Historic antecedents Xueta

1 historic antecedents

1.1 conversos (1391-1488)
1.2 beginnings of spanish inquisition, (1488-1544)
1.3 new clandestinity (1545-1673)

historic antecedents
the conversos (1391-1488)

saint vicent ferrer, predicative assets conversion of jews.

the assault on calls — majorcan jewish ghettoes — in 1391, preaching of vincent ferrer in 1413, , conversion of remainder of jewish community of majorca, in 1435, constituted 3 events resulted in numerous conversos. had agreed mass conversions in order manage collective peril rather individual spiritual changes.

many of new christians continued traditional communal , religious practices. established confraria de sant miquel or dels conversos ( confraternity of saint michael or of converts ). largely replaced former aljama in taking care of group s social needs, instance, assistance needy, internal organ of justice, officiating @ weddings, , supporting religious cohesion. @ end of last quarter of 15th century, conversos carried on activities, of them clandestine, without suffering external pressures. guilds did not discriminate based on jewish origin. conversos managed social cohesion.

the beginnings of spanish inquisition, (1488-1544)


shield of inquisition used in mallorca.

in 1488, while of last converts of 1435 still alive, first inquisitors of spanish inquisition — tribunal newly created catholic monarchs part of effort forge nation state on base of religious uniformity — arrived in majorca. introduction of such tribunal followed public complaints , general opposition in majorca, throughout rest of crown of aragon, useless. central objective repression of crypto-judaism, began applying edicts of grace, allow severe punishment heresy avoided through self-incrimination.

by edicts of grace (1488–1492), 559 majorcans confessed jewish practices , inquisition obtained names of majority of judaizing majorcans, against whom, families , closest associates, exercised harsh punitive activity. subsequently, until 1544, 239 crypto-jews reconciled , 537 relaxed — is, turned on civil authorities executed — 82 of whom executed , burned. majority of remaining 455, managed flee, burnt in effigy. exile distinct decree of expulsion of 1492, did not apply majorca, officially had no jews left in 1435.

the new clandestinity (1545-1673)

after period, majorcan inquisition ceased act against judaizers, though there signs of prohibited practices; causes may have been: participation of inquisitorial structure in conflicts between local armed factions (bandositats); appearance of new religious phenomena such conversions islam , protestantism or control of morality of clergy. but, beyond doubt, adoption of more efficacious strategies of protection on part of crypto-jews: later inquisitorial trials talk how religious practices transferred within families when child reached age of adolescence and, in case of women, when became clear whom marry , husband s religious convictions.

in event, period characterized reduction of group means of flight of penitents of earlier epoch, unconditional adhesion catholicism of majority of remained, , generalization of statutes of neteja de sang (literally purity of blood , commonly referred in english spanish language expression limpieza de sangre) in majority of guild organizations , religious orders. despite of this, small group persevered in clandestine practices, later known xuetes, who, furthermore, maintained , adopted social, familial, , economic strategies of internal cohesion.

sinagoga de livorno (built in 17th century), city of reference majorcan criptojews.

from 1640, descendants of converts began marked process of economic ascent , increasing commercial influence. previously, , exceptions, had been artisans, shopkeepers, , retail distributors, starting time, , reasons not explained, began focus on economic activity: created complex mercantile companies, participated in foreign trade, coming control, @ time of end of inquisitorial trials, 36% of total, dominated market insurance , retail commerce of imported products. otherwise, companies owned conversos, , gave part of profits works of charity in benefit of community , unlike rest of population, used give profits charity donations church.

because of intense exterior economic activity, xuetes resumed contact international communities of jews, of livorno, of rome, of marseille, , of amsterdam, through whom converts had access jewish literature. known rafel valls, known el rabí ( rabbi ) religious leader of majorcan converts, traveled alexandria , smyrna in era of sabbatai zevi, unknown whether had contact him.

an internal system of social stratification began in period, although believed remnant of jewish (pre-conversion) period. system distinguished kind of aristocracy, called orella alta (literally high ears ), rest of group, orella baixa ( low ears ). along other distinctions based on religion, professions, , parentage configured tapestry of alliances , avoidances among surnames, had great influence on endogamistic practices of period.