Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
612-694 · 82 years · show in timeline

Visigothic kingdom 612 to 694: forced baptism, removal of children and enslavement of the Jews, decreed and confirmed at the Councils of Toledo

King Sisebut forced the Jews of the Visigothic kingdom (Spain and southern Gaul) to choose between baptism and emigration; according to the Jewish Encyclopedia more than 90,000 were baptised. The Fourth Council of Toledo in 633, under Isidore of Seville, forbade future forced baptisms but decreed that those baptised by force must remain Christians, and ordered that their baptised children be taken from their parents. Later councils confirmed the expulsion of all Jews (638) and King Ervig's laws against the Jews (681). The Seventeenth Council in 694 decreed that the Jews be deprived of their property for the exchequer, made slaves forever and separated from their children from the age of seven.

Period
612-694 (82 years)
Country
France, Spain
Institutions
Fourth Council of Toledo 633
Sixth Council of Toledo 638
Twelfth Council of Toledo 681
Sixteenth Council of Toledo 693
Seventeenth Council of Toledo 694
Visigothic kings
Category
Anti-Judaism, Expropriation, Slavery, Persecution
Level of evidence
B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?
Persons
Isidore of Seville (archbishop, president of the Fourth Council of Toledo in 633)
Julian of Toledo (archbishop, president of the Twelfth Council of Toledo in 681)
Sisebut (Visigothic king, ordered the forced baptism)
Egica (Visigothic king, convoked the council of 694 and ratified the enslavement)

What happened to the people

Who was affected? Victims and numbers

  1. King Sisebut (from 612) ordered that within a year all Jews must either be baptised or leave the Visigothic kingdom forever. Many fled; the greater number, more than 90,000, were baptised according to the Jewish Encyclopedia in order to save their property and homes. Whether Sisebut acted at the instigation of the clergy is unknown according to the Jewish Encyclopedia; Isidore of Seville criticised the forced conversion.
    Evidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt Under the Visigoths
    „Whether he was influenced by Emperor Heraclius, or whether the clergy brought it about, is unknown, but he ordered that within a year all Jews should either submit to baptism or leave the Visigothic kingdom forever.“
    Spain, Artikel Spain, Abschnitt Under the Visigoths. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt Under the Visigoths
    „Many Jews fled; but the greater number, more than 90,000, saved their property and their homes by embracing Christianity“
    Spain, Artikel Spain, Abschnitt Under the Visigoths. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt Under the Visigoths
    „On account of this forcible conversion the king was severely criticized by Isidor of Seville“
    Spain, Artikel Spain, Abschnitt Under the Visigoths. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 8 (1910), Artikel History of the Jews
    „that they should choose between baptism and banishment“
    History of the Jews, Artikel History of the Jews. Original · Archive copy

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. On 5 December 633 the Fourth Council of Toledo met, convoked by King Sisenand, with 62 bishops from Spain and Narbonensian Gaul under the presidency of Isidore of Seville. Canon 57 decreed: in future no Jew may be compelled to accept Christianity, but those who were compelled under Sisebut and received the sacraments must remain Christians.
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 449
    „sixty-two bishops from Spain and Narbonensian Gaul, under the presidency of S. Isidore of Seville“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 449. Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 456 (Kanon 57)
    „Those who were compelled under King Sisebut, and received the sacraments, must remain Christians.“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 456 (Kanon 57). Original
  2. On 9 November 694 the Seventeenth Council of Toledo met, convoked by King Egica. According to Hefele the occasion was a conspiracy in which Spanish Jews with their co-religionists in Africa were said to have taken part. Canon 8 justified the punishment by claiming that the Jews had tried to overthrow the country and the people, after having (in appearance) received baptism.
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1896, Bd. 5, S. 247
    „A conspiracy, in which the Spanish Jews with their co-religionists in Africa took part, gave occasion for King Egiza holding another Spanish general Council in the follow ing year, 694.“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 5 (A.D. 626 to the close of the Second Council of Nicaea, A.D. 787), Bd. 5, S. 247. Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1896, Bd. 5, S. 247 f. (Kanon 8)
    „that they endeavoured to overthrow the country and the people, they must be severely punished. They have done this after they had (in appearance) received baptism“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 5 (A.D. 626 to the close of the Second Council of Nicaea, A.D. 787), Bd. 5, S. 247 f. (Kanon 8). Original

What happened to those affected?

  1. Baptised persons who returned to Jewish customs were to be compelled by the bishop to return to the faith; sons circumcised by them were taken from their parents (canon 59). Canon 60 ordered that the baptised sons and daughters of Jews generally be separated from their parents and brought up in convents or by Christian men or women. According to canon 61, relapsed converts had deserved the confiscation of their goods; only believing children were to inherit.
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 456 (Kanon 59)
    „such transgressors shall be compelled by the bishop to return to the faith. If those circumcised by them are their sons, they shall be separated from their parents“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 456 (Kanon 59). Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 456 (Kanon 60)
    „shall be separated from their parents, and shall be brought up either in convents or by Christian men or women.“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 456 (Kanon 60). Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 456 (Kanon 61)
    „Although baptized Jews who have again apostatised have deserved the confiscation of their goods, yet shall their children, if they are believing, inherit the property of their parents.“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 456 (Kanon 61). Original
    Evidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt Under the Visigoths
    „at the fourth Toledan Council (633) he ordered that the children of baptized Jews should be taken from their parents and given to Christians or to the cloisters for education“
    Spain, Artikel Spain, Abschnitt Under the Visigoths. Original · Archive copy
  2. Further canons of 633: baptised Jews were to have no intercourse with the unbaptised (62), apostates could not be witnesses (64), and on the King's command Jews and their sons were to hold no public offices (65). Clerics and laymen who let themselves be bribed by Jews and protected them were threatened with anathema and excommunication (58).
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 456 (Kanon 62)
    „Baptized Jews must have no intercourse with the unbaptized.“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 456 (Kanon 62). Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 457 (Kanon 64)
    „Baptized Jews who have fallen away from the faith may not be witnesses, even though they maintain that they are Christians.“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 457 (Kanon 64). Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 457 (Kanon 65)
    „On command of the King, the Synod orders that Jews and the sons of Jews shall discharge no public offices.“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 457 (Kanon 65). Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 456 (Kanon 58)
    „Whoever does so in the future is to be anathematised and excommunicated.“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 456 (Kanon 58). Original
  3. The council's verdict: the Jews lose their property for the benefit of the exchequer and become slaves forever. Those to whom the King sends them as slaves must watch that they no longer practise Jewish customs. Their children are taken from them at seven years of age and later married to Christians. The King ratified the decrees. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, all Jews, baptised or not, were distributed as gifts among Christians.
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1896, Bd. 5, S. 248 (Kanon 8)
    „They shall be deprived of their property for the benefit of the exchequer, and shall be made slaves forever.“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 5 (A.D. 626 to the close of the Second Council of Nicaea, A.D. 787), Bd. 5, S. 248 (Kanon 8). Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1896, Bd. 5, S. 248 (Kanon 8)
    „their children must be separated from them, when they are seven years of age“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 5 (A.D. 626 to the close of the Second Council of Nicaea, A.D. 787), Bd. 5, S. 248 (Kanon 8). Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1896, Bd. 5, S. 248
    „The King ratified these decrees.“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 5 (A.D. 626 to the close of the Second Council of Nicaea, A.D. 787), Bd. 5, S. 248. Original
    Evidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt Under the Visigoths
    „declared all Jews, baptized or not, to be slaves and distibuted them as gifts among Christians. Jewish children over seven years of age were taken from their parents and similarly dealt with (end of 694)“
    Spain, Artikel Spain, Abschnitt Under the Visigoths. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 8 (1910), Artikel History of the Jews
    „he sentenced to slavery all the Jews of his states and ordered that their children of seven years and upwards be given to Christians to be educated“
    History of the Jews, Artikel History of the Jews. Original · Archive copy

Background

Course of events

  1. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, this condition came to an end under Roderic, the last Visigothic king, when the Muslims crossed from Africa in 711 and conquered Spain; in Muslim Spain the Jews obtained their liberty.
    Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 8 (1910), Artikel History of the Jews
    „This condition of things came to an end under Roderic, Egica's second successor and last Visigothic King of Spain“
    History of the Jews, Artikel History of the Jews. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 8 (1910), Artikel History of the Jews
    „In Mohammedan Spain , the Jews , to whose help the conquerors largely owed their victories, obtained their liberty.“
    History of the Jews, Artikel History of the Jews. Original · Archive copy

Who received the assets, who profited?

  1. The Sixteenth Council of Toledo (May 693) decreed that the old laws intended to force the Jews to conversion were to be followed exactly; whoever sincerely converted was freed from the taxes which Jews had to pay to the exchequer.
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1896, Bd. 5, S. 244 (Kapitel 1)
    „The old laws against the Jews, in order to force them to conversion, shall be exactly followed; and every Jew, who sincerely converts, shall be free from all taxes to the exchequer which the Jews are required to pay“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 5 (A.D. 626 to the close of the Second Council of Nicaea, A.D. 787), Bd. 5, S. 244 (Kapitel 1). Original

Response of the Church

  1. In January 638 the Sixth Council of Toledo, with 52 bishops, thanked God that King Chintila had by decree obliged all Jews to leave Spain. Every future king had to swear before ascending the throne that he would not tolerate Jewish unbelief; if he broke the oath he was to be anathema and food for eternal fire. The decrees of 633 concerning the Jews were confirmed.
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 460
    „In the January of the year 638, however, by the wish of King Chintila, the sixth Synod of Toledo was celebrated“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 460. Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 461 (Kapitel 3)
    „God is thanked for this, that King Chintila had lately, by a decree, ordered that all Jews should be obliged to leave Spain, and that only Catholics should be allowed to dwell in the country.“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 461 (Kapitel 3). Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 461 (Kapitel 3)
    „that he would not tolerate Jewish unbelief, and would uprightly maintain the present laws. If he violates this oath, let him be anathema maranatha“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 461 (Kapitel 3). Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895, Bd. 4, S. 461 (Kapitel 3)
    „Finally, the decrees of the fourth Synod of Toledo in regard to the Jews are confirmed.“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), Bd. 4, S. 461 (Kapitel 3). Original
  2. The Twelfth Council of Toledo (January 681) under Archbishop Julian of Toledo approved King Ervig's twenty laws against the Jews and declared them valid forever, among them: Jews may not withdraw themselves or their children from baptism, nor celebrate Passover or the Sabbath, nor circumcise. Every Jew had to present himself to his bishop or priest, who summoned the Jews on appointed days.
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1896, Bd. 5, S. 210 (Kapitel 9)
    „The twenty laws put forth by King Ervig against the Jews (received into the Leges WisigotJi. tit. 12, 3) are ap proved, and shall henceforth have validity forever“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 5 (A.D. 626 to the close of the Second Council of Nicaea, A.D. 787), Bd. 5, S. 210 (Kapitel 9). Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1896, Bd. 5, S. 210 (Kapitel 9)
    „That the Jews shall withdraw neither themselves nor their sons and servants from baptism“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 5 (A.D. 626 to the close of the Second Council of Nicaea, A.D. 787), Bd. 5, S. 210 (Kapitel 9). Original
    Evidence: Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1896, Bd. 5, S. 211 (Kapitel 9)
    „the bishop shall call the Jews before him on appointed days“
    A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 5 (A.D. 626 to the close of the Second Council of Nicaea, A.D. 787), Bd. 5, S. 211 (Kapitel 9). Original
    Evidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt Under the Visigoths
    „All the anti-Jewish laws proposed by this king were accepted by the twelfth Toledan Council, presided over by Archbishop Julian of Toledo“
    Spain, Artikel Spain, Abschnitt Under the Visigoths. Original · Archive copy

See also

Scholarly literature and reference works

  1. Scholarly literature
    Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1895: A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 4 (A.D. 451 to A.D. 680), 1 January 1895. Original (retrieved 23 Oct 2026)
  2. Scholarly literature
    Carl Joseph Hefele, übers. von William R. Clark, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1896: A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents, Bd. 5 (A.D. 626 to the close of the Second Council of Nicaea, A.D. 787), 1 January 1896. Original (retrieved 23 Oct 2026)
  3. Reference work
    The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905): Spain, 1 January 1905. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 23 Oct 2026)
  4. Reference work
    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 8 (1910): History of the Jews, 1 January 1910. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 23 Oct 2026)
Change log (1)

The change log is kept in German only.

  • : Aufgenommen

Last changed on 23 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.