This Day in History: The 1391 Seville Massacre

The 1391 massacres were a series of pogroms aimed at the Jews of Spain. Various factors, such as the Black Plague, which led to allegations that Jews had poisoned the wells, ignited these attacks. Christians forced Jews to live in confined Jewish neighborhoods and to wear distinguishing symbols for easier targeting.

As part of these pogroms, many Jews were gathered in Seville, where synagogues were destroyed. The official decree was stark: convert or face death.

On the new moon of Tammuz 1391, violence erupted in Seville, with Jewish homes set ablaze and many murdered. While some remained resolute in the face of martyrdom, others succumbed to the pressure and converted. A portion of the Jews was sold as slaves to the Moors.