Language:
German
Year of publication:
2011
Titel der Quelle:
Mittellateinisches Jahrbuch
Angaben zur Quelle:
46,1 (2011) 1-13
Keywords:
Christianity and antisemitism History To 1500
;
Antisemitism History Middle Ages, 500-1500
;
Blood accusation
Abstract:
Discusses how British medieval historian and Benedictine monk William of Malmesbury, in his "Treatise on the Miracles of the Virgin Mary" (ca. 1135), picks up on and develops anti-Jewish rumors. The tractate is the most complete, original, and anti-Jewish of three early British collections of the wonders of Mary. It consists of 53 wonders or legends; of these six are explicitly anti-Jewish and several more portray the Jews as evil-doers, seducers, and critics of Christianity. Discusses William's account of the so-called "Toledano-Wonder", which normally opens the "block" of 17 Mary-legends. Argues that William changed the set order, with the aim of emphasizing the most serious sins and the threat that the Jews posed to Christianity. He feared that the Jews would invade Europe, ally themselves with the Pope, mix with the Christians, ridicule their beliefs, and bribe everyone with money. He viewed the Jews as deicides and wanting to perpetrate this crime. Underscores the role of British Benedictine abbeys as anti-Jewish "agitation centers". Concludes that, although William of Malmesbury probably never met a Jew in his life, he was influenced by the anti-Judaism he encountered in Christian holy writings.
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