Persecution of Jews in Lithuania

Alexander
The Grand Duke Alexander of Lithuania expelled Jews from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1495 and confiscated liens held by Jews against Christians. The immovable property of the expelled Jews in Trakai was confiscated, and most was distributed by Alexander to local Christian residents.

Expulsions
After the late 15th century expulsion by Grand Duke Alexander, Jews were also expelled in 1527 from Vilnius, in 1567 from Klaipėda, in 1646 from Trakai, and in 1753 and 1761 from Kaunas.

Statute of 1566
Lithuanian nobles issued a statute in 1566 that was repressive toward Jews. Paragraph 12 of the statute contains the following: “The Jews shall not wear costly clothing, nor gold chains, nor shall their wives wear gold or silver ornaments. The Jews shall not have silver mountings on their sabers and daggers; they shall be distinguished by characteristic clothes; they shall wear yellow caps, and their wives kerchiefs of yellow linen, in order that all may be enabled to distinguish Jews from Christians.”

Russian monarchs
Empress Catherine II of Russia (who reigned from 1762 to 1796) segregated Jews and restricted them to the Pale of Settlement. She doubled the taxes on Jews; the added taxes were lifted if they converted to Orthodox Christianity. Catherine II and the later Russian monarchs, Nicholas I and Alexander III, were all Orthodox Christians.

In 1827, Emperor Nicholas I (1825–1855) required by law that Jews from 12 to 25 years old join the military and be required to complete 25 years of service. Jews were also compelled to convert to Christianity.

Emperor Alexander III (1881–1894) restricted the Jewish people. He imposed various rules and bans on Jews: they weren't allowed to own land and property in rural areas; they weren't allowed to hold government office, run schools, or appeal against a court sentence; they could be deported if they lived outside the Pale of Settlement; they weren't allowed to work in the legal, military, or medical professions; their entrance to universities and secondary schools was restricted; they weren't allowed to vote in zemstva and municipal elections; they were forced to sell up businesses; and their rights to trade or sell products were restricted. He also supported pogroms and attacks on Jews.