Add
Private Notes
After the Alhambra Decree was put into place by Ferdinand and Isabella in Spain, the Spanish Inquisition kicked off in full. It was no longer legal to live in Spain as a Jewish person. One had to convert, or leave to never return. And many Jewish communities chose the latter. And of the Jewish people who were forced from their homes, some took to the sea and figured out a way to reclaim what had been stolen from them... and get a little revenge on top. Oh yeah, we're talking Jewish pirates! Great figures like Sinan Reis and Samuel Pallache will become known on the high seas but first, a look at where it all started.
After being forced from Spain, many Sephardic Jews were left with few places to go. Many other countries in Europe had similar anti-Semitic bans. However, across the sea, North Africa and the Ottoman Empire's relatively lax laws that were religiously inclusive allowed people to set up shop in many port towns. And as tensions rose between Suliman the Magnificant and Charles V, the sultan was looking to raise an armada. Enter Barbarossa and his right hand man, Sinan Reis or as the Europeans called him, Sinan the Jew.
A man sits in London, accused of piracy against Spain by the Spanish ambassador. If he is found guilty he will hang. But the Dutch Prince requests for his swift release. How is all of this possible? Well Samuel Pallache lived an extremely colorful life. A Sephardic Jewish man born in Morroco, founder of the Jewish community in Amsterdam, and a triple agent, Samuel made many friends wherever he went along with many enemies. Don't worry, Zoey will keep track for us.
After the Alhambra Decree was put into place by Ferdinand and Isabella in Spain, the Spanish Inquisition kicked off in full. It was no longer legal to live in Spain as a Jewish person. One had to convert, or leave to never return. And many Jewish communities chose the latter. And of the Jewish people who were forced from their homes, some took to the sea and figured out a way to reclaim what had been stolen from them... and get a little revenge on top. Oh yeah, we're talking Jewish pirates! Great figures like Sinan Reis and Samuel Pallache will become known on the high seas but first, a look at where it all started.
