Norwich 1144: The First Blood Libel in History

Passover is a time of joy and celebration, when Jewish families gather for the Seder to retell the story of the Exodus, our journey from slavery to freedom. But in medieval Europe, this season was often shadowed by fear. For centuries, the days leading to Passover sometimes brought false and deadly accusations, the most infamous being the blood libel, the baseless claim that Jews murdered Christian children to use their blood for ritual purposes.

The first documented case took place in Norwich, England, in 1144, just before Passover. It marked a tragic turning point, becoming a model for the many persecutions that would follow.

On Friday, March 23, 1144, the body of a 12-year-old Christian boy named William was found in Thorpe Wood near Norwich. Forest warden Henry of Sprowston discovered the body, naked and mutilated. Because it was so close to Easter, he left it there for three days before returning to bury it. Soon afterward, a vicious rumor began: Jews had murdered the boy for ritual purposes. The accusation was completely false and stood in direct contradiction to Jewish law, which strictly forbids both murder and the consumption of blood. Yet the lie spread quickly, throwing the local Jewish community into fear and turmoil.

A few years later, a priest named Thomas of Monmouth wrote a book about the case, between 1150 and 1172, portraying William as a Christian martyr. He claimed the boy’s body had not decomposed and bore “marks of martyrdom.” He included questionable testimonies such as a maid who said she had seen a crucified child in a Jewish home, another man who claimed to see Jews carrying a body into the woods, and a supposed Jewish convert named Theobald of Cambridge, who said that Jews gathered every year to choose a place for a “Christian sacrifice” before Passover. According to him, in 1144 Norwich had been chosen at a meeting in Narbonne, France. Many historians today doubt Theobald even existed, but Thomas’s account became the foundation of the blood libel myth.

At the Easter synod, William’s uncle, Godwin Sturt, repeated the accusation before church leaders, including the Bishop of Norwich. Thomas, the head of the local monastery, saw an opportunity: he promoted the story to attract pilgrims to William’s grave, claiming miracles occurred there, such as beams of light shining on it. This brought prestige and financial gain to the monastery.

The accusations soon led to violence. Several Jews were murdered or tortured, including a man named Eleazar, whose home was said to be the scene of the crime. Yet not everyone supported the mob. The sheriff of Norwich, representing the king, gave Jews shelter in Norwich Castle, saving many lives.

Although royal authorities never formally charged the Jews, they did little to stop the spread of the rumor. Thomas’s writings lived on, inspiring similar accusations across Europe. For centuries afterward, Jews were often blamed for the deaths of Christian children before Passover. These lies sparked massacres, tortures, and the deaths of thousands of Jews who died al kiddush Hashem, sanctifying God’s name through their faith.

The Norwich blood libel was not just a tragedy for that community; it planted the seed of a myth that would haunt Jewish history for generations.

Today, by the grace of Hashem, Jews can prepare for Passover in freedom, without fear of such deadly lies. Yet we must remember those who suffered and died because of these false accusations. May their memory be a blessing, and may Hashem avenge their blood.