Statute of Kalisz: Poland Protects Jewish Rights
Duke Boleslaus the Pious of Greater Poland promulgated the Statute of Kalisz on September 8, 1264, granting the Jewish community an extraordinary charter of rights. The statute guaranteed Jews freedom of worship, personal safety, jurisdiction over internal disputes through their own courts, and protection from forced baptism. It prohibited the blood libel accusation and imposed severe penalties for violence against Jews or desecration of Jewish cemeteries. King Casimir III later expanded the charter to all of Poland. For the next several centuries, Poland became the safest haven for Jews in Europe, attracting communities fleeing persecution in Western Europe. By the 16th century, roughly 80% of the world's Jewish population lived in Polish-Lithuanian territories.
September 8, 1264
762 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on September 8
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