174 Popes and Jews, 1095–1291
In 1258 Alexander Iv complained to the duke of Burgundy that laws forbidding
Jews from holding public office and insisting they wear distinguishing garb were not
being followed.56 Similarly Clement Iv requested that his chaplain investigate com-
plaints against Alfonso III of Portugal (1248–1279) that he did not compel Jews
to wear distinguishing clothes in his kingdom,57 and in 1267 he complained to
southern French archbishops that Jews continued to flout canonical regulations
about dress.58 Then nicholas III instructed his chancellor at the curia to prepare an
order that all diocesan bishops force Jews to wear garments separating them from
Christians,59 while in 1284 Martin Iv ordered bishops in the Kingdom of Portugal
to ensure that King Dionysius of Portugal acted correctly in the future in insisting
that Jews wear clothes indicating their separation.60 In 1289 nicholas Iv confirmed
a joint document drawn up between the king and the Portuguese clergy which in-
cluded a decree that Jews must wear a distinguishing badge.61
A further decree—Constitution 69—of lateran Iv, referring specifically to
Canon 14 of the visigothic Council of Toledo of 589 decreed that Jews must not
hold public office:
It would be too absurd for a blasphemer of Christ to exercise power over Christians. We
therefore renew in this canon, on account of the boldness of the offenders, what the
council of Toledo providently decreed in this matter: we forbid Jews to be appointed to
public offices, since under cover of them they are very hostile to Christians. If, however,
anyone does commit such an office to them let him, after an admonition, be curbed by
the provincial council, which we order to be held annually, by means of an appropriate
sanction. Any official so appointed shall be denied commerce with Christians in busi-
ness and in other matters until he has converted to the use of poor Christians, in
accordance with the directions of the diocesan bishop, whatever he has obtained from
Christians by reason of his office so acquired, and he shall surrender with shame the
office which he irreverently assumed. We extend the same thing to pagans.62capis hujusmodi omnino dimissis, habitum eis congruentem deferant, quo non solum a clericis,
verum etiam a laicis distinguantur, etiam per subtractionem communionis fidelium.’
56 Alexander Iv, ‘In sacro generali’ (3 September 1258), Grayzel, Vol. 2, pp.64–6; Simonsohn,
pp.215–16.
57 Clement Iv, ‘Isti sunt articuli’ (no date/1265–1268), Grayzel, Vol. 2, pp.90–1; Simonsohn,
pp.227–9.
58 Clement Iv, ‘Dampnabili perfidia Judaeorum’ (23 December 1267), Grayzel, Vol. 2, pp.106–10;
Simonsohn, pp.239–40.
59 nicholas III, Chancery formulae (1277–1278), Grayzel, Vol. 2, pp.137–9.
60 Martin Iv, ‘Isti sunt articuli’ (1 April 1284), Grayzel, Vol. 2, pp.152–4; Simonsohn, pp.257–9.
61 nicholas Iv, ‘Cum olim inter’ (7 March 1289), Grayzel, Vol. 2, pp.172–4; Simonsohn,
pp.268–70.
62 Tanner, Vol. 1, pp.266–7: ‘Cum sit nimis absurdum, ut Christi blasphemus in christianos vim
potestatis exerceat, quod super hoc Toletanum concilium provide statuit, nos propter transgressorum
audaciam in hoc capitulo innovamus, prohibentes ne Iudaei officiis publicis praeferantur, quoniam
sub tali praetextu christianis plurimum sunt infesti. Si quis autem officium eis tale commiserit, per
provinciale concilium, quod singulis praecipimus annis celebrari, monitione praemissa, districtione
qua convenit compescatur. officiali vero huiusmodi tamdiu christianorum communio in commerciis
et aliis denegetur, donec in usus pauperum christianorum, secundum providentiam dioecesani epis-
copi, convertatur quicquid fuerit adeptus a christianis, occasione officii sic suscepti, et officium cum
pudore dimittat, quod irreverenter assumpsit. Hoc idem extendimus ad paganos.’