Editing Robert II of France (section)

===The persecution of the Jews===
In 1007, the [[Fatimid Caliphate|Fatimid Caliph]] [[Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah]] launched a wave of persecution of Christians, which led to the destruction of several places of worship, notably in [[Jerusalem]] and [[Alexandria]]. Robert II accused the Jews of complicity with Muslims (although they themselves were victims of Muslim persecution). A series of atrocities against the Jews followed, reported by Rodulfus Glaber and Adémar de Chabannes:<ref>Bernard Blumenkranz, ''Les auteurs chrétiens latins du moyen-âge sur les Juifs et le judaïsme'' (in French). Paris, 1963, pp. 250–251.</ref> Spoliations, massacres and forced conversions were the tragic fate of Jewish communities in the Kingdom of France. These abuses are corroborated by an anonymous Jewish chronicler,<ref>Norman Golb, ''The Jews In Medieval Normandy, A Social And Intellectuel History''. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1998, pp. 3–18.</ref> who further reports that a notable Jew from [[Rouen]], Ya'aqov ben Iéqoutiel, made a trip to [[Rome]] to appeal for the help of [[Pope John XVIII]], who was already ill-disposed towards Robert II because of his marital history. He indeed obtained the support of the Pope, then of his successor [[Pope Sergius IV]], who demanded that Robert II bring back the anti-Jewish decrees and put an end to the persecutions.