BRIVIESCA (not Birviesca or Briviasca):
The ancient Virovesca; city in Old Castile, not far from Burgos. A Jewish community dwelt there, which in 1290 was taxed 11,700 maravedis. At the request of his sister, the Infanta Doña Berenguella, Don Ferdinand III. of Castile presented to the convent San Maria la Real of Burgos, in perpetuity, the taxes of several Jews living in the quarter San Cæcilia in Briviesca, including those of Abraham del Bao, Judah Mocaniz, and Moses, his, son in-law, and others, and their descendants. In the internecine war between Don Pedro and Henry of Trastamare the Jews valorously defended the walls of the city, until they were attacked in the rear by the troops of Bertrand du Guesclin, and were either killed or taken prisoners. According to Samuel Ẓarẓa's account not a single one of the two hundred heads of families that had lived there remained alive; "their corpses became food for the birds of heaven and the beasts of the field." In 1455 Don Mosse was living at Briviesca as farmer of taxes.
- J. Amador de los Rios, Historia de los Jud. en España, i. 485, iii. 132;
- Histoire de Bertrand du Guesclin, p. 101 Paris, 1666;
- Samuel Ẓarẓa, in Appendix to Shebet Jehudah, ed. Wiener, p. 131.
