Religion (Jews)

Question 1

How many conversos lived in Spain?

Answer 1

Approximately 100 000.

Question 2

When and where did clashes take place regarding the persecution of jews?

Answer 2

Toledo in 1467 and Cordoba in 1473.

Question 3

What were the policies in place against Jews and conversos?

Answer 3

The Inquisition and expulsion.

Question 4

When was the Inquisition introduced?

Answer 4

Received papal approval in 1478 and was introduced in Castile in 1480. Was then extended to Aragon in 1481 however contended with much opposition.

Question 5

Why did the Inquisition target conversos and not jews?

Answer 5

Targeted heresy to which baptism was a prerequisite and jews had not been baptised unlike comversos.

Question 6

Why were the Aragonese reluctant to accept the Inquisition?

Answer 6

It defied their fueros as it implemented a allowed foreign officials to operate in Aragon.

Question 7

Who was the first Inquisitor general and when was he appointed?

Answer 7

Torquemada was appointed Inquisitor General in 1482 after a papal bull promoted 7 new inquisitors.

Question 8

When and where was the first auto de fe? How many were burnt?

Answer 8

Seville in 1481. 6 conversos were burnt.

Question 9

How many were burnt at a single auto de fe in 1504?

Answer 9

107

Question 10

How many were executed between 1481 and 1488? What about 1480 and 1530?

Answer 10

700 conversos were burnt between 1481 and 1488. 2000 between 1480 and 1530.

Question 11

When was a partial expulsion of Jews in Andalusia ordered?

Answer 11

1482.

Question 12

When were Jews driven out of Seville?

Answer 12

1484.

Question 13

When was the policy of expulsion made official?

Answer 13

Started in 1482, alongside the Inquisition, but was made official in March 1492.

Question 14

How many Jews are estimated to have left after the policy of expulsion was introduced?

Answer 14

Richard Bonney estimates 70 000 left Castile and 10 000 fled Aragon. Kamen estimates 75% of 200 000 left but argues that many later returned as conversos.

Question 15

How many conversos were estimated to be in Spain at the start of Ferdinand and Isabella’s reign?

Answer 15

100 000

Question 16

When did the Valencian Cortes reject the Inquisition?

Answer 16

1484

Question 17

Who was assassinated in 1485 and what was this an indication of?

Answer 17

Inquisitor of Aragon, Pedro de Arbues was assassinated in the Cathedral of Zaragoza and this highlighted their displeasure of the regime.

Question 18

Impact of policies against Jews?

Answer 18

Left gaps in sectors such as tax farming which was a position primarily held by Jews and conversos, forcing Isabella to issue an edict inviting foreign workers to come to Spain in exchange for 10 years of no tax. Probably did not reap as much economically as they had hoped as the Jewish population was relatively small and the policy of expulsion most likely had an adverse effect, leading to increased numbers of false conversos.

Question 19

When did Manuel of Portugal also issue an expulsion?

Answer 19

1497, after pressure from the Spanish monarchs.

Question 20

What was the main motive behind the expulsion?

Answer 20

Given the detrimental impact on the economy, it was no doubt driven by religious motives.