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Ancona Boycott Initiated (1556) | |||||
Following the Portuguese Expulsion in (see Jewish History for the 22nd of Tevet) many Jews who chose to remain in Portugal became "Marranos," openly identified themselves as Christians, while secretly maintaining Jewish beliefs and traditions. Many of the Marranos eventually migrated to other countries, where they once again openly professed their allegiance to Judaism. However, because they had been "baptized," their situation was often perilous. On the 3rd of Iyar in 1556, on the orders of Pope Paul IV, 25 of these Marranos were burnt at the stake in Ancona, Italy. Mendes Nasi was a very influential and wealthy woman; herself a Portuguese Marrano who relocated to the Ottoman Empire. In her past, she, too, had personally experienced persecution because of her Marrano status. Upon hearing about the burning of her co-religionists, she organized a financial boycott against the port of Ancona. She called on all Jews to do trade from the neighboring harbors and thus financially ruin Ancona. Her trade embargo was successful for a few months, and is considered to be one of the first times the Jews struck back against the Inquisition. |
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