The 1391 pogroms in Spain: years of inflammatory sermons by Archdeacon Ferrand Martínez, thousands of Jews murdered, survivors forcibly baptised
Ferrand Martínez, Archdeacon of Écija and judge of the Archbishop of Seville, preached against the Jews for years and disregarded orders from two kings and papal bulls of protection. After the archbishop's death the cathedral chapter elected him administrator of the diocese; in December 1390 he ordered the clergy to tear down the synagogues. On 6 June 1391 (9 June according to Lea) the mob stormed the Jewish quarter of Seville and killed about 4,000 Jews; the survivors saved themselves by baptism. The violence spread across Castile, Aragon and Majorca. According to Lea, no one was punished in Castile.
Deaths
about 4,000(estimated, in Seville in June 1391; overall estimate 50,000, according to Lea probably an exaggeration)Evidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296)
„the number of slain was estimated at four thousand“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906). Original
Period
1378-1391 (13 years)
Country
Spain
Institutions
Ferrand Martínez Archdeacon of Écija Cathedral chapter of Seville Archdiocese of Seville
Ferrand Martínez (Archdeacon of Écija, Official of the Archbishop of Seville, incited the pogroms) Vicente Ferrer (Dominican friar, baptised most of the Jews of Valencia in 1391)
What happened to the people
Who was affected? Victims and numbers
In June 1391 the mob stormed the Jewish quarter of Seville (on 6 June according to the Jewish Encyclopedia, on 9 June according to Lea) and killed about 4,000 Jews; the survivors who could not flee saved their lives only by baptism. Of three synagogues two were converted into churches. In Córdoba the entire Jewish quarter was burned down, and 2,000 corpses lay in the streets, houses and synagogues.
Evidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt The Massacre of 1391
„On June 6 the mob attacked the Juderia in Seville from all sides and killed 4,000 Jews; the rest submitted to baptism as the only means of escaping death.“
Spain, Artikel Spain, Abschnitt The Massacre of 1391.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„on June 9th the tempest broke in a general rising of the populace against the Judería. Few of its inhabitants escaped; the number of slain was estimated at four thousand“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„Of the three synagogues two were converted into churches for the Christians who settled in the Jewish quarter“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt The Massacre of 1391
„the entire Juderia was burned down; factories and ware-houses were destroyed by the flames. Before the authorities could come to the aid of the defenseless people, every one of them“
The violence spread across Castile, Aragon, Catalonia and Majorca: in Toledo on 20 June, in Valencia on 9 July with more than 200 dead, in Palma on 2 August with 300 dead, in Barcelona 100 dead on the first day. In Valencia the Dominican friar Vicente Ferrer baptised most of the Jews; according to the Jewish Encyclopedia his presence was probably not accidental. The total number of victims was estimated at 50,000; Lea considers this probably an exaggeration.
Evidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt The Massacre of 1391
„A horrible butchery took place in Toledo on June 20.“
Spain, Artikel Spain, Abschnitt The Massacre of 1391.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt The Massacre of 1391
„On July 9 an outbreak occurred in Valencia. More than 200 persons were killed, and most of the Jews of that city were baptized by the friar Vicente Ferrer, whose presence in the city was probably not accidental.“
Spain, Artikel Spain, Abschnitt The Massacre of 1391.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt The Massacre of 1391
„On Aug. 2 the wave of murder visited Palma, in Majorca; 300 Jews were killed“
Spain, Artikel Spain, Abschnitt The Massacre of 1391.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt The Massacre of 1391
„On the first day 100 Jews were killed“
Spain, Artikel Spain, Abschnitt The Massacre of 1391.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„The total number of victims was estimated at fifty thousand, but this is probably an exaggeration.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
Original
What happened to those affected?
According to Lea, murder and plunder in Castile went completely unpunished. King Henry III had Martínez arrested in 1395, but the penalty was evidently trivial; his reputation did not suffer, and at his death in 1404 he bequeathed valuable possessions to the Hospital of Santa María, which he had founded. In 1396 the king bestowed the houses and lands of the Jews of Seville on two favourites.
Evidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„For this wholesale butchery and its accompanying rapine there was complete immunity. In Castile there was no attempt made to punish the guilty.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„he caused Martínez to be arrested, but the penalty inflicted must have been trivial, for we are told that it did not affect the high estimation in which he was held and, on his death in 1404, he bequeathed valuable possessions to the Hospital of Santa María“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„Henry bestowed on two of his favorites all the houses and lands of the Jews there“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
Original
Background
Course of events
Ferrand Martínez was Archdeacon of Écija and Official, that is judicial representative, of the Archbishop of Seville. In his sermons he denounced the Jews savagely and excited popular passion against them; as ecclesiastical judge he illegally extended his jurisdiction over them. With other episcopal officials he issued letters to the town magistrates ordering them to expel the Jews.
Evidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„Ferran Martínez, Archdeacon of Ecija and Official, or judicial representative of the Archbishop of Seville, Pedro Barroso“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„In his sermons he denounced them savagely and excited popular passion against them, keeping them in constant apprehension of an outbreak while, as ecclesiastical judge, he extended his jurisdiction illegally over them, to their frequent damage.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„In conjunction with other episcopal officials he issued letters to the magistrates of the towns ordering them to expel the Jews“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
Original
Response of the Church
In 1378 King Henry II commanded him to desist; Martínez did not obey. The Jewish community of Seville procured bulls of protection in Rome, which he disregarded just as contemptuously. A royal letter of 1383 accused him of saying in his sermons that the king would regard any assault on or slaying of Jews as a service and that impunity could be relied upon. In 1388 he replied that if he were to execute the laws he would tear down all 23 synagogues of Seville.
Evidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„in August, 1378, to formally command Martínez to desist from his incendiary course“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„To this Martínez paid no obedience and the aljama had recourse to Rome, where it procured bulls for its protection, which Martínez disregarded as contemptuously as he had the royal mandate.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„another royal letter of 1383 accuses Martínez of saying in his sermons that he knew the king would regard as a service any assault or slaying of the Jews and that impunity might be relied upon“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„if he were to execute the laws, he would tear down the twenty-three synagogues in Seville“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
Original
Archbishop Barroso suspended Martínez on 2 August 1389 for contumacy and suspicion of heresy, because he had questioned the powers of the pope. After the archbishop's death (7 July 1390), however, the cathedral chapter elected him one of the administrators of the vacant diocese; nothing more is heard of the heresy trial. On 8 December 1390 he ordered the clergy of the towns, under pain of excommunication, to tear down the synagogues within three hours; the building materials were to be used to repair the churches, and resistance was to be suppressed by force.
Evidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„wherefore on August 2, 1389, Archbishop Barroso suspended him both as to jurisdiction and preaching until his trial should be concluded“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„The chapter must have secretly sympathized with Martínez, for it elected him one of the provisors of the diocese sede vacante“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„commands under pain of excommunication to tear down within three hours the synagogues of the enemies of God calling themselves Jews; the building materials were to be used for the repair of the churches; if resistance was offered it was to be suppressed by force“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
Original
Under pressure from the regency, the cathedral chapter on 15 January 1391 deprived him of the office, forbade him to preach against the Jews and required him to rebuild the destroyed synagogues within a year. Martínez declared that neither king nor chapter had jurisdiction over him and that he repented of nothing. He continued preaching and, according to Lea, pursued a general forcible conversion of the Jews; according to the Jewish Encyclopedia he called on the mob to kill the Jews or baptise them.
Evidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„On January 15th the chapter again assembled and presented its official reply, which deprived Martínez of the provisorship, forbade him to preach against the Jews and required him within a year to rebuild all synagogues destroyed by his orders.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„His defiant answer concluded with a declaration that he repented of nothing that he had done.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“
„Martínez continued his inflammatory harangues and sought to turn to the advantage of religion the storm which he had aroused, by procuring a general forcible conversion of the Jews.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906), Bd. 1, Buch 1, Kap. 3, „The Massacres of 1391“.
OriginalEvidence: The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905), Artikel Spain, Abschnitt The Massacre of 1391
„Ferrand Martinez continued unhindered his inflammatory appeals to the rabble to kill the Jews or baptize them“
Scholarly literature
Macmillan; Project Gutenberg (eBook 43296): Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Bd. 1 (New York 1906).
Original(retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
Reference work
The Jewish Encyclopedia, Bd. 11 (1905): Spain, 1 January 1905.
Original · Archive copy(retrieved 23 Oct 2026)
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