Language:
German
Year of publication:
1994
Titel der Quelle:
Saeculum; Jahrbuch für Universalgeschichte
Angaben zur Quelle:
45,2 (1994) 265-305
Keywords:
Crypto-Jews History 17th century
;
Crypto-Jews History 17th century
;
Crypto-Jews History
;
Crypto-Jews Economic conditions
;
Inquisition History
;
Antisemitism
;
Castile (Spain)
Abstract:
Describes the situation of the Portuguese-Converso "nation" in 17th-century Castile. Its members occupied leading positions in trade and finance, as well as at the royal courts of Philip III, and especially of Philip IV. Guided by his chancellor, Olivares, he valued their contribution to the Spanish economy and protected them from the Inquisition. During this period there was public discussion about the "purity of blood" statutes and other restrictions on Conversos. Prominent writers, among them Jesuits, advocated a policy of tolerance. Opponents of tolerance included the Inquisition and the urban oligarchy. They accused the Conversos of Judaizing and of undermining Christendom through excessive economic power. In the 1620s-30s, the Inquisition acted against Conversos in the American colonies. After the fall of Olivares and the appointment of Diego de Arce y Reinos as Grand Inquisitor in 1643, there was an enormous increase in the Inquisition's activities in Spain. Gradually, the "nation" lost its wealth and influence, its numbers were reduced by emigration, and a new wave of persecution by the Inquisition in 1715-25 put an end to the existence of the Converso community in Spain.
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