Francisca Nuñez de Carabajal facts for kids
Francisca Nuñez de Carabajal (born around 1540 in Portugal – died December 8, 1596, in Mexico City) was a brave woman who lived in New Spain (which is now Mexico). She was a Crypto-Jew, meaning she and her family secretly practiced the Jewish faith while appearing to be Christian. During her time, a powerful religious court called the Inquisition was active. Francisca was accused of secretly practicing Judaism and was put to death in 1596.
Contents
A Secret Faith in New Spain
Moving to Mexico
Around 1580, Don Luis de Carabajal, who was the Spanish governor of Nuevo León, traveled to Mexico. He brought with him his brother-in-law, Don Francisco Rodríguez de Matos, and his sister, Doña Francisca Nuñez de Carabajal. They came with eight of their nine children. The children were Doña Isabel, Doña Catalina, Doña Mariana, Doña Leonor, Don Baltasar, Don Luis, Miguel, and Anica. Miguel and Anica were very young. Another son, Gaspar, had already arrived in Mexico a little earlier.
The Family's Secret
Doña Catalina and Doña Leonor later married two Spanish merchants, Antonio Diaz de Caceres and Jorge de Almeida. These merchants lived in Mexico City and were interested in the mines of Taxco. The whole family then moved to Mexico City. By 1590, they were living well and seemed to be Christians to everyone around them. However, the Inquisition arrested them because they were suspected of secretly practicing Judaism.
Facing the Inquisition
The First Trial
The oldest daughter, Doña Isabel, was questioned very harshly until she told the Inquisition about her family's secret faith. Because of this, the entire Carabajal family was forced to admit their secret and publicly declare they would stop practicing Judaism. This happened at a public event called an Auto-da-fé on February 24, 1590. Francisca was the only one in her family who was questioned using a difficult method called the "string rack."
A Difficult Choice
Luis de Carabajal the younger, along with his mother Francisca and four of his sisters, was sentenced to be held in prison for a very long time. His brother, Baltasar, had run away when he first heard about the danger. Because he was not there, he and his deceased father, Francisco Rodriguez de Matos, were symbolically punished by having their images burned. In January 1595, Doña Francisca and her children were accused again of going back to their Jewish faith.
Standing Strong in Faith
Secret Messages
While they were in prison, the family found a way to talk to each other. They wrote short, encouraging messages on Spanish pear seeds. These messages helped them to stay strong in their faith. However, their secret communication was discovered.
The Final Trial
At a new Auto-da-fé, Doña Francisca and her children Isabel, Catalina, Leonor, and Luis were put to death. They were accused of being relapsos, which meant they had returned to their secret faith after promising not to. Other people, including Manuel Díaz, Beatriz Enríquez, Diego Enríquez, and Manuel de Lucena, also faced the same fate at this time. Of Francisca's other children, Doña Mariana became very ill and was later put to death at another Auto-da-fé in Mexico City on March 25, 1601. Anica, the youngest child, was allowed to live after she promised to follow the Christian faith.
Sources
- Vicente Riva Palacio, El Libro Rojo, Mexico, 1870.
- C.K. Landis, Carabajal the Jew, a Legend of Monterey, Vineland, N. J., 1894.
See also
In Spanish: Francisca de Carvajal para niños
