50. Jews in Visigothic Spain (Jewish History Lab)

Brief overview of the Visigothic period in Jewish history, especially after the conversion of Recared in 587 to the Muslim invasion in 711.
Most important source on this is undoubtedly Solomon Katz, The Jews in the Visigothic and Frankish Kingdoms of Spain and Gaul (www.scribd.com/document/35917...)
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Join our learning community of students, researchers and colleagues: / @henryabramsonphd

[@BardChords]

You upload so much stuff I can't keep up! These videos are great, thanks for your work!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Glad you like them!

[@RCSVirginia]

When the Visigoths conquered Spain and Southern France, and set up their kingdom there, they had already been exposed to Roman culture with the result that they tried to maintain that culture. Even their Arian Christian faith came from Arius, a presbyter who was a Roman citizen of Berber descent who lived in Alexandria. As best they could, they attempted to perpetuate the structures and traditions of the old Roman Empire. Amongst those traditions was a fair degree of religious tolerance, and that applied to Jews, as well. During those times, intermarriage betwixt religions was not uncommon, and women tended to take the faith of their husbands. Modern DNA research has shown that European Jews have a substantial amount of DNA in the female line from non-Jewish women in the Roman Empire. That practice became anathema once the Visigoths converted to Catholicism, and the reaction to it by the newly-converted easily explains the severity of the laws against marriage betwixt a Christian and a Jew.

[@lindseyadams2841]

I was going to say best content on KZbin, but I think you have the best content on the internet 😊

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Hyperbolic, but much appreciated.

[@lindseyadams2841]

Sincerely!

[@viktorb21s]

Outstanding video, Henry!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Many thanks!

[@kaleomariz1000]

Thank you so much for this lecture. It’s hard to find good quality resources on visigothic Spain. (Imagine how hard it would be to research about Jews in such period)

[@Atilioam]

Amazing video. A lot of good information in a way that really grasp my attention.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Thank you for the kind feedback!

[@kingcobra7565]

Excellent sir. TY

[@EzraCubas]

Keep these informative videos coming

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

G-d willing!

[@vickiacker1461]

Always informative and a pleasure .

[@davidtyler3116]

Excellent lecture!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

TY

[@thebrocialist8300]

I was wondering if you could perhaps provide some commentary regarding the Reconquista-era ideology of neo-gothicism (the Christian Kingdom of Asturies’ attempt at legitimizing its sovereignty through the fabrication of dubious patrilineal genealogical documentation - connecting its monarchs and high nobility to those of the former Visigothic Kingdom - and the construction of a chivalrous tradition that was alleged to be grounded in Gothic institutions). I encounter very little recognition of it in most English-language analyses of Iberian history. I think it could provide some additional context/coherence to this subject, as this ideology was central to the Reconquista project. It served to temper the ambitions of Christian sovereigns/nobles, the basis of a coherent national identity for the diverse body politic of Christian Spain (e.g. Hispano-Romans, Hispano-Goths, Vascones, and the poorly-Romanized/Christianized, rural Iberian-Celts). It also helped to mold the image of Iberia’s Christian Kingdoms in a manner that resonated with the other Medieval kingdoms of Western Christendom - which all shared similar founding mythologies (typically involving ruling elites descended from migration-era Germanic conquerors, Romanization, heroic conversions to Catholicism, etc.)

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Beyond my specialization, sorry

[@RCSVirginia]

The Brocialist Don Pelayo was a Visigoth, a member of King Roderick's court, who managed to flee from the defeat of the Battle of Guadalete, and who, also, was not amongst the Visigothic nobles who were massacred in the city of Toledo when that city fell to the invading Arabs. Along with other surviving members of the Visigothic elites, he fled to the North. When he became ruler of the last remnants of the Christian kingdom there in 718, only seven years had passed since the death of King Roderick in 711. The battle that would ensure that his small kingdom would survive, that of Covadongo, would happen in 722, only eleven years after the defeat at Guadalete. So, Pelayo was not someone who tried to claim descent from the Visigoths centuries later. He was a Visigoth who was present both at the Arab conquest and the beginning of La Reconquista.

[@olebrgesen795]

What a bizarre story! Really good lecture as always Dr. Henry Abramson.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Thanks!

[@zafirjoe18]

The Jews opened the gates of Toledo to Ariq , the guy who conquered it, both Christian and Arabic chronicles this .

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Not in this lecture

[@MitzvosGolem1]

Excellent

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Thanks

[@terrytzaneros8007]

Pardon the pedantry, but Arius never made it to the episcopacy. Arius' Christological pandemonium was first introduced into Alexandria when he was a deacon and the diffused throughout the Near East as presbyter (priest) of the said patriarchate.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Please--pedantry is perpetually positive.

[@Long-Ball-Larry]

Thx for the lecture doc! Wait, what? 21:26 The next discussion will be of the beginning of Islam in the Arabian peninsula or did you mean Iberian peninsula?

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Heading back to the Arabian peninsula for a week to understand the Islamic context, but not to worry, we certainly intend to return to the Iberian peninsula for at least two weeks' worth of lectures this term.

[@kathleeenmcclintock4931]

Wow! Thank you.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Bizarre history, isn't it?

[@king_cobra5492]

There weren't a large pop of Jews in Spain, or Europe, during the Muslim invasion of Hispania (Oxford Treatise Middle Ages.). Great lecture. Thank you Sir.

[@milovanprelevic318]

The Montesquieu quote is “toutes les maximes, tous les principes et toutes les vues de l‘Inquisition…” The noun “principes” has no L (unlike “principles” in English), and it‘s masculine, so it‘s “tous les principes”, not “toutes” like for the feminine nouns “maximes” and “vues”. Also, the proper noun “Inquisition” is capitalised, and it’s not the last word in Montesquieu‘s sentence, so the period isn’t part of the quote. Thanks for all of your wonderful lectures, Professor! I just thought I’d share some French proofreading with a fellow Canadian.

[@milovanprelevic318]

P.S. The original quote has only one comma: the Oxford comma is generally not used in French. Sorry to be so picky!

[@milovanprelevic318]

Thanks again for your wonderful work, Professor!

[@zafirjoe18]

The Spanish Jews had a tendency to go undercover to weather the storm (שמדא עבידא דבטלא) this stems to when the Visigoths turned catholic[ it seems that before this Jews where actually very welcome in Spain as the people of the bible]. This tradition to feign their faith, plays out again in the time of the Almohads . Hence Maimonides’s Igeret Hashmad. It plays out again in גזירות קנ״א pogroms of 1391 , which actually ended with the inquisition and eventually expulsion. Ashkenazi Jews almost without exception stuck their neck out to the sword. The descendants of the Ro”sh were all killed al kiddush Hashem in the pogroms of 1391.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Yes, we will return to this topic.

[@zafirjoe18]

Thanks

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Welcome

[@danielpalmer643]

This is quite interesting in one of the many ways history's horrors always seems to rhyme. The 'decalvatio' as scalping is perhaps not just coincidentally related to the "wild west" practice. The conquistadors (not the Native Americans) introduced that horrible practice. It was only subsequently blamed on Native Americans. Anyway, I thought that it was interesting that this practice might have originated with Visigoths.

[@goodaimshield1115]

The conquistadors did not introduced that practice. Stop making shit up. The Dutch, English, and French did.

[@joeluna7729]

Wow. Another great lecture. Thank you sir. 👍 - I have my teenaged son watch them,, to help him learn about our history. PS: I get ALL your jokes...but you know--tuff crowd 😂

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Ha! Teenage sons. I've got a few myself. Hope he enjoys the lectures!

[@joeluna7729]

@@HenryAbramsonPhD ken, todah

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

the parallels between those times and right up to this very day with all these lockdowns currently going on are truly remarkable .

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

I don't follow

[@Ross_Embossed]

I think Jesus'BFF is confused how to read or comprehend the concept of history.. let alone the lessons to be learned, sad.

[@thebrocialist8300]

Lol

[@savtamarlene]

@@HenryAbramsonPhD I believe what BFF is referring to is what has occurred this past year or so with the Chinese virus and how we have all been legislated to about work and just plain living. It is quite a stretch to compare this with what the Jews were made to bear for centuries in Spain. He is not showing any compassion for the tortures of hell and murder that befell the Jews from his co-religionists all in the name of his BFF jesus!!!

[@juliejohnson1663]

This was thought provoking, the interwar anger (1930s) and lack of basic resources in Europe contrasted with acculturation in the pre-Moorish Iberian conversions. I have wondered about this before. Toledo ghetto isolation as a response to perceived threat... Right next to the cathedral.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Check out Hilberg's introduction to his Destruction of European Jewry, which is especially connected to the 14th and 15th centuries, but I think his ideas may be extended back even further to the Visigothic era. Thanks for your stimulating questions in the chat!

[@juliejohnson1663]

The history of my family! How did we end up so fractured? Why was American acculturation so attractive and marrying out seen as a solution to surviving in the Los Angeles Yiddish community? (Just personal head slap ;) TY

[@olebrgesen795]

@@juliejohnson1663 - I’m so sad American Jews becoming so secular so they don’t even know anything about their grandparents roots!

[@juliejohnson1663]

@@HenryAbramsonPhD So dense in documentation, in 1938, it seems like the Nazi authorities miscalculated how unwilling/ prejudiced the nations they hoped would accept immigrants actually were.

[@SurfbyShootin]

What's bizarre is the feeling that I'm only getting half the story. Maybe I should investigate these strange and bizarre reasons behind this telling. I might find something interesting 🤔

[@gentilenation1117]

It was obvious at that time, there were no Jews yet in Visigoth Spain. Or the Jews basically convert just to survive and also may have gone on towards the Franks (587 to 711 AD).

[@efstratiosfilis2290]

I have read in a family biography from Turkey which states that uncle Mahmud was barred from military officers' college because his file had "New Moslem" written in it!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Very interesting!

[@Ukie88]

Purity of the blood sure figured prominently in the caste system of the new Spain across the Atlantic. I think the British were influenced by this to some extent in New England and the slave trade.

[@gratefuldead3750]

Not really. The spanish were much more tolerant, the spanish and portuguese mixed in spain and in the new world. Millions of spanish in spain have jewish and muslim ancestry. The anglo american purity and racial laws came from the british island, because after the norman invasion there was some kind of apartheid from 1066 until the rose wars and king Arthur. Than this apartheid pattern came to Ireland where mariages between irish and english soon were forbidden. Somehow the african slaves in new england became the irish of the new world

[@Horatio.Mantooth]

With all respect Mr. Abramson,I respectfully disagree with the notion of any invasion as a welcome one. No matter your background. The ummayd caliphate was not kind to either side be it Christian or Jew. It was not a golden kumbaya moment for all 3 cultures. The Moors at that time subjugated most. Forced conversions upon the wives and young children of the men they killed. It was the remaining visigoths that held the line in the north and Don Pelayo who helped start the reconquista till the last expulsion of Granada.

[@mcm7953]

You know the jews helped the Muslims to conquered Spain if you don't than go and research

[@howardmerken758]

Arian, not Aryan, or people will get confused.

[@gratefuldead3750]

Arius, a cleric

[@georgerodriguez4207]

Scalping came from visigoths or German

[@gkeith64]

What we Yahudim see of the 1500 period. Gr8 elder Arius the AriYAn is Yahudim. Our Family of the house of King Dawud was seperated and the Maternal meshpaca went into Europe with gr8 elder Yapheths seed, our other meshpaca. The paternals where beheaded and their children cast into enslavement, as is written in revelations, Spanish Inquisition was a prophesied tragedy for Yahudim and Jews kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXjOq51nfdBkfdU Now on this matter of Jesus 3 Nephi spoke volumes to me, as concerns the Gentiles, as did 2 Edras, Obediyah, & IsaiYah, on many levels. Hence i have a question. Given my research and observation of scripture we've just come out of the hidden/Amen cycle and are in the Shachar/dawning cycle, the age of Yada/knowledge aka Aquarius. That written, the gr8 elder Yahudim saints where very pressed that we remember the true names and titles due to frequency resonance and cymatic geometric molecular manipulation. That is, the phonetic tones of our words, form specific geometry! YhWh forms this🔯 geometry. See snowflakes, the Lilly, water molecules, when the word love, honesty, or beauty, is spoken into it, (see Dr. Emoto Masuro's research - thoughts & water), the sunflower honeycomb etc., and all living things. Why names matter & become matter Hear a passage from Christian elders Kjv 22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. And now the same passages Transliterated back to our gr8 Elder Yahudim name and title... 22 Therefore say unto the house of *YAsher'eL, thus saith YahUah Alahainu; I do not this for your sakes, O house of *YAsher'eL, but for mine holy *name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heAthen, whither ye went. 23 And I will sanctify my great *name*, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heAthen shall know that I am YahUah, saith YahUah Alahainu, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. Let us understand 3.Christian elders - Jesus the begotten son of Jehovah God 2.Greek elders - Iesous the son of Sophiyah TheOs 1.Yahudim Elders - King Yahushua Yah'hid son of YahUah Alahainu Of the elders who have had the records, which is the eldest? Yahudim! Therefore, as it is written, do not change nor add to the book? Has such been done? Do the translations provide the same understanding? Why does one find it offensive to use the correct names and titles? Are we to be subject to traditions? Which traditions are many subject to? Gr8 elder Adam - Soil Brown/dark, ebony Gr8 elder Eve - bone, cream/light, ivory Remember we war not with flesh and blood. And skin hue is only for identification! 1 race on the planet, many Nations & tribes. Many hues in people, as with the flowers!

[@goodaimshield1115]

The Jews were not usually forcefully converted, not by the Inquisition. They were given the option to either leave, or convert, and most decided to convert and stay in Spain. It's a shitty option, but it didn't exist anywhere else. The kingdoms that expelled the jews, expelled ALL of them, no option to convertion. Not forced convertions in Spain, at least not commonly. Liempieza de Sangre didn't come with the Inquisition, but dacades later, and it was not about "not having Jewish ancestry", but about "not having pagan or heretic ancestry". It didn't matter if your ancestor was a Jew, a Muslim, a Budist, or a Christian from some Christian sect, or a Cahotlic Christian who had commited an act against the Christian religion. The only reason why the "limpieza de sangre" was mostly focused on Jewish ancestry is because it was the most common one, as, again, most Jews decided to convert and stay in Spain, so having Jewish ancestry was way more common than having Muslim, pagan, or some ancestor who commited a "crime" againt the Christian religion. Plus, it would have been nice to mention that the only reason Limpieza de Sangre existed in Spain, was actually because the rest of European kingdoms mocked Spanairds for their supposed (sometimes right) Moorish and Jewish ancestry (there were no Jews in most of the European Kingdoms, as they were all forced to leave, no option to convert and stay whatsoever), ancestry that made them "bad christians", which was probably the worst thing you could be accused of being in the Middle Ages in a Christian nation. Hence, Spanairds were eager to prove they were not "bad christians" in any way nor form, so Limpieza de Sangre was more of a document to present before other European nobles, than something that was actually valid in Spain. For starters, because it almost only affected the nobility, and, for they were nobility, the king would grant Limpieza de Sangre to all of them. It is well known most Spanish nobles had Jewsih ancestry, and they were all well aware of it, bu they were all granted Liempieza de sangre, nonetheless. It was a political thing, rather than anything else, and it was more about pretending before other European nobles and kingdoms, than about really giving a shit about your ancestry (again, everyone knew most nobles had Jweish ancestry, yet they were all granted Limpieza de sangre status, cause in Spain no one gave a shit, really, it was just a way to show the rest of Europe they were not bad Christians). Also, to mix Montesquieu, the Inquisition, Limpieza de sangre, and all those things (really, quoting Montesquieu as if he knew shit about Spain, let alone Spanish history or laws or anything, really), is just absurd. This is no history, this is propaganda.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Just FYI: this video is about the Visigothic period, not the Inquisition, which won't be a factor for another seven hundred years. Please don't use profanity in your posts.

[@yaelfeldhendler6280]

Arians were good for the Jews

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

In context, I guess

[@yaelfeldhendler6280]

Montesquieu a great French philosopher much better than Rousseau and antisemitic Voltaire.I am a French Jewess

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Much to be said for him.

[@goodaimshield1115]

Yes, a French anti-Spanish chovinist extremely biased who just hated Spain and Spaniards.. To quote Montesquieu as if he knew anything on how things worked in Spain is laughable. Next time I'll quote Hitler to talk about Jewish costumes and history. To mix Inquisition, "limpieza de sangre", and quote Montesquieu views on Spain (which is as if I literally quote Hitler to talk about Judaism), is absurd. This is no history, this is propaganda, and victimhood. Visigoths were not nice to the Jews, that's for granted, but to mix all these things together makes absolute no sense, unless you just want to push a political narrative, completely ignoring the different historical context and the actual meaning of certain concepts.

[@melodyh9720]

I bet the records were destroyed...seems to fit with anti Semitic behavior, always hard to hear about but repetitive in history.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Certainly possible that records were intentionally destroyed, but recall that we are discussing a small community that existed on the fringe of world Jewry, some thirteen centuries ago. Not unexpected that there would be few surviving Jewish accounts.

[@melodyh9720]

True, all things in perspective (re-watching) and though their persecution was very severe (hear- say) you can't blame the lack of records purely on anti Semitic patterns. You are great at what you do... sticking to the facts.

[@nikkicastello1063]

They betrayed the visigoths like they have betrayed every person in history.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Stupid and hateful (a common combination)