The reckonings of Nahmanides and Arnold of Villanova: on the early contacts between Christian millenarianism and Jewish messianism

Historians of the last generation have shown that millenarian circles played a critical role in transforming attitudes towards Jews and Judaism in early modern Europe. Furthermore, the Joachimist leanings that opened the way in early modern times for a rapprochement between Christians and Jews, they found, were already there in the Middle Ages. My aim here is to consider the case of Arnold of Villanova, a?lay supporter of the radical Franciscans. A?major stimulus for Arnold’s eschatological ideas was his wrestling with messianic notions widespread among Jews, especially kabbalists. However, at this early stage, messianic or millenarian expectations were associated, among both Jews and Christians, with a confrontational stance.