Cristãosnovos

Cristãos-novos is a historical term used in Portuguese to refer to Jews who converted to Christianity in the Iberian Peninsula during the late medieval and early modern periods. The label describes individuals and families who publicly professed Catholicism while being suspected of retaining Jewish practices, beliefs, or ancestry, or who were perceived as crypto-Jewish.

In Portugal, many Jews were compelled to convert in 1496–1497, after which a large population entered the cristãos-novos group. In Spain, the 1492 expulsion of Jews followed by forced conversions produced a similar, though Spanish, category of conversos. The cristãos-novos thus formed a substantial community at the intersection of forced religious change and personal identity, often distinguished from Old Christians.

From the 16th century onward, both the Portuguese and Spanish Inquisitions pursued alleged crypto-Judaism among cristãos-novos, aiming to enforce doctrinal conformity and social control. Accusations could lead to investigations, penalties, or even auto de fé. Many cristãos-novos faced social and economic discrimination, and some sought refuge abroad, moving to the Ottoman Empire, the Netherlands, or other destinations.

Today, cristãos-novos is primarily a historical term used by scholars to study Sephardic Jewish history in the Iberian world. It reflects complex identities shaped by religious affiliation, lineage, and the memory of persecution. In contemporary usage, the term is typically considered historical rather than a current legal or social category, though genealogical research often explores the heritage associated with cristãos-novos.