Ad hominem ridicule and rhymed curses formed the core toolkit of medieval propaganda

Evidence

A favorite trick of propagandists of all times and places is to discredit an opponent by attributing to him bad or ridiculous characteristics and, more rel­ evantly, bad intentions. Many of these arise from, or give rise to, stereotypes. These are particularly useful in attacking religious, ethnic or regional opponents. Propaganda of this kind made extensive use of standardized abusive epithets and curses, often in the form of rhymes and jingles. — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 488

Categorization

• XREF: Rhymed abusive epithets against out-groups parallel the cross-cultural moral panics and identity-signaling analysis in ‘Complaints About Immodesty Go Way Back.’