How a Catholic Monarch Handles a Racial Riot

A Lesson For American Leadership from England of Yore

Richard I being anointed during his coronation in Westminster Abbey, from a 13th-century chronicle.

The Coronation Chair of Saint Edward.

On the day of the coronation of the man who would go down as the Lionheart, Richard Plantagenet, some elders from the Jewish communities of England came to present coronation gifts. Now Richard had ordered all Jews barred from the investiture ceremony for two reasons: one, there was great consternation among the Crusade-fevered people of England concerning Jewish support for the Muslim powers over the Christian ones. Stories - now we know to be factual - of Jews opening the gates of Christian settlements in Spain to Moorish Slave-Raiders had caused many to see the Jews as potential spies working for the Caliphate. Richard's advisers didn't want anything potentially happening to Richard at the coronation, seeing his desire to crusade was so pronounced and a man like Richard had a reputation even reaching the Middle East. The second reason being that racial tension between the two groups was so high - not just due to the allegations of treason, but commercial competition with Christian merchants and bankers - that fights almost always broke out where the two were present.

19th century painting of the king

The Jewish communities wished to make a display of good will toward the king at the outset of his reign and show support for his crusading endeavors. So they arrived at Richard's court instead with their presents. The courtiers reacted harshly, and while they accepted the gifts, they stripped and flogged the Elders all while Richard was being crowned King of England.

The courtiers doubtlessly realized they had made a grave error. The Jewish community wouldn't take the death of their elders lying down, so they decided to deal the first blow. They concocted a rumor that His Majesty had ordered the execution of all Jews on the pretense of removing potential usurpers from seizing the advantage while he was on Crusade.

What followed was a massacre of legendary proportions. In a massive race-riot, Englishmen descended on the Jewish ghettos and began looting everything that wasn't nailed down and burning everything they could set a torch to. Many Jews were forcibly baptized, though whether clergy were actively involved or these were simply vigilante acts remains a mystery. Most of the Jews who were outside their homes were beaten to death and robbed of everything including the clothes on their backs. Those in their homes perished in fires. Among those to die was Jacob of Orléans, a respected Jewish scholar in France as well as England who had come to London to start a school.

The situation was dire for the Jews. Those who escaped the ghetto fled to the Tower of London, where the king's guards kept them safe from the mob that was as hungry for their blood as they were for their gold. As Jews became scarce, the mob expanded their rapine to the Christian communities surrounding the ghettos, performing similar acts of violence and theft.

The "White Tower" is the portion of the Tower of London which dates to King Richard's reign.

The king found out about the event only after leaving Westminster, just having been crowned King of England. In what can only be described as a tone-setter for the young Warrior-King's reign and a move that is characteristically Richard, he immediately rode with his knights to the ghettos. Surveying the chaos wrought by his presumptuous subjects and faced with the prospect of total revolt, Richard set about immediately coordinating every available man-at-arms and knight of his court to restoring order in the ghetto and finding out exactly what the Devil was afoot in London.

As order was restored and the violent rabble either killed or captured, Richard began his investigation and found the source of the trouble to be from his own courtiers. Roger of Howden, Richard's principle biographer, tells us he found the source of the violence to be the envious and racist citizens of London themselves. Roger relates how Richard carried out a thorough investigation. Discovering the forced conversions, he decreed that all Jews forcibly baptized could return to their native religion if they so desired.

Plaque depicting King Richard at Nottingham Castle.

But Richard knew behavior like this could not go unpunished, especially while he was poised to leave for Crusade for God only knew how long. Richard went a step further and distributed a royal writ throughout the lands, demanding the Jewish communities to be left to themselves to handle their affairs and that every Jew before the law was to be seen as an equal citizen - a murder of a Jew or the theft of Jewish property was to be taken as seriously as the murder of an Englishman and the theft of his goods. He executed the mob leaders and saw stolen property returned to its owners.

What's to Learn?

Racial tension between Jews and Englishman on the British Isles was very much akin to the tension between Whites and Blacks in the US today. Just like it did in England during the 11th and 12th century, it threatens to tear us apart even as foreign enemies stand ready to wash over us, unprepared as we struggle amongst ourselves. So how should we respond to situations where these tensions are immediate? Well, there's a couple of things we can learn from Richard I. Respond decisively and quickly, investigate the matter impartially, and then create some focal point of unity. For Richard, that was himself and the Crown. He made it clear he was a friend to everyone.

So, as a recap:

1. Act quickly.
2. Diffuse the tension.
3. Fix the problem surgically.
4. Find a point on which to restore unity.

Let us pray for our nation. Hey, if you're feeling brave, pray to Richard Himself. A noted mystic and religious who lived in the 12th century said that Richard spent 66 years in purgatory for his short temper, after which he would ascend to Heaven. So maybe see if Good King Richard is waiting for us in the Hereafter, and ask for his intercession on the matter of the racial divisions tearing at our country.

King Richard the Lionheart in Stained Glass in an Unknown Church.