Kalonymus ben Meshullam

Who is Kalonymus ben Meshullam?

Kalonymus Ben Meshullam was a French Jew of the Kalonymos family.

He was head of the Jewish community of Mainz at the time of the German Crusade, 1096. He is said to have sent a messenger to King Henry IV in Italy, in consequence of which the king promulgated an order throughout his realm to the effect that the Jews were not to be molested. On May 27, 1096, however, he, together with fifty-three others, who had taken refuge in the bishop's palace from the Crusaders, put themselves to death rather than fall into the hands of the enemy.