Shepherds' Crusade (1320)

The Shepherds' Crusade of 1320 or the Pastoureaux or Pastorelli of 1320 was a popular crusade in Normandy in June 1320. It originally began when a large group of commoners banded together to preach a crusade after a teenage shepherd said he was visited by the Holy Spirit. Initially aiming to help the Reconquista of Iberia, it failed to gain support from the church or nobility and instead murdered hundreds of Jews in France and Aragon, in Northern Spain.

The movement was in part aimed against Muslims in Spain for the sake of "purification" of the society. Later however, when the would-be crusaders moved out of Normandy towards the south of France, their target became the Jews. The movement's actions were not only an expression of antisemitism, but also a protest against the economic policies of the royals and the monarchy. Initially targeting corrupt Christian officials, these anti-royalist sentiments were transferred to local Jews under royal protection. These attacks were violent and resulted in heavy Jewish casualties. 120 communities were destroyed in large-scale massacres or pogroms. Lepers were also badly persecuted. Like the earlier crusade of the same name, it brought havoc and destruction to Jewish communities. It may have been inspired by the Inquisition in its forcible conversions of Jews.