New Christian

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For other uses: see New Christian (Swedenborgian).

New Christian (Spanish: cristianos nuevos; Portuguese, cristãos novos) was a term used to refer to Iberian Jews and Muslims who converted to Roman Catholicism, and their known baptized descendants. The term was introduced in order for the Old Christians of Iberia to distinguish themselves from these conversos (converts), who were also called marranos (swines) in a derogatory and insulting manner.

Throughout the Middle Ages there were conversions, generally the result of physical, economic, and social pressures or coercion. In the 14th century there was increasing pressure against Jews that culminated in the riots of 1391 in Seville and other cities. These riots caused the destruction of the Jewish courts and sparked many conversions, a trend that continued through the 15th century. Unlike the other Iberian kingdoms, Portugal was not much affected by the waves of riots. There, the population of New Christians became numerous after the forced conversions of 1497.

After the expulsion of the Jewish population from Spain in 1492 and Portugal in 1497 the entire remaining Jewish population in Iberia became officially Catholic. The New Christians were always under suspicion of apostasy. The creation of the Spanish Inquisition in 1478 and Portuguese Inquisition in 1536 was justified by the need to fight heresy. It was believed that many New Christians were secretly reverting to the practices of their former religion, and in fact, large numbers had become crypto-Jews.

The system and ideology of cleanliness of blood ostracized New Christians from society, regardless of their actual degree of sincerity as converts. In Portugal, the legal distinction between New Christians and Old Christian was ended through a legal decree issued by the Marquis of Pombal in 1772.

After conversion, New Christians adopted Christian names. Eventually all Old Christian names were used by New Christians.

[edit] Bibliography

• J. Lúcio de Azevedo (1989). História dos Cristãos Novos Portugueses. Lisboa: Clássica Editora. 
• David M. Gitlitz (1996). Secrecy and deceit: the religion of the crypto-Jews. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society. ISBN 0-8276-0562-5. 

[edit] See also

• The Moriscos were the New Christians descending from Moors.