Split Expelled a Jewish Family in 1577

In August 1577, a court in Split, Venezia’s Dalmatia, banished Alessandro and Marino de Barisano and their family. The men faced murder charges, but no evidence supported the accusations. Authorities confiscated the Barisano family’s property as part of the expulsion order.

The case reveals a pattern of prejudice extending to Jewish converts to Christianity. Despite baptism, these individuals remained outsiders in the eyes of the community. This extended to their descendants, who continued to experience discrimination for generations.

Historians examining the trial note the lack of concrete proof and the swiftness of the condemnation. The article suggests the expulsion stemmed from deeper biases rooted in religious and cultural difference.

It remains unclear how widespread this treatment of converted Jews was across the Venetian territories. Investigations into similar cases continue to reveal more about this history.