On the 5th of February 1428 King Alfonso V ordered Sicily’s Jews to attend conversion sermons. Yet he was, for the time, relatively supportive towards his Jewish subjects.
King Alfonso V of Aragon, also known as Alfonso the Magnanimous, was a prominent figure of the 15th century. His reign was marked by territorial expansion, political acumen, and cultural patronage, making him one of the most influential monarchs of the late medieval period.
Alfonso was born on 24th December 1396, in Medina del Campo, Castile, to Ferdinand I of Aragon and Eleanor of Alburquerque. As the eldest son, Alfonso inherited his father’s titles and responsibilities. Ferdinand I, a younger brother of King Henry III of Castile, became King of Aragon in 1412 following the Compromise of Caspe, which resolved a succession crisis in Aragon. When Ferdinand died in 1416, Alfonso ascended the throne of Aragon.
Alfonso’s reign is primarily remembered for his ambitions in the Mediterranean. He pursued a policy of territorial expansion, consolidating Aragonese power across southern Europe. In 1420, he launched an expedition to Naples to support Queen Joanna II against Louis III of Anjou, a rival claimant to the Neapolitan throne. Alfonso gained Joanna’s favor, and in 1421, she adopted him as her heir, securing his claim to the Kingdom of Naples. However, political disputes ensued, and Alfonso was briefly expelled from Naples by his rivals.
By 1442, after years of conflict and diplomacy, Alfonso triumphed in the Italian Wars, securing Naples for the Crown of Aragon. He established his court in Naples, where he ruled as king until his death. This marked the peak of his power, as the Kingdom of Naples became a hub of Renaissance culture and a key part of Aragon’s Mediterranean empire, which also included Sardinia, Sicily, and Corsica.
In his Iberian territories, Alfonso delegated much of the administration to his brother, John II of Navarre, to focus on his Italian campaigns. This strategy allowed him to maintain control over his widespread domains without neglecting any particular region.
Alfonso the Magnanimous was a quintessential Renaissance prince. He surrounded himself with scholars, poets, and artists, transforming his court into a cultural and intellectual center. He was a patron of figures like the historian Lorenzo Valla, the poet Antonio Beccadelli, and the architect Guillem Sagrera. Alfonso’s library in Naples became one of the most renowned in Europe, and he actively encouraged the study of classical texts. His court attracted humanists from across Europe, making it a beacon of the Italian Renaissance. His cultural achievements earned him the epithet “Magnanimous” reflecting his generosity and support for the arts.
King Alfonso V of Aragon, also known as Alfonso the Magnanimous, had a complex and multifaceted relationship with the Jewish communities in his realms. While his reign was a time of significant challenges for Jews in Iberia, Alfonso’s policies were often marked by pragmatism and a degree of tolerance, shaped by the political and economic circumstances of his time.
Alfonso V recognised the economic and administrative value of Jewish communities in his territories, especially in the Crown of Aragon, which included regions such as Catalonia, Valencia, and Majorca. Jews were integral to the financial, medical, and scholarly life of the kingdom, serving as tax collectors, financiers, physicians, and advisors. Alfonso often extended royal protection to Jewish communities, ensuring their safety and the continuation of their activities.
For example, he issued decrees reaffirming the rights and privileges of Jews, granting them the freedom to practice their religion, maintain synagogues, and manage their own communal affairs. In doing so, Alfonso maintained a balance between upholding traditional Christian dominance and acknowledging the indispensable contributions of Jews to his kingdom’s economy and administration.
Alfonso relied heavily on Jewish financiers and tax collectors to fund his military campaigns, particularly his costly ventures in Italy, such as the conquest of Naples. Jews were often taxed heavily to meet royal financial demands, and their communities were expected to contribute significant sums during times of war or economic strain. While this reliance demonstrated the king’s recognition of their economic importance, it also placed significant burdens on Jewish communities, leaving them vulnerable to resentment from Christian subjects.
Despite his protective measures, Alfonso’s reign was not free from anti-Jewish violence and social tensions. In the decades leading up to his rule, particularly during the anti-Jewish riots of 1391, Jewish communities across Iberia had faced widespread violence, forced conversions, and destruction of property. Many Jews who converted to Christianity, known as conversos or New Christians, remained targets of suspicion and hostility.
Alfonso did not actively promote persecution, but he faced pressures from both the Church and segments of the Christian populace who demanded restrictions on Jews. Influenced by broader societal attitudes and the growing influence of the Inquisition, Alfonso occasionally issued decrees restricting Jewish practices. For example, he reinforced laws requiring Jews to wear distinctive clothing, a policy intended to separate them from Christians and emphasize their subordinate status in society.
During Alfonso’s reign, the Inquisition was not yet a formalized institution as it would later become under Ferdinand and Isabella, but ecclesiastical authorities frequently pushed for measures to combat what they perceived as heresy. Alfonso’s pragmatic approach meant he tried to mediate between the Church’s demands and his need to maintain Jewish contributions to his kingdom. At times, he resisted excessive pressure from clerics, recognizing that overt persecution could destabilise his realms.
When Alfonso extended his rule to Naples in 1442, he continued his policies of relative tolerance. Naples had a significant Jewish community, and under Alfonso’s rule, Jews were allowed to flourish. He granted privileges to Jewish merchants, protected their right to trade, and encouraged their involvement in the cultural and economic life of the kingdom. His court in Naples became a hub of intellectual activity, and Jewish scholars and physicians contributed to the intellectual vibrancy of his reign.
King Alfonso V’s relationship with Jews reflected the broader contradictions of medieval Christian rulers. While he was often protective of Jewish communities and relied on their economic and administrative expertise, he also upheld discriminatory laws and imposed heavy taxes. His pragmatic approach allowed Jewish communities to survive and, in some areas, thrive during his reign, but it also left them vulnerable to the social and religious pressures of the time.
Overall, Alfonso’s policies were shaped more by practical concerns than ideological commitments. His reign stands as an example of the precarious position of Jewish communities in medieval Europe, valued for their contributions yet subject to systemic discrimination and periodic hostility.
Alfonso’s death on 27th June 1458, in Naples marked the end of an era. His decision to divide his realms created a lasting impact: the Crown of Aragon passed to his brother John II, while Naples was left to his illegitimate son, Ferdinand I of Naples. This division reflected Alfonso’s dual identity as a ruler of both Iberia and Italy.