Dreams of Al-Andalus; a Survey of the Illusive Pursuit of Religious Freedom in Spain
Dreams of al-Andalus; A Survey of the Illusive Pursuit of Religious Freedom in Spain By Robert Edward Johnson Baptist World Alliance Seville, Spain July 10, 2002 © 2002 by the American Baptist Quarterly a publication of the American Baptist Historical Society, P.O. Box 851, Valley forge, PA 19482-0851. Around 1481, a local chronicler from Seville narrated a most incredible story centering around one of the city’s most prominent citizens, Diego de Susán. He was among Seville’s wealthiest and most influential citizens, a councilor in city government, and, perhaps most important, he was father to Susanna—the fermosa fembra (“beautiful maiden”). He was also a converso, and was connected with a group of city merchants and leaders, most of whom were conversos as well. All were opponents to Isabella’s government. According to this narration, Susán was at the heart of a plot to overthrow the work of the newly created Inquisition. He summoned a meeting of Seville’s power brokers and other rich and powerful men from the towns of Utrera and Carmona. These said to one another, ‘What do you think of them acting thus against us? Are we not the most propertied members of this city, and well loved by the people? Let us collect men together…’ And thus between them they allotted the raising of arms, men, money and other necessities. ‘And if they come to take us, we, together with armed men and the people will rise up and slay them and so be revenged on our enemies.’[1] The fly in the ointment of their plans was the fermosa fembra herself.
[Show full text]