Fifteenth Century and the Catholic Kings

Pogroms of 1391

• Anti-Jewish violence

• Ferrán Martínez

• Conversos

Pogroms Unpacked

• Events in Valencia v. events in Barcelona

• Rising social anxieties fueling existing religious tensions

• Political tensions

Jewish response

If perchance anyone, Christian or Muslim, compelled by audacity, wishes or attempts to invade or rob those Jews, their houses, or their goods…the Jews can defend themselves…against the aforesaid invaders and injurers, whosoever they be and of whatever status.”

Jewish response

And that if in said invasion or conflict the invaders are hit or injured, even if death is the result, no petition or demand can be made against the said Jews. And if the friends of one thus injured or hit wish vindictively to inflict harm or damage upon those Jews, we and our officials are bound to defend and maintain the Jews and their goods.

Rising anti-Jewish sentiment

• Vicente Ferrer (1350-1419)

• Disputation of Tortosa, 1413-1414

• Context

• 1449: purity of blood statutes in Toledo

Downturn

• Tax records

• Leaving large towns

• Seeking noble protection

Blood Libel

• And because we have heard it said that in some places Jews celebrated, and still celebrate Good Friday, which commemorates the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by way of contempt: stealing children and fastening them to crosses, and making images of wax and crucifying them, when they cannot obtain children; we order that, hereafter, if in any part of our dominions anything like this is done, and can be proved, all persons who were present when the act was committed shall be seized, arrested and brought before the king; and after the king ascertains that they are guilty, he shall cause them to be put to death in a disgraceful manner, no matter how many there may be. (Siete Partidas, VII, XXIV, Law 2)

Blood Libel In Spain

• Santo Niño de la Guardia

• Conversos, Jews, Judaizing, and ritual murder

• European context

Nasrid Granada

• Small, economically weak

• Not politically strong

• Well fortified

• Juan II, Yusuf IV, and tribute

Nasrid Granada

• Alhambra finished under Muhammad V (1354-59, 1362-91)

• Honeycombed stucco

• Use of water

Alhambra

Nasrid Granada

• Relative peace in 14th century

• Juan II, Yusuf IV, and tribute

Enrique IV

• Jews and conversos

• Reconquest?

Enrique IV

• Weak leader?

• Maligned reputation

Isabel

• Daughter of Juan II

• Half-sister of Enrique IV

• Sister of Alfonso “XII”

Isabel and Ferdinand

• Secret wedding

• Who will rule?

Isabel and Ferdinand

• Restoration of order

• Hermandades

• Corregidores

Images of Isabel

• Redeemer

• Sexual purity

Religious Reform

• Monasteries and convents

• Bishops

• Religious minorities

Granada Campaign

• Boabdil

• Cruzada

• Realengo

Granada Aftermath

• Legal and religious autonomy

• Emigration

• Boabdil gets sub-kingdom

Granada: Aftermath

• Hernando de Talavera

• Francisco Ximénez de Cisneros

Granada Aftermath

• 1502

• Moriscos

• Taqqiya

Inquisition

• Torquemada

• Status of conversos

• Separating false from true converts

Inquisition

• Definitions

• Context

• Heresy

Inquisition

• Seville

• Alonso de Ojeda

• Inquisition, 1478

• Auto de fe

Inquisition and Crown

• Heresy and treason

• Papal expectations

• Royal actions

Expulsion

• The decree

• The rationale

• The context

Expulsion Aftermath

• Emigration

• Conversion

Catholic Monarchs

• Political = religious unity

• Inquisition

• End of convivencia