Si hay moreras hay cristianos nuevos: The Dukes of Pastrana and the silk industry in the creation of a place of conflict (C. 1569- C. 1609)

Abstract

Due to the support of the Dukes of Pastrana, during the last decades of the 16th century the moriscos controlled the silk industry and commerce and the municipal power in Pastrana. This article deals with the creation of a locus of hate in Pastrana because of the social competition between the old christians and the moriscos. One result of this social hate was, especially since 1572, the process of characterization of the moriscos as evil suspicious new Christians. This stigmatizing experience was the precedent of the same process against the Portuguese merchants in the early decades of the 17th century. After the expulsion of the moriscos, the Portuguese took their place in the Pastrana silk industry and municipal offices. As a result, the old Christians came to develop a narrative of demonization around the identification of Portuguese as criptojews.