Conversos in Spain and Portugal Under Philip…

1605 CE

Conversos in Spain and Portugal Under Philip III: Brief Relief and Renewed Persecution (1601–Early 17th Century)

Despite mass emigrations and centuries of Inquisitorial persecution, large numbers of conversos (New Christians of Jewish descent) remained in Spain and Portugal. In 1601, Philip III of Spain briefly eased restrictions, granting greater freedoms to Portugal’s New Christians, but this relief was short-lived, and soon the Inquisition resumed its relentless campaign against them.

Philip III’s Temporary Reforms (1601)

On April 4, 1601, Philip III issued a law granting significant privileges to Portugal’s New Christians, including:

The right to sell their real estate freely.
Permission to leave Portugal with their families and possessions.
A temporary relaxation of Inquisitorial persecution.

This policy allowed many New Christians to emigrate, particularly to:

North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia).
The Ottoman Empire (especially in Turkey and Salonica), where Sephardic Jewish communities were well-established.
Amsterdam, where religious tolerance encouraged a flourishing Jewish community.

Revocation of Freedoms and the Return of the Inquisition

After only a few years, the privileges granted in 1601 were revoked, and the Portuguese Inquisition resumed its full-scale persecution of conversos.
Radical elements within the Catholic Church and Portuguese society pushed for continued forced conversions and trials, but it became clear to many Portuguese observers that coercion would not make the New Christians abandon their Jewish identity.
As a result, many conversos who had remained hopeful about integration began to flee once again.

The Migration of Portuguese Conversos to London

Many New Christians left Portugal for London, joining a growing Sephardic community in England.
England, under James I (1603–1625), was more religiously tolerant than Spain or Portugal, though Jews were still officially banned.
Portuguese conversos, often posing as Catholics, engaged in trade and finance, playing an important role in the development of early English commerce.
By the mid-17th century, the Sephardic Jewish community in England had become officially reestablished under Oliver Cromwell.

Conclusion: A Cycle of Persecution and Migration

The Portuguese conversos of the early 17th century endured a brief period of relief under Philip III, only to face renewed oppression as the Inquisition regained power. Many fled to North Africa, the Ottoman Empire, and Amsterdam, while others found refuge in London, where they became influential traders and financiers. This wave of migration shaped the Sephardic Jewish diaspora, further embedding Portuguese Jewish culture into global trade networks.