1321: Sancho I of Mallorca Writes to James II of Aragon about the “Lepers’ Plot”

Abstract

In 1321, the so-called Lepers’ Plot caused widespread chaos and violence against lepers and Jews in Southern France, the Mallorcan County of Roussillon, and Aragon. The article focuses on a document that shows the Kings of Mallorca and Aragon communicating about the alleged plot and how it may affect their respective population. The article analyses the series of events and associated anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim polemics as part of a strong trend of “othering.” This trend was not only characteristic of Christian majority societies in the late medieval period, but led to unprecedented outbursts of violence against minority groups.