How did the anti-Jewish pogroms of 1391 affect Jewish communities in Spain?

The anti-Jewish pogroms of 1391 were a pivotal event that fundamentally altered the landscape of Jewish life in Spain. Triggered by rising hostility and religious animosity, these violent riots threatened the very existence of Spanish Jewry.12

The most significant consequence of the 1391 violence was the mass conversion of tens of thousands of Jews to Christianity as a means of escaping persecution. These converts, known as conversos or "new Christians," became a controversial group within Spanish society. While many were devout, others—often referred to as Marranos—continued to practice Judaism in secret.12

This mass conversion did not end the hostility toward these communities. Instead, it fueled deep suspicion among "old Christians," who questioned the sincerity of the converts' faith and resented their subsequent economic and social success. This ongoing tension and the perceived threat of "Judaizing" practices eventually led the Catholic Monarchs to establish the Inquisition in 1478 to exert institutional control over the conversos. Ultimately, the inability to fully integrate or eliminate the influence of these groups contributed to the decision to issue the edict of expulsion in 1492.12