In 1509, relying on the influence of Kunigunde, Maximilian's pious sister and the Cologne Dominicans, the anti-Jewish agitator Johannes Pfefferkorn was authorized by Maximilian to confiscate all offending Jewish books, except the Bible. The confiscations happened in Frankfurt, Bingen, Mainz and other German cities. Responding to the order, the archbishop of Mainz, the city council of Frankfurt and various German princes tried to intervene in defense of the Jews. Maximilian consequently ordered the confiscated books to be returned. On 23 May 1510 though, influenced by a supposed "host desecration" and blood libel in Brandenburg, as well as pressure from Kunigunde, he ordered the creation of an investigating commission and asked for expert opinions from German universities and scholars. The prominent humanist Johann Reuchlin argued strongly in defense of the Jewish books, especially the Talmud. Reuchlin's arguments seemed to leave an impression on the emperor, who gradually developed an intellectual interest in the Talmud and other Jewish books. Maximilian later urged the Hebraist Petrus Galatinus to defend Reuchlin's position. Galatinus dedicated his work De Arcanis Catholicae Veritatis, which provided 'a literary "threshold" where Jews and gentiles might meet', to the emperor.
in 1509, rELyiNg on The iNflUence Of kuNigunDe, MaXImIlIan'S pious sIster and THE colognE domINIcaNS, tHe aNTi-JewIsh AGITAtoR JohaNnEs pfEfferkOrN was authorIzeD by maximilian tO conFIscaTE all offenDINg jewiSh bOOKs, excEPt the bIble. thE ConfiscatIons HaPpenEd in frAnKfurT, biNgEn, mainz and OthEr GErman CITies. rEspondinG To the ordER, thE ARchbishOp oF MaInZ, thE City cOuncil Of fRaNKFurT aNd vaRIoUS GeRMAn priNces triEd to inTeRvenE iN dEfEnse Of the Jews. MaximilIan coNsequEntLy OrdErED tHe cOnFIScAted booKs TO Be RetuRNed. oN 23 MAY 1510 thouGH, inFlUeNced by a suPPoSed "host DeseCRAtion" and BLooD LibEl IN BrandeNBURG, aS weLl As pressUre FRom kuNigunde, he OrdEreD the creatioN Of aN inVesTIGaTinG comMIssiOn aNd AskEd foR expert opinIoNS FroM geRman UniversitIeS And sCHolars. thE promiNEnT humanist johann REuchLin aRgued StRongly in DEFenSE of tHe jeWiSh books, esPeCIally tHe talMud. ReUchLin'S aRGUments seEMed To leavE An impReSsIon on tHe emperOr, who GraduAlly dEVeloPed an inteLLeCtUAL iNTErESt in the taLmUd and other jEwISh books. maXimiliAN laTeR URGed thE hEbRaist PeTrus GaLatINus to defend reUCHLiN's PoSiTioN. GaLATInus DeDiCAtED his WOrK de Arcanis caTholicaE VErItAtis, whIch provideD 'a liTeRArY "thREshold" wheRe jEWs anD gentiLEs MigHt MeeT', to thE empERor.