Analysis: Marano had its own unique socio-economic life in medieval Spanish society
In the 15th-century Christian indictments against Marano, they are portrayed as all upper-class people who only engage in noble professions.
They were either merchants, government tax collectors, or government officials, but none of them were farmers, artisans, or carpenters.
Although very limited historical information about Marano's economic activities, the outline of their economic life at that time is generally visible, i.e. not exactly as expressed by Spanish Christians.
Of course, it is undeniable that a considerable part of Marano was indeed in the upper echelons of Spanish society, holding high-ranking positions in the government department, as well as large merchants who dealt with the nobility, and who served as tax collectors for the king.
Some of these Maranos were upper-class Jews before conversion, and had been in high society long before conversion, but some were joined by their talents and efforts after conversion.
However, the Marano nobility is not the same as Marano, and the Marano members are not all upper-class nobles.
Even after conversion, most of the Jewish commoners are still commoners, and they will not immediately rise to the Marano nobility because of their conversion to Christianity, and convert to Christianity, but only free them from all kinds of shackles in life and provide them with a relatively equal living environment and competitive conditions with Christians.
In addition to some of the famous nobles, there were still many commoners in Marano, who had to work in various professions in order to survive.
Among them were small craftsmen, small merchants, clerks, doctors, etc.
It should be mentioned that the binding industry and the book sales industry.
Before the 14th century, most of Spain's book sales and binding industry was run by Jews, and after 1391, Marano replaced the Jews in controlling most of Spain's book sales and binding industry.
One of the most famous was Alfonso de Valladolid of Burgos, a former Jewish rabbi who worked as a bookbinder and converted to become a clerk and bookbinder for Donna Blanca, granddaughter of Alfonso X the "Wise Man".
Also, Barcelona's Marano bookbinder Guillermo Ca-Coma rearranged Joseph's History of the Jewish Wars, becoming the first editor of a printed book in Barcelona.
In addition, the bookbinders of the 15th century in the roadblock were mostly Marano.
Many of these Marano booksellers have their own bookstores, such as Marano Lorenzo Costa who opened a bookstore in Barcelona in 1414 with his partner Francisco Cayckalm.
In addition, the profession of doctor was one of Marano's main occupations at that time, and medicine was one of the various disciplines to be mastered by educated Jews.
In medieval Spain, the vast majority of doctors were Jewish.
Each king of Castile-León and Aragon-Catalonia had more than two personal Jewish doctors.
It was also logical for Marano to pursue the profession of doctor they were previously familiar with.
One of Fraga's surgeons, Asteruc Limekh, converted to Christianity after the Tortosa controversy and changed his name to Franceg de Saint-Erdi to continue practicing medicine.
In 1480, two of the three most famous surgeons in Mallorca were Marano, Garriga and Juan Alejandro Adret.
Luis Zaporta of Catalonia practiced medicine in Lleida for nine years.
Among the doctors of Marano were not only commoner doctors, but also aristocratic doctors, who were appreciated and used by the royal family and nobles because of their superb medical skills.
Alfonso de Sirino was not only a famous surgeon, but also medical director during the reign of Juan II of Castile, in charge of all internal and surgical personnel of the kingdom, and published two medical works.
Lorenzo Bardoc was the personal physician of King Fernando in the 70s of the 15th century, and thanks to his medical skills, Queen Isabella successfully gave birth to a male heir to the throne.
Francisco Luppere de Villalobos served for a long time King Ferdinand (1509–1516) and Emperor Charles V (1518–1542).
He also authored a number of important medical works that continue to benefit future generations.
Bibliography:
[1] Shen Xipeng: "Spanish Jews in the 10th-12th Centuries", master's thesis of East China Normal University.
