Plakotos, Georgios (2004) the Venetian Inquisition and Aspects of "Otherness" : Judaizers, Muslim and Christian Converts (16Th-17Th Century)
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Plakotos, Georgios (2004) The Venetian Inquisition and aspects of "otherness" : Judaizers, Muslim and Christian converts (16th-17th century). PhD thesis http://theses.gla.ac.uk/7223/ Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Glasgow Theses Service http://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] THE VENETIAN INQUISITION AND ASPECTS OF "OTHERNESS": JUDAIZERS, MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN CONVERTS (16TH- 17THCENTURY) Georgios Plakotos Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Glasgow Department of History September 2004 © Georgios Plakotos 2004 Abstract The Thesis explores the Venetian Inquisition's handling of cases involving crypto- Jewish, crypto-Muslim practices, and some cases where people had lapsed into Islamic ways, especially when in remoter parts of the Venetian empire or within the Ottoman empire and who sought reconciliation with the Catholic Church. Despite their differences, the offences involved the practice of dissimulation and connected with Venice's position as a transit city, since for most offenders Venice was one among their various destinations in their peregrinations in the Mediterranean. The Thesis draws on the printed transcripts of cases involving Judaism, but also unpublished archival material in both the State archive, and the Patriarchal archive. The discussion, with close textual analysis focuses on the lengthy testimonies given before the Inquisition by a variety of people, who appeared as accusers and witnesses, and examines what they perceived as alleged crypto-Jewish and crypto-Muslim practices in the atmosphere of growing concern about religious deviance in late Renaissance Venice. It analyses the tribunal's approach to the accusations and offences, and changing patterns of practice, paying close attention to the Inquisitors' questioning strategies. As most offenders had undergone conversion, this Thesis analyses how they fashioned their identity in front of the Inquisitors who, on the basis of Church and State regulations, insisted on unambiguous religious identities. The Thesis delineates the convergences and divergences in the handling of these offences, and challenges some perceptions of power relations between accusers and accused. While following these investigations, much is revealed about communities in cosmopolitan Venice, their locations and inter-actions, and how Christian and non- Christians perceived, and mis-perceived, each other. Insights are also provided into for movements of individuals - as commercial or mercenary military purposes - in and between remoter parts of the Venetian empire and the Ottoman empire. Contents Acknowledgments iv Note on Footnotes, Quotations and Spelling V Abbreviations vi Map: The Parishes of Venice vii Introduction viii The Venetian Inquisition: Organisation and Procedure xiii Venice's Cosmopolitan Nature and the Jewish Ghetto xxvi The Concept of the "Other" and Methodological Insights xxxi Structure of the Thesis xliv One Witnesses before the Inquisition and Perceptions of Crypto-Judaism I The Jewish Headgear and Dress as Signs of Crypto-Judaism 6 Scrutinising Suspect Households and Individuals 14 Christian Piety in Public and Crypto-Judaism 26 "Marrano" Identity and Witnesses 36 Rumours, Gossip and Crypto-Jewish Identity 47 Two Crypto-Judaism before the Inquisition: Inquisitorial Discourse and Practice, and Strategies of Defence 61 Early Encounters 63 Proceedings after the Decree of 1556: Persecution and Coercive Reconciliation 89 Contents 111 Three The Inquisition and the Levantine "Other" 124 Mapping the Levantine Presence in Venice 125 The Inquisition and Crypto-Muslim Practices 145 Four Crossing Religious Boundaries in Venice: Christian and Muslim Converts 172 Converts and Venetian Institutions 174 Stories of Conversion and Aspects of Identity 195 Conclusion 218 Bibliography 227 Acknowledgments I am deeply grateful to my supervisor Chris Black for both academic and personal merits. His scholarship, open-minded outlook, unflagging support, patient criticism, warm welcome and friendly conversation have been crucial to my studies and research over the last five years in Glasgow. I have been greatly benefited by Costas Gaganakis' valuable assistance, unfailing interest, encouragement and friendship since my undergraduate years at Athens University. His presence there inspired my interest in early modern studies. I wish to thank Prof. Samuel Cohn for kindly reading earlier drafts of the Thesis. Prof. Antonis Liakos, Prof. Constantinos Svolopoulos, both from Athens University, Dr. Thomas Munck of Glasgow University, Nikolaos Moschonas, Director in the National Research Institute in Athens and Dora Komini have offered their generous help in various ways. Androniki Dialeti has always been inspirational, generous in encouragement and constructive criticism. Colleagues and friends in Athens, Glasgow and Vcnice have offered their help and suggestions. The Department of History, the School of History and Archaeology of the University of Glasgow and the Royal Historical Society have assisted with grants towards research and conferences. I would like to acknowledge the assistance of the staff in the Archivio di Stato, the Archivio della Curia Patriarchale, the Biblioteca Marciana in Venice and Glasgow University Library; and the Istituto ellenico di studi bizantini e post-bizantini for the short hospitality they offered during my research in Venice. Finally, I would like to thank my family for their constant support, care and encouragement. Note on Footnotes, Quotations and Spelling All translations are mine unless otherwise indicated. The original quotations have been included in the footnotes for the sake of preserving the flavour of the depositions and interrogations, and for further insights into the atmosphere of trials. Proper names in processi transcripts published in Processi del San! 'Ufzio di Venezia contro ebrei e giudazzanti have been standardised according to the version given by P. C. loly Zorattini in the Index of each volume or in total in the Index of names of the fourteenth volume (for instance, the name Duarte Gomez is used instead of Odoardo, Odoardus etc Gomes, originally appearing on the document). In quotations from source material all Latin or Italian abbreviations have been developed and I have standardised the spelling of proper names to some extent; Latinised names are turned to the Italian (for instance, Girolamo instead of Hieronymo). Venetian versions of proper names are usually turned to the proper Italian (Zorzi to Giorgio, for instance). I have maintained the Italian - Venetian spelling of geographical terms for places belonging to Venice's Mediterranean territories (for instance, Spalato instead of Split). The current non-Italian version is given in brackets. In fascicoli of Inquisition processi from the State Archive the folios are often unpaginated or loose; for long trials references are given by the name of the person under interrogation and the appropriate date. Inquisition processi hosted in the Archivio della Curia Patriarchale are paginated. Although in Venice the calendar initiated the new year on 1 March, the Holy Office used the modem calendar. Abbreviations ACPV Archivio della Curia Patriarcale di Venezia ASV Archivio di Stato di Venezia BdC Battesimi dei Catecumeni finisse B 1590 - 1594 Battesimi principia 1590 3 Marzo 1594 ultimo Marzo B 1616 - 1675 Battesimi principia it di 29 Agosto 1616 Termina col 20 Ottobre 1675 BMI Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venezia CSI Criminalia Sanctae Inquisitionis SU Sant'Uffizio b. busta den. denunciation by proc. processo test. testimony of u. d. unfoliated document Processi P. C. loly Zorattini, ed. Processi del S. Uffizio di Venezia contro ebrei e giudaizzanti. 14 vols. Florence: L. S. Olschki, 1980 - 1999 The Parishes of Venice (end of the sixteenth century) CANNAREGIO CASTELLO DORSODURO S. CROCE 1. S. Geremia 14. S. Marina 27. S. Eufemia 38. S. Croce 2. Ghetto 15. S. Lio 28. S. Gregorio 39. S. Lucia 3. S. Leonardo 16. S. Maria Formosa 29. S. Vio 40. S. Simeon Piccolo 4. S. Marcuola 17. S. Giovanni Novo 30. S. Agnese 41. S. Simeon Grande 5. S. Maria Maddalena 18. S. Severo 3I. S. Trovaso 42. S. Zuan Degolä 6. S. Fosca 19. S. Giustina 32. S. Basegio 43. S. Giacomo dal I' 7. S. Marcilian 20. S. Provolo 33. S. Anzolo Raffael Ohio 8. S. Felice 21. S. Giovanni in Bragora 34. S. NicoIb 44. S. Stae 9. S. Sofia 22. S. Antonin 35. S. Barnaba 45. S Maria Mater 10. SS. Apostoli 23. S. Ternitil 36. S. Margherita Domini I. S. Canciano 24. S. Martino 37. S. Pantalon 46. S. Cassiano 12. S. Giovanni Crisostomo 25. S. Biagio 13. S. Maria Nova 26. S. Pietro di Castello S. POLO S. MARCO 47. S. Boldo 55. S. Giovanni 56. S. Bartolomio 64. S. Maria Zobenigo 48. S. Stin Elemosinario 57. S. Salvador 65. S. Maurizio 49. S. Agostin 58. S. /_ulian 66. S. Vidal 50. S. Tomä 59. S. Basso 67. S. Samuele 51. S. Polo 60. S. Marco 68. S. Angelo 52. S. Aponal 61. S. Giminian 69. S. Beneto 53. S. Silvestro 62. S. Moise 70. S. Patemian 54. S. Mattio 63. S. Fantin 71.