Historical Events tagged with "violence"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Social Movements & Civil Rights

Attack on Jewish Mellah During Fez Unrest

May 14th, 1465 559 years ago

During the Moroccan revolution, as tensions escalated in Fez, the local population attacked the Jewish mellah. This event was marked by conflict following the overthrow of the Marinid dynasty, leading to violence primarily targeted against the Jewish community. While the reasons for the unrest were rooted in broader sociopolitical upheaval, the extent and nature of violence against the mellah remain subjects of debate among historians.

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Crime & Law

Brussels Massacre of the Jewish Community

May 22nd, 1370 654 years ago

In Brussels, Belgium, a violent incident occurred where an estimated 13 Jews were murdered, and the remainder of the Jewish community was expelled from the city. This drastic action was fueled by accusations of desecrating the consecrated Host, significant in the Catholic Church. The unrest was part of a broader pattern of anti-Semitic violence in medieval Europe, often triggered by religious fervor and superstition. This particular massacre is emblematic of the tensions between Jewish communities and Christian majorities during this time period.

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Crime & Law

Jews killed in Mainz during plague outbreak

August 24th, 1349 675 years ago

Following accusations of causing the bubonic plague, approximately six thousand Jews were killed in Mainz, Germany. The Jewish communities were scapegoated, facing violence and persecution during the pandemic. This tragic act was fueled by rampant fear and antisemitic sentiments, leading to a wave of violence against Jews across Europe.

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Crime & Law

Mass Killing of Jews in Strasbourg

February 14th, 1349 676 years ago

In Strasbourg, a violent outbreak erupted leading to the deaths of several hundred Jews who were burned alive by mobs. The remnants of the Jewish community were forcibly expelled from the city. This brutal incident stemmed from widespread anti-Jewish sentiment fueled by the Black Death, as Jews were wrongfully blamed for the plague that ravaged Europe.

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Politics & Government

Lynching of Alexios Apokaukos in Byzantium

June 11th, 1345 679 years ago

Alexios Apokaukos, the megas doux and chief minister of the Byzantine Empire, was lynched by political prisoners. This violent act occurred amid rising tensions and unrest within the empire. The prisoners, driven by discontent with Apokaukos's policies and perceived abuses of power, took matters into their own hands. The lynching highlighted the deep divisions within Byzantine society in the 14th century, as political factions vied for power and influence amidst the challenges facing the empire.

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Politics & Government

Robert the Bruce Kills John Comyn

February 10th, 1306 719 years ago

In the Greyfriars Church of Dumfries, Robert the Bruce confronts John Comyn, a rival for the Scottish throne. Their fierce political rivalry culminates in an explosive argument, leading Robert to strike Comyn down in a fit of rage. This act of violence marks a decisive moment in the struggle for Scottish independence, igniting a series of conflicts that will shape the future of Scotland.

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Military & Warfare

Massacre at Béziers in the Albigensian Crusade

July 22nd, 1209 815 years ago

The Massacre at Béziers occurred when Crusader forces besieged the city in response to the growing Cathar movement in southern France. When the city was captured, all inhabitants, regardless of their faith, were killed as a punitive measure against heresy. This brutal act was ordered by Arnaud Amalric, the papal legate leading the crusade, marking a pivotal moment in the conflict between the Catholic Church and the Cathar faith. The city's fall exemplified the extreme measures taken to suppress heresy.

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Crime & Law

Count Emicho's Brutal Attack on Mainz Jews

May 27th, 1096 928 years ago

In Mainz, Count Emicho and his followers perpetrated a massacre of Jewish citizens, resulting in the deaths of at least 600 individuals. This attack was part of a larger wave of violence against Jewish communities during the First Crusade. Emicho's forces, motivated by a mix of religious fervor and societal tensions, targeted the Jews as scapegoats amid the crusaders' fervent quest for religious territories.

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Military & Warfare

Robert de Comines Defeated in Durham

January 28th, 1069 956 years ago

Robert de Comines, appointed Earl of Northumbria by William the Conqueror, rides into Durham with intentions to establish control after the Norman Conquest. However, he is met with fierce resistance from local rebels who oppose Norman rule. His forces are overwhelmed, and Comines is killed in the confrontation. This defeat ignites further unrest across the northern regions of England, contributing to the brutality known as the Harrying of the North, as William the Conqueror seeks to reassert dominance over the rebellious territories.

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