The Disputation of Barcelona - Nachmanides (Ramban)

The Disputation of Barcelona, held from July 20 to 24, 1263, was a formal debate between the Jewish scholar Nachmanides (Ramban) and the Dominican friar Pablo Christiani, a Jewish convert to Christianity. Convened in the royal palace of King James I of Aragon, the disputation centered on whether the Hebrew Bible supported Christian claims about Jesus as the Messiah. Nachmanides was granted unusual freedom of speech by the king, allowing him to argue forcefully that the messianic prophecies had not been fulfilled and that Jewish tradition did not support Christian interpretations.

Although Christian authorities later claimed victory, Nachmanides’ own account in Sefer Vikuach portrays him as having successfully defended Judaism against theological pressure. The event became a turning point in Jewish‑Christian relations in medieval Spain, illustrating both the intellectual brilliance of Jewish scholars and the growing power of Christian missionary efforts in the Crown of Aragon.