Why did Philip IV of France expel Jews from France in 1306?

Philip IV of France expelled the Jews from his realm in 1306 primarily for financial gain and because their utility as a source of regular revenue had been exhausted. By this time, the French monarchy had repeatedly imposed financial burdens on the Jewish population, and the expulsion allowed Philip to seize their property and confiscate the monies owed to them.12

This action was also influenced by a broader context of antisemitism and the marginalization of Jewish communities across medieval Europe. During this period, Jews were often legally defined as the personal property of the king, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. Furthermore, Philip may have been inspired by the anti-Semitic proclivities of his predecessor, St. Louis. The expulsion reflected the declining economic and social status of Jews in France, as their role as a source of capital for the crown diminished and they faced increasing hostility from a growing class of Christian merchants.123