The Diaspora of Sephardic Jews After 1492
The expulsion of Sephardic Jews following the year 1492 is a significant period in Jewish history that reshaped the religious, cultural, and economic landscapes of numerous regions. While some with the financial means sought refuge in Italy or the Ottoman Empire, the common folk were more often than not left to find their destiny in North Africa.
Early Expulsions Before 1492
Those with a history of expelling Jews are not new to this practice. Earlier European rulers, such as the King Edward I of England in 1290, had decreed similar measures. The expulsion, motivated by the strong influence of Jewish financial activities on the economy, was not a unique occurrence but a recurring issue throughout European history. However, the scope and cultural influence of the Sephardic Jews’ exodus after 1492 would be unparalleled.
The Expulsion of 1492 and Its Aftermath
On July 18, 1492, Isabella I and Ferdinand II of Aragon, known as the Reyes Católicos (Catholic Monarchs), issued an edict of expulsion, affecting an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 Sephardic Jews. Despite this large number, records show that only about 50,000 Jews actually left, as a few thousand others returned to the Iberian Peninsula due to harsh living conditions in some of the host countries, such as Fez, Morocco.
Many of these Jews identified the Iberian Peninsula with Sefarad, the biblical name for the region, which connected them to their historical roots. They carried with them not only their religious practices but also their language, a 15th-century dialect of Spanish known as Sefardí. This language can still be heard today in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul and in Turkish newspapers. As a result, even a Muslim-majority country like Turkey, where_language_ is spoken, has become a significant ally of Israel.
Settlements and Dispersions
As for where the Sephardic Jews went after 1492, most initially settled in North Africa, where they joined pre-existing Jewish communities. Others found refuge in the Kingdoms of Portugal and Navarra, which were later joined by similar expulsion waves. Portugal marked the culmination of expulsions, ordered by King Manuel I in 1496. In Bayonne, they were not allowed to reside in the city and were instead confined to the right bank of the river, where they also received settlers from Castilla and Aragón.
While some Sephardic Jews arrived in Italy primarily in Naples, they were expelled when the Kingdom came under the rule of Ferdinand I (Ferdinand the Catholic) in 1495. They fled to Rome’s Trastevere, enduring persecution until Pope Paul IV expelled them in 1559. Pope Pius V reinforced this expulsion in 1569, driving them from the Papal States.
The Netherlands were one of the last havens for Jews, especially after their rebellion against Philip II, the Requerimiento period. The Sephardic Jews who remained found refuge in the Ottoman Empire, settling in territories such as the Maghreb, Algeria, the Balkans, and the Middle East, after being expelled from Italy as well.
This displacement of Sephardic Jews had far-reaching impacts on the cultural, religious, and economic life of the regions they settled in, leaving an indelible legacy that is still felt in modern times.