Jews lived in St. Poelten from the end of the 13th century. They are first mentioned in 1298 and again in 1299 as moneylenders in Vienna. In 1306 the Jews of Sankt Pölten were accused of host desecration. The local citizens murdered nearly all the Jews and took their possessions. Duke Friedrich besieged the town, and the citizens had to pay a high fine for damaging the “possession of the Duke”.
From 1309 Jews lived in Sankt Poelten. A Judenrichter (Judge of the Jews) is mentioned by 1322 by special regulations in the town law. The Jews were obliged to register all their pawns and bonds with the Judge. This is the first time that this regulation is mentioned in Austria. The Jews from Sankt Poelten were persecuted in 1338 following the accusation of the host desecration in Pulkau.