Jews in Spain during the Christian and Muslim Rules

Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On November 9, 694 AD, Ergica, the Visigoth king of Spain, accusing Jews of collaborating with enemies for overthrowing Christian rulers, enacted a law declaring Jewish-held lands forfeit, all Jews to be enslaved by Christians, all Jewish children over the age of seven to be taken from their homes and raised as Christians, and Jewish-owned Christian slaves to become owners of their masters’ property.
Some 17 years later in 711, with the advent of Muslims and establishment of the glorious Islamic culture and civilization in Spain when the rest of Europe was immersed in darks ages, the Jews were liberated, enjoyed all rights as citizens, and produced statesmen and scholars, such as the philosopher-physician, Musa bin Maymoun of Cordoba, known by his Latinized name Maimonides, who flourished at the courts of the Muslim rulers of Spain, Morocco and Egypt.