Language:
French
Year of publication:
2014
Titel der Quelle:
Annales - Histoire, Sciences Sociales
Angaben zur Quelle:
69,4 (2014) 849-874
Keywords:
Louis
;
Jews History 13th century
;
Usury
;
Restitution
Abstract:
Discusses Louis IX's enquiries regarding restitution of interest (usury) collected by Jews, in the context of his general use of enquiries to learn about the status of his wealth, increase his dominion over and esteem among his subjects, and fulfill his "accountability" vis-à-vis God. He first ordered extensive enquiries in 1247, before his first Crusade, and upon his return introduced the practice of restitution. The Jews were first mentioned in documents pertaining to restitution enquiries in 1247-48 in Picardie, but they do not reflect a general policy, which began only in 1257-60. Before departing on his first Crusade, Louis IX repeated the older capetian tradition of despoiling the Jews directly in order to finance his "holy war". The restitution of interest taken by Jews, a practice also implying the appropriation and sale of property and real estate belonging to Jews, then temporarily expelled from France, became institutionalized in 1268-69, when Louis IX planned another Crusade. Situates these measures in the context of Louis IX's anti-Jewish policies and his policies aimed at usury in general and Jewish usury in particular. Concludes that the monarch gained financially from the restitutions, but that they also allowed him to pose as a champion of the Church and a defender of his subjects, to foment hatred against the Jews (the internal enemy), and to inspire enthusiasm for the Crusades (against the outer enemy).
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