Language:
Spanish
Year of publication:
2013
Titel der Quelle:
Lo converso
Angaben zur Quelle:
(2013) 55-91
Keywords:
Crypto-Jews
;
Crypto-Jews History 15th century
;
Crypto-Jews History 16th century
;
Crypto-Jews Social life and customs
;
Inquisition History
;
Valencia (Spain : Region)
Abstract:
A paper delivered at a conference entitled "La literatura de conversos después de 1492", held at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in January 2010. During the 15th century, Conversos achieved the highest positions in society, the economy, cultural life, as well as in Church and state institutions. The Conversos kept up relations with the Jews, in many cases by family links. Besides, the Conversos, in order to preserve their social identity, gathered around institutions such as the "Cofradía" (the Brotherhood) and the cemetery. Therefore, they were perceived by the Christian populace as Jews, and were distrusted by the Church. Growing tensions between Old Christians and New Christians, due especially to social competition, resulted in bans on Conversos to exercise some professions and to attain public office, for which certificates of Purity of Blood were required. Accusations of practicing Judaism in secret abounded. The establishment of the Inquisition was the political-religious act of the Catholic Kings, adopted in order to appease the antisemitism of the populace. Between 1478-1535, the Inquisition carried out ca. 2,350 trials against Conversos in Valencia ; 45% of them resulted in death sentences. The Inquisition also persecuted Converso artists, physicians, bookdealers, and other intellectuals. Old Testament translations into the vernacular were prohibited, since they were suspect of being used by Conversos to practice Judaism in secret. Concludes that the persecution and extinction of the Conversos, the most active social group in the region, caused a devastation of Valencian society.
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