|
|
|
Last Updated: Oct 2, 2008 - 7:45:13 AM |
Swashbuckling Jewish buccaneers, roaming the Caribbean, plundering the
Spanish Main? Here's the little-known history of some unintended
consequences of the Spanish Inquisition.
At the dawn of the Age of Discovery, writes Jamaica-based historian
Kritzler in his debut, Jews had been compelled by the Inquisition to
convert to Christianity or suffer the auto-da-fe, but many of these
conversos secretly maintained their ancient faith.
By the 17th century, some headstrong descendants of the Jews banished
by Spain in 1492 emerged as navigators, corsairs and pirates. These
adventuresome Hebrews were an interesting lot. They were politicians,
international adventurers and licensed privateers in geopolitical
competition as much as mere robbers on the high seas. Covert Jews who
never really converted, code-named "Portugals" by those with whom they
dealt, sailed with Columbus and da Gama and plundered with Corts and
Pizarro.
Under Barbarossa, a Portugal named Sinan commanded a fleet of 100
ships. Rabbi Palache kept a kosher cuisine aboard his privateer.
Seafaring Jews operated from Holland in its Golden Age and practiced
international intrigue from Jamaica, where religion was of no
consequence.
They settled in Curacao and New Amsterdam (to the consternation of
Peter Stuyvesant). Portugal conquistadores looted Mexico, and converso
traders connived with Cromwell and the King of Spain at the same time.
Cutlasses at the ready together with the occasional holy text, they
traded in the sugar of Brazil and the silver of Peru, with some
intentions noble and other motives base. Kritzler supplies squalls of
detail, occasionally at the risk of distracting attention from the
overarching narrative. He believes that the fabled gold mine of
Columbus is actually on the island of Jamaica, and he and a sponsor
have already staked a preemptive mining claim.
Surprising adventures on the high seas with some rogues of the
Diaspora.
Source:Ocnus.net 2008
Top of Page
|
|
|
|