Editing Third Crusade (section)

===Protecting the Jews===
At Strasbourg, Frederick imposed a small tax on the [[History of the Jews in Germany|Jews of Germany]] to fund the crusade. He also put the Jews under his protection and forbade anyone to preach against the Jews.{{sfn|Freed|2016|p=471}} The First and Second Crusades in Germany had been marred by [[Rhineland massacres|violence against the Jews]]. The Third Crusade itself occasioned an outbreak of [[12th century English pogroms|violence against the Jews in England]]. Frederick successfully prevented a repetition of those events inside Germany.{{sfn|Freed|2016|pp=473–474}}

On 29 January 1188, a mob invaded the Jewish quarter in Mainz and many Jews fled to the imperial [[Münzenberg Castle|castle of Münzenberg]]. There were further incidents connected with the "Court of Christ" in March. According to Rabbi Moses ha-Cohen of Mainz,{{efn|Moses's account is known from a letter he wrote to his brother-in-law, [[Eleazar of Worms]].{{sfn|Freed|2016|pp=473–474}}}} there were minor incidents from the moment people began arriving for the Court of Christ on 9 March. This culminated in a mob gathering to invade the Jewish quarter on 26 March. It was dispersed by the imperial marshal [[Henry of Kalden]]. The rabbi then met with the emperor, which resulted in an imperial edict threatening maiming or death for anyone who maimed or killed a Jew. On 29 March, Frederick and the rabbi then rode through the streets together to emphasise that the Jews had imperial protection. Those Jews who had fled in January returned at the end of April.{{sfn|Freed|2016|pp=473–474}}