Letter about the Blois Incident

In this letter, the Jews of Troyes summarize some of the negotiations and meetings that took place after the Blois blood libel of 1171. Writing to the Jews of the Rhineland, Germany, they tell of an encounter between some Parisian Jewish notables and King Louis VII (r. 1137–1180). According to this version of events, King Louis had denied the truth of any murder accusations and had reprimanded Count Theobald of Blois (r. 1151–1191). Theobald’s brother Count Henry had likewise sided with the king against Theobald. The brief mention of bribes at the end of the letter, however, hints that there may have been other reasons for these officials to reject the accusations against the Jews and to offer them protection.