On the night of 16-17 March 1190, the Jewish community of York — one of the most prosperous in England — took refuge in the royal castle after mob violence threatened them. When they realised they would be killed, many chose to die by their own hands rather than face forced baptism or murder. The survivors who surrendered were killed anyway. The massacre was the worst anti-Jewish violence in English medieval history and was at least partly motivated by the desire of indebted nobles to destroy records of loans. It is commemorated at Clifford's Tower today.
c.150 members of the York Jewish community killed
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