Der Trienter Judenprozess
Voraussetzungen, Abläufe, Auswirkungen (1475-1588)
Description:... Chronicles the blood libel of Trent (1475), the interrogation of the Jews, the intrigues and power struggles surrounding it, and the diffusion of the cult and legend of Simon of Trent. Notes that the Jews confessed under torture. The Duke of Austria, the Doge of Venice, and the Pope all attempted to intervene, but had to retreat, although the Pope did prohibit the cult of Simon. Wandering preachers spread the blood libel. The Lord Bishop of Trent, Johannes Hinderbach, secured the support of churchmen and humanists through letters and printed histories of Simon's martyrdom, and of the masses through broadsides and pictures, all portraying the malevolence of the Jews. In the immediate aftermath there was a rash of blood libels (most without results) and expulsions of Jews, mainly in northern Italy but also in Germany. The blood libel, including that of Trent, was used by Reformation theologians to support their anti-Judaism. The Counter-Reformation revived the Simon legend, and in 1588 the Pope approved the cult. Subsequently the legend appeared at cult sites, in sermons and printed books. The influence of the Simon legend lasted into the 20th century.
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