El ascenso sociopolítico de los judeo-conversos en la Castilla del siglo XVI. El ejemplo de la familia Beltrán en Soria

Abstract

The author analyses the process of integration and social promotion of a converso family from the Castilian town of Soria, whose members adhered to the Christian faith after a short exile in Portugal in 1492. He presents the evolution of four generations of that family concerning their economic activities, their attitudes towards the Christian religion, and their political views on marriage. He proves that the Beltrán family reached very soon a high position among the oligarchy of Soria, position that was easily attained because of the increasing economic power of that family during the first half of the sixteenth century. Finally he shows how the family also assumed very quickly the ideals and the way of life of the Castilian nobility, and made investments of large amounts of money in buying lands and lordships.