Thirteenth-century Aragonese law compelled Jews and Muslims to attend Christian sermons under royal authority.
Evidence
On 12 March 1243 Jaume presided over the ecclesiastical council of Lerida. Among the subjects addressed by the council was the conversion of Muslim and Jewish subjects of the Crown of Aragon. The council issued detailed statutes on the property and inheritance rights of converts from Judaism and Islam. It also fixed fines for anyone who insulted converts. Finally, it proclaimed that “whenever an archbishop, bishop, or Dominican or Franciscan friars come to a town or place where Saracens or Jews live and wish to proffer the word of God to these same Jews or Saracens, the latter should come when convoked and should patiently listen to their preaching. And if they should be unwilling, our officials should compel them to do so and accept no excuses.” — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 923
Categorization
Category: Factual Claims
- XREF: Connects to the coercion of attendance at missionary preaching themes in other inquisition/mission context readings.
- QUESTION: How did this compulsory-attendance decree reconcile with Jaume’s simultaneous reputation for relative tolerance of Muslims and Jews?