Persecution of Jews and Muslims by Manuel I of Portugal

King Manuel I of Portugal made a very hard decision in 1496 that changed many lives. On December 5, 1496, he signed a law saying that all Jews and Muslims had to leave Portugal by the end of October the next year. This meant that many families who had lived there for a long time had to pack up and go, leaving behind their homes and everything they knew.

This was a very difficult time for the people who had to leave. They could not take everything with them, and many had to start their lives over in new places. The decision showed how leaders in power could change the lives of whole communities, and it is an important part of history that helps us understand how different groups of people were treated in the past.

Background

Before the 1500s, some Jewish people held important jobs in Portugal. For example, Isaac Abarbanel worked as the treasurer for King Afonso V of Portugal. Many Jewish people were also known for their work in art, culture, and trade. Cities like Lisbon and Évora had large Jewish communities. In nearby Spain, Jewish and Moorish groups also had land until Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand began taking it away from anyone who was not Catholic around 1478.

Expulsion of Jews

See also: History of the Jews in Portugal

On 5 December 1496, King Manuel I of Portugal made a rule that all Jews must change their religion to Catholicism or leave the country. This happened because of a request from the Catholic Monarchs of Spain when he was marrying their daughter Isabella, Princess of Asturias. The king wanted to make sure Judaism disappeared from Portugal, so he later made another rule in 1497 that forced Jews to become Christians and not let them leave. Some who refused to pay taxes were sent away to islands near Africa called São Tomé and Príncipe.

After these events, many people who had changed their religion, called conversos, moved to places like the Ottoman Empire, Morocco, France, and Brazil. Some famous people, like the philosopher Baruch Spinoza, came from these families.

Some Jews who changed their religion still secretly practiced their old ways. Over time, many left Portugal and openly followed their Jewish faith again in other countries. A small group in Portugal, known as the Belmonte Jews, kept their practices hidden for many years but have recently connected with the larger Jewish community.

Expulsion of Muslims

In December 1496, King Manuel I of Portugal ordered all Muslims in the country to leave. This decision happened without any clear reason. Some historians believe it was part of a plan by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, known as the Catholic Monarchs, to make sure everyone in their lands followed the same religion. Others think it might have been because of plans to conquer areas in North Africa. Many Muslims moved to nearby lands, with some going to Castile and most traveling to North Africa.

Return of some Jews to Portugal

In 1525, a Jewish man named David Reubeni arrived in Portugal. He told people he was a commander and wanted help from the king to fight against Muslims. Reubeni stayed for several months and shared his ideas with others, which excited many New Christians. Later, King Manuel I asked Reubeni to leave Portugal.

In the 19th century, some wealthy families of Jewish Portuguese background returned to Portugal from Morocco. The first new synagogue since the 15th century opened in Lisbon in 1904.

In 2014, Portugal changed its laws to allow descendants of Sephardi Jews who were expelled from the country to become Portuguese citizens. This was to recognize the unfair treatment they faced long ago and to support Jewish communities in Europe. To qualify, people needed to prove they were direct descendants of Sephardi Jews from Portugal. Speaking Portuguese in Jewish traditions or using special languages could also help prove their connection.

Since 2015, many Turkish Jews who could show they were descended from Portuguese Jews also moved to Portugal and became citizens.