migration

By the late 14th century, the Kingdom of France enacted a final expulsion of its Jewish population, following a series of earlier bans and expulsions that had been periodically reversed or reimposed throughout the Middle Ages. This forced many Jewish communities to seek refuge in the German states, where life remained difficult and precarious due to persistent legal restrictions and social discrimination.

Jewish Expulsions from France

• The expulsion of 1306 by Philip IV (the Fair) was one of the most significant, but some Jews were later allowed to return under Louis X and subsequent rulers.
• Another mass expulsion in 1322 under Charles IV further reduced Jewish communities in France.
• The final expulsion, enacted by Charles VI in 1394, permanently removed Jewish populations from the kingdom, preventing any large-scale return for centuries.

Difficult Conditions in the German States

Many exiled French Jews sought refuge in the Holy Roman Empire, particularly in the German states. However, they faced severe restrictions:

• They were barred from land ownership, preventing them from engaging in agriculture.
• They were excluded from the craft and trade guilds, limiting their ability to enter most skilled professions.
• Frequent persecutions and expulsions, often following accusations of ritual crimes or financial exploitation, created an unstable existence, with many communities forced to relocate repeatedly.

Migration into Poland: A New Opportunity

As conditions in the German states remained uncertain, many Jews moved eastward into Poland, where King Casimir III (r. 1333–1370) had extended legal protections and privileges to Jewish communities. Poland’s lack of a strong urban middle class meant that Jewish merchants, bankers, and artisans played an essential role in the economy, providing financial and commercial expertise.

This migration contributed to the growth of Jewish communities in Poland, which would eventually develop into one of the largest and most vibrant Jewish populations in Europe, playing a central role in commerce, finance, and cultural life for centuries to come.