Persecution of Jews and Muslims by Manuel I of Portugal

King Manuel I of Portugal made a hard decision in 1496 that changed many lives. On December 5, 1496, he signed a law. The law said that all Jews and Muslims had to leave Portugal by the end of October the next year.

This meant many families who had lived there for a long time had to leave. They 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. 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 had important jobs in Portugal. For example, Isaac Abarbanel worked for King Afonso V of Portugal. Many Jewish people were known for their work in art, culture, and trade. Cities like Lisbon and Évora had large Jewish communities. In Spain, Jewish and Moorish groups lost land when 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

In 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. Later in 1497, the king made another rule forcing Jews to become Christians and not allowing them to leave.

After these events, many people who 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 followed their Jewish faith openly 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 told all Muslims in the country to leave. We do not know why he made this choice.

Some believe it was part of a plan by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, the Catholic Monarchs, to have everyone follow the same religion. Others think it may have been because of plans to take over areas in North Africa.

Many Muslims moved to nearby lands. Some went to Castile and most traveled to North Africa.

Return of some Jews to Portugal

In 1525, a Jewish man named David Reubeni came to 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. 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.