Congregational identity and political centralization (1652–1682) – the struggle between oligarchy and democracy in the Portuguese nation of Hamburg. Issue 2 (3rd April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martins, Hugo
• Is Part Of: Jewish culture and history. Volume 22:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 87
• Page End: 105
• Publication Date: 2021-04-03
• Subjects: Portuguese nation -- Sephardic Diaspora -- Jewish community -- congregational identity -- Hamburg; Jews -- History -- Periodicals; Jews -- Social life and customs -- Periodicals; Judaism -- Customs and practices -- Periodicals; Jodendom; Jews; Jews -- Social life and customs; Judaism -- Customs and practices; History; Periodicals; 909.04924
• DOI: 10.1080/1462169X.2021.1862501
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-169X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The congregational unification that took place in the community of Hamburg in 1652 was a complex phenomenon. Personal rivalries among the main patrician families conjoined with political and religious differences meant a troublesome start, resulting in a protracted conflict that affected the political system of the community during its decisive years (1652–1682). Based mainly on congregational sources, particularly in the community's protocol books, this article proposes a new interpretative model for understanding the events that led to the unification of the community, and that ultimately conspired to shape the policies and transitions of the subsequent period.