Converso

A converso was a Jew who changed to Catholicism in Spain or Portugal, mainly in the 14th and 15th centuries. Many Jews did this to feel safe and live normal lives where their old faith was not always accepted.

The leaders of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella, wanted everyone who changed their religion to truly believe in Catholicism. In 1492, they made a law called the Alhambra Decree. This law said Jews must leave Spain or change their faith. Because of this, many Jews turned to Catholicism, and many others left the country.

Some conversos still kept parts of their Jewish traditions in secret. These people were sometimes called judaizantes or, in a less kind way, marranos. They had to be very careful because the Holy Office of the Inquisition was created to watch new converts.

Conversos played roles in many parts of life, including a big event called the Revolt of the Comuneros in 1520–1521. This was when people in Castile stood up against the ruler Charles V. Their story shows how people tried to balance their old beliefs with new rules in a changing world.

History

Ferrand Martínez, Archdeacon of Écija, started speaking against Jewish people in 1378. His words upset many and caused riots. In 1391, synagogues in Seville were burned. Many Jewish people had to leave, convert to Christianity because they were scared, or were sold to others.

These conversions made a new group called conversos. They were Christian but still treated unfairly and watched closely by others. Problems grew, leading to more riots, like in Toledo in 1449. In 1478, the Spanish crown started the Inquisition to check if these new Christians were truly loyal.

Some conversos and Jewish people left Spain for Portugal, but they had similar problems and many went to the Netherlands. Others hid their Jewish traditions but acted as Christians in public. In 1485, Pedro de Arbués was attacked in a church in Zaragoza. Some conversos were blamed, and many were arrested and punished.

Description

Conversos were Jews who chose to become Catholics in Spain or Portugal, mainly in the 14th and 15th centuries. They often faced unfair treatment and suspicion from both their old Jewish communities and their new Christian ones. Some kings made laws to protect conversos and their property, but they still did not have full legal equality.

During difficult times, such as sickness or natural disasters, conversos sometimes faced unfair attacks. Some noble families included conversos or their descendants. Recent studies show that many people in modern Spain, Portugal, and Latin America have genetic ancestry tracing back to these conversos, showing their lasting impact on the region's history.

Conversos and the Spanish Golden Age

Conversos were important in shaping Spanish culture, especially during a time called the Spanish Golden Age. Their influence started in the 1400s. One great example is the book La Celestina from 1499, written by Fernando de Rojas. It is considered the first modern play in any language. Conversos helped create many types of literature, including poems, stories, history books, and philosophical writings.

Religious identity and assimilation

Many conversos did not know much about Jewish religious practices. Some writers and poets among them showed little knowledge of Jewish teachings. Scholars say claims that Hebrew or Talmudic ideas influenced converso literature, like in the works of Juan de Mena or Juan Álvarez Gato, are not supported.

Some well-known conversos knew little about their Jewish heritage. For example, Pedro de la Caballería called Maimonides "Moses the Egyptian," thinking he lived in Egypt instead of Spain. He also wrongly gave advice to the Catholic Monarchs to Vicente Ferrer, who had died long before. Even conversos with Jewish education, like Pablo de Santa María, chose Christian views over Jewish ones. In his writings, de Santa María told bible stories in a Christian way.

In Burgos, conversos were seen as loyal Christians, especially those from the important Santa María family. In cities like Calahorra, Osma, and Salamanca, some people doubted their faith, but serious accusations were more common in Toledo and Seville. Some conversos helped start religious and charity groups, like the Santa María la Blanca group in Toledo, begun in 1478. The members included doctors, shop owners, craft workers, and officials, many of whom were conversos. In 1488, another group of Toledo conversos started a chapel in the San Agustín monastery.

Some conversos still hoped for a messiah, a leader who would save their people. In the 1400s, writer Alonso de Palencia said many conversos in Andalusia thought unusual events, like seeing a whale near Setúbal which they linked to the bible’s Leviathan, were signs that the messiah was coming soon. But it’s not clear if they meant the Jewish messiah or Christ’s second coming.

Perpetuation of Jewish heritage

Conversas helped keep Jewish traditions alive. They celebrated important Jewish holidays like Shabbat and prepared special meals for the Sabbath, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Passover. During these times, they might attend a seder or eat matzah. They also made sure to eat only kosher food.

Conversas and Jewish communities shared books and learning. Some conversas worked on Sundays to show they did not fully follow church rules. They celebrated Purim by calling it the Festival of Santa Esterica, blending their Jewish practices with Christian appearances.

Spanish Inquisition discipline

The Spanish Inquisition worked with leaders to punish people they thought were not following Christian rules. The church could not kill people directly, so they would give these people to the government for punishment.

Public punishments, called autos-da-fé ("acts of faith"), were big shows. They included walking through the streets, reading out punishments, and long speeches. Many people would come to watch, and sometimes kings and queens would watch from special places.

People who admitted to their actions after being questioned were called reconciliados (reconciled to the church). They had to wear special clothes called sambenitos with red crosses and listen as their wrongdoings were read out loud in public. These clothes, with the people's names on them, were hung in churches. This shame could stay with their families for a long time.

By country

In Spain

See also: Xueta Christianity

The Chuetas are people who live on the island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea. They are descendants of Jews from Mallorca who either became conversos or kept their religion hidden. They only married within their own group.

The Chuetas have faced unfair treatment in the Balearic Islands. In recent times, as people gained more freedom to practice their religion, these unfair ideas lessened. Today, many people on the island have family names linked to this group. Two important churches in Palma de Mallorca, Saint Eulalia and Montesión (Mount Zion), have been closely tied to these families.

In Italy

After the Spanish Inquisition in 1492, many conversos left Spain and Portugal for Italy and other parts of Europe. In Italy, they were often watched and treated unfairly. Many did not openly follow their Jewish beliefs, hoping to benefit from being part of Christian society.

The cities of Florence, Ferrara, and Ancona were the first to accept conversos who chose to return to Judaism. Most of these people came from Portugal after 1536 and settled in Florence. In 1549, the ruler of Florence allowed Portuguese conversos to live and trade there.

In Ferrara, conversos arrived in 1535 and were allowed to mix with locals and return to Judaism. After a disease in 1505 and Ferrara's decline in 1551, many moved to Venice, which became a center for conversos traveling to or staying in Turkey. Venetian leaders let them practice Judaism openly to keep their trade.

Many conversos in Ancona had hard lives and moved to Ferrara in 1555. Portuguese conversos in Ancona were told they could return to Judaism, but Pope Paul IV imprisoned those who refused to follow certain rules. Later, when offered a chance to stay in Ancona, they declined.

Notable conversos and their descendants

Some famous people were from families who changed to Christianity but still had Jewish roots.

First-generation conversos

• Abraham Senior – A religious leader who became a Christian later in life.
• Alfonso de Cartagena – A bishop, diplomat, historian, and writer.
• Paul of Burgos – A religious leader who became an archbishop.
• Petrus Alphonsi – A doctor and writer.

Later generations

• António José da Silva – A playwright.
• Fernando de Rojas – A playwright.
• Hernán Pérez de Quesada – An explorer.
• Isaac Orobio de Castro – A philosopher and doctor who chose his Jewish faith again.
• Luis de León – A poet, monk, and scholar.
• Luis de Santángel – A finance minister for Spain's rulers.
• Tomás Luis de Victoria – A composer, priest, and chaplain.
• Teresa of Ávila – A respected Catholic saint.
• Uriel da Costa – A philosopher who chose his Jewish faith again.

Possible/debated

• Christopher Colombus – A famous explorer.
• Joan Miró – A painter.
• Miguel de Cervantes – A famous writer.