In 1349, the Jewish community of Zurich, Switzerland was massacred amid the wave of antisemitic persecution that swept Europe during the Black Death, when Jewish communities were widely and falsely blamed for spreading the plague by poisoning wells.
The violence in Zurich was preceded by a false accusation of ritual murder after a young boy was found dead. Such "blood libel" accusations were a recurring antisemitic myth of the period; some modern historians doubt this episode occurred at all, as it is not recorded in any contemporary chronicle and first appears in writing roughly two centuries later. Jews accused over the child's death were put to death, and others were banished.
Soon afterward, the Zurich Jewish community was accused of poisoning wells, and the city council ordered its members burned to death. Sources differ on the exact date in February 1349. Some who fled to nearby Kyburg Castle were killed there as well. The Zurich community is estimated to have numbered around 400 people, most of whom were killed.
In the aftermath, the property of those killed was seized — Zurich's mayor, Rudolf Brun, is named as taking one such house — while surviving women and children were allowed to keep property but were banished, and debts owed to Jews were cancelled. Despite the massacre, a Jewish community returned to Zurich by 1352. Further expulsion orders followed in the fifteenth century, and Jews were ultimately expelled from Zurich in 1624.
Key facts
- Victims
- Zur Wyden's son, Moses, Eiron (Aaron) of Lengnau
- Date
- 1624
- Location
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Case status
- solved
Case timeline
1349-02-21
One cited source dates the burning of Zurich's Jewish community to this date, a Saturday on the eve of the feast of St. Matthias.
1349-02-23
Another cited source dates the burning of Zurich's Jewish community to the evening of this date.
1352
A Jewish community returned to Zurich despite the 1349 massacre.
1425
An expulsion order against Jews was issued in Zurich.
1435
A further expulsion order against Jews was issued in Zurich.
1436
A further expulsion order against Jews was issued in Zurich.
1624
Jews were finally completely expelled from Zurich, following the execution of Eiron (Aaron) of Lengnau on a charge of blasphemy.
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People
Zur Wyden's son
VICTIMApproximately four-year-old son of Zurich shoemaker Zur Wyden, found dead in the Wolfbach brook; his death led to accusations against local Jews.
Moses
VICTIMA Zurich Jewish man whose house was seized by mayor Rudolf Brun after the 1349 massacre.
Eiron (Aaron) of Lengnau
VICTIMExecuted on a charge of blasphemy in 1624, an event followed by the complete expulsion of Jews from Zurich.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- In February 1349, amid Black Death-era antisemitism, the Jewish community of Zurich, Switzerland was falsely accused of ritual murder and well poisoning; city authorities ordered them burned to death, killing most of a community of roughly 400 people.
- Where did the massacre happen?
- Zurich, Switzerland.
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: solved.
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Sources
- PRESSDer Judenmord von 1349Neue Zurcher Zeitung · 2026-07-11
- ENCYCLOPEDICZurich massacreWikipedia · 2026-07-10
- PRESSContemporaneous coverage — grin.comgrin.com · 2026-07-10