Language:
English
Year of publication:
2007
Titel der Quelle:
Hispania Judaica Bulletin
Angaben zur Quelle:
5 (2007) 213-235
Keywords:
Silva, António José da,
;
Inquisition
;
Crypto-Jews
Abstract:
António José da Silva (1705-1739) was born in Rio de Janeiro to a Converso family, which was tried by the Inquisition for Judaizing. The members of the family lost their assets and fled to Portugal, where da Silva became a lawyer and a famous playwright. In 1726 he was accused of Judaizing by the Portuguese Inquisition. After being tortured and admitting to the charges, he was given a mild punishment and "reconciled". In 1737, at the peak of his career, he was denounced again by one of his slaves and by Old Christian acquaintances. This time, he did not admit to the charges and the Inquisition sentenced him to death. He was burned at the stake in 1739. Discusses views that da Silva's persecution was due to Judaization, to his critical plays, or to vengeance. Asserts that it was because of his ethnic origins and as a consequence of the inner dynamics of the Lusitanian Inquisition. Explains that for a Converso prisoner, almost the only way to escape the death sentence was to confess according to the Inquisitors' expectations and to incriminate as many people as possible, preferably relatives and friends, which da Silva refused to do.
Note:
Focuses on his two trials by the Inquisition.
URL:
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