Porto Unveils Memorial to Victims of Inquisition, Revealing Hidden History
A memorial dedicated to the victims of the Portuguese Inquisition was unveiled in Porto, a city on Portugal’s northwestern coast. The memorial, measuring 13 feet wide by 6.5 feet high, bears the names of 842 individuals, ranging from 10 to 110 years old, who fell victim to the Inquisition between 1536 and 1821. This significant historical event took place on September 3, 2023, during the European Day of Jewish Culture, and marked a milestone for the Jewish community in Porto.
Over the years, the local Jewish community has committed substantial efforts to identify their predecessors who were killed or expelled during the Inquisition. By utilizing digitized records, they were able to recognize these victims and ensure that their memory would be preserved. The memorial, installed on an exterior wall of Porto’s Jewish Museum, commemorates the lives of those who suffered under the Inquisition.
Porto’s Jewish community has experienced a resurgence of interest in recent years, with an increase in tourism and a growing number of descendants of Sephardic Jews seeking Portuguese citizenship. While this has led to new investments in contemporary Jewish communities, there remains a lack of education about the Inquisition in Portugal. Hugo Vaz, the curator of Porto’s Jewish Museum and Holocaust Museum, highlighted the discrepancies between the coverage of the Inquisition and the Holocaust in Portuguese education. Vaz expressed his hope for enhanced education about this dark period in Portuguese history.
Next to each victim’s name on the memorial is the date of their auto-da-fé, a public ceremony where individuals were sentenced by the Inquisition. Some faced death by burning, others were imprisoned, tortured, expelled, or forced to wear humiliating outfits for the rest of their lives. The victims were primarily accused of practicing Judaism by their neighbors—often business rivals or former housekeepers. Interestingly, historians suggest that many victims, particularly in the late 17th century, were assimilated Catholics who did not adhere to Jewish traditions.
The memorial wall in Porto became possible due to the digitalization of records from the National Archives in Lisbon, a project supported by the community. With access to these records, researchers were able to uncover the names of 842 individuals from Porto who faced persecution during the Inquisition. The community has employed historians to study each case and plans to publish a book detailing their stories in the following year.
The unveiling of this memorial serves as a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed during the Inquisition and the need for increased understanding and education. By shedding light on the hidden history of the victims, Porto hopes to spark a deeper examination of the persecution endured by countless individuals throughout this period. It is essential to recognize and remember their stories, even those of innocent children, in order to prevent the repetition of such unimaginable acts of cruelty.
In commemorating those lost during the Inquisition, Porto takes a significant step toward acknowledging its past and embracing a more inclusive future. The memorial stands as a symbol of remembrance and a testament to the strength and resilience of the Jewish community in Porto. It is a stark reminder that history, even dark chapters, must never be forgotten.
