The situation deteriorated in the late 12th century under the reign of King Richard I (Richard the Lionheart). In 1189, upon his coronation, a violent riot broke out in London during which many Jews were attacked, and some were killed. This violence spread across the country, signaling the growing dangers faced by Jewish communities.

In York, tensions reached a boiling point in March 1190, during a time of religious fervor inspired by the upcoming Third Crusade. Many Christians viewed Jews as infidels within their midst, and anti-Jewish sentiment was encouraged by both local elites and itinerant preachers.

A wealthy Jew named Benedict of York had already been attacked in London during the coronation riots and later died from his injuries. In York, another leading Jew, Josce of York, attempted to protect the community by seeking refuge in the royal castle—Clifford’s Tower—with his family and fellow Jews, numbering up to 150 people.

The Massacre at Clifford’s Tower

The siege of Clifford’s Tower unfolded over several days in mid-March 1190. A violent mob, encouraged by local barons and civic leaders, surrounded the castle. The mob was comprised of townspeople, crusaders, and even members of the gentry who had debts owed to Jews—destroying records of those debts would directly benefit them.

Inside the tower, the trapped Jews realized their situation was hopeless. In a desperate act of faith and dignity, many chose to take their own lives rather than submit to forced conversion or murder. The religious leader Rabbi Yom Tov of Joigny, according to some accounts, encouraged the community to perform a collective martyrdom (kiddush ha-Shem, or "sanctification of the Name").

Men killed their own families before taking their own lives. Those few who surrendered were promised mercy, but once outside, they were immediately slaughtered by the mob. The tower itself was burned, and the charred remains were left as a grim testament to the tragedy shutdown123