Jácome de Olivares - Revision history

Shubha: reworked content additionally per sources

2026-03-11T20:12:36Z

reworked content additionally per sources

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:42, 12 March 2026
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	{{Short description\|Portuguese–Jewish merchant and informant for the Ottoman Empire}}		{{Short description\|16th-century Portuguese–Jewish merchant and informant for the Ottoman Empire}}
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Jácome de Olivares		\| name = Jácome de Olivares
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	}}		}}

	'''Jácome de Olivares''' ([[Floruit\|fl.]] 1540 – [[Floruit\|fl.]] 1571) was a [[Cochin Jews\|Cochin Jew]] who converted to [[Catholicity\|Catholicism]] in [[Kingdom of Portugal\|Portugal]] ([[converso]]). He later re-converted to [[Judaism]] after fleeing to the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1571. Olivares was mostly active as a merchant, and spied for the Ottoman Sultan [[Selim II]] in [[Kochi]], [[Portuguese India]].		'''Jácome de Olivares''' ([[Floruit\|fl.]] 1540 – [[Floruit\|fl.]] 1571) was a [[Cochin Jews\|Cochin Jew]] who converted to [[Catholicity\|Catholicism]] in [[Kingdom of Portugal\|Portugal]] ([[converso]]). He later re-converted to [[Judaism]] after fleeing to the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1571. Olivares was mostly active as a merchant, and spied for the Ottoman Sultan [[Selim II]] in [[Kochi]], [[Portuguese India]]. He was part of [[Joseph Nasi]]'s worldwide network of spies for the Ottoman Empire.

	== Family ==		== Family ==
	Olivares was a native of [[Setúbal]]. His mother was a [[New Christian]] by the name of Violante Lopes. His father, António de Olivares, was an [[Old Christian]] who was an important figure in town as he was squire of the household of the [[Order of Santiago\|Grand Master of the Order of Santiago]].~~<ref name=":3">~~{{~~cite book~~\|~~last=Cannas da~~ Cunha\|~~first=Ana\|title=A Inquisição no estado da India: origens (1539-1560)\|location=[[Lisbon]]\|publisher=[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]\|date=~~1995\|~~url~~=~~https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3BG2AAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y \|language=Portuguese\|isbn=9728107145}}</ref>{{rp\|~~137–138}}		Olivares was a native of [[Setúbal]] and was a [[Sephardic Jew]]. His mother was a [[New Christian]] by the name of Violante Lopes. His father, António de Olivares, was an [[Old Christian]] who was an important figure in town as he was squire of the household of the [[Order of Santiago\|Grand Master of the Order of Santiago]].{{sfn\|Cunha\|1995\|pp= 137–138}}

	In 1550, Olivares married into a New Christian family. His wife's name was Maria Nunes, daughter of Leonor Dias, who died in 1552.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 6369, fol. 69v.</ref> Leonor and her husband had moved to Kochi from Lisbon, where they had been baptised. They were forcibly converted, and thus were Marranos.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 6369, fol. 5.</ref>		In 1550, Olivares married into a New Christian family. His wife's name was Maria Nunes, daughter of Leonor Dias, who died in 1552.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 6369, fol. 69v.</ref> Leonor and her husband had moved to Kochi from Lisbon, where they had been baptised. They were forcibly converted, and thus were [[Marranos]].<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 6369, fol. 5.</ref>

	== Early life and career ==		== Early life and career ==
	Olivares was baptised in his native city of Setúbal in the [[Igreja de São Julião (Setúbal)\|church of São Julião]]. He was said to be an ardent Christian, and served the Grand Master of Santiago, [[João de Lencastre, 1st Duke of Aveiro]], and his son, [[George of Lencastre, 2nd Duke of Aveiro]].<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fols. 5, 16, 39.</ref> Olivares left for India on the ''Sāo Filipe'' in 1540.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 49.</ref> He lived in Kochi for nine years, with most of his time being spent at sea.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 3.</ref> Olivares served Governors of Portuguese India [[Estêvão da Gama]] and [[Martim Afonso de Sousa]],<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fols. 16v, 20, 35.</ref> as did his brother-in-law, Diogo Vaz.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 4656, fol. 21.</ref>		Olivares was baptised in his native city of Setúbal in the [[Igreja de São Julião (Setúbal)\|church of São Julião]]. He was said to be an ardent Christian, and served the Grand Master of Santiago, [[João de Lencastre, 1st Duke of Aveiro]], and his son, [[George of Lencastre, 2nd Duke of Aveiro]].<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fols. 5, 16, 39.</ref> Olivares left for India on the ''Sāo Filipe'' in 1540.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 49.</ref> He lived in Kochi for nine years, with most of his time being spent at sea.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 3.</ref> Olivares served Governors of Portuguese India [[Estêvão da Gama (16th century)\|Estêvão da Gama]] and [[Martim Afonso de Sousa]],<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fols. 16v, 20, 35.</ref> as did his brother-in-law, Diogo Vaz.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 4656, fol. 21.</ref>

	Olivares was imprisoned in [[Malacca City\|Malacca]] in 1557 on suspicion of being a practicing Jew. He claimed that it was his enemy, Rodrigo Àlvares, nephew of his brother-in-law, who convinced authorities to imprison him.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 4516, fol. 54.</ref> Olivares was an extremely successful and rich trader at the time,<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 79.</ref> with extensive ties across India and beyond. He was also a slave owner, having owned multiple. Olivares was transferred to [[Goa]] for an interrogation between 1558 and 1559.~~<ref name=":3" />~~{{rp\|136}} It was noted from his interrogations that Olivares 'knows how to write very well and is very crafty'		Olivares was imprisoned in [[Malacca City\|Malacca]] in 1557 on suspicion of being a practicing Jew. He claimed that it was his enemy, Rodrigo Àlvares, nephew of his brother-in-law, who convinced authorities to imprison him.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 4516, fol. 54.</ref> Olivares was an extremely successful and rich trader at the time,<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 79.</ref> with extensive ties across India and beyond. He was also a slave owner, having owned multiple. Olivares was transferred to [[Goa]] for an interrogation between 1558 and 1559.{{sfn\|Cunha\|1995\|p= 136}} It was noted from his interrogations that Olivares 'knows how to write very well and is very crafty'
	<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fols. 8, 16, 20, 35, 46.</ref> This would have been seen as a threat since widespread literacy was believed by many before the modern age to have inspired dissatisfaction and produced insurrection and rebellion, such as with slaves in [[Southern United States]].<ref>{{cite book		<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fols. 8, 16, 20, 35, 46.</ref> This would have been seen as a threat since widespread literacy was believed by many before the modern age to have inspired dissatisfaction and produced insurrection and rebellion, such as with slaves in [[Southern United States]].<ref>{{cite book
	\|title=An Inquiry Into the Character and Tendency of the American Colonization, and American Anti-slavery Societies		\|title=An Inquiry Into the Character and Tendency of the American Colonization, and American Anti-slavery Societies
Line 29:		Line 29:

	Oliveras tried to prove his innocence by stating that he was a zealous Christian, which is evidenced by his experiences in Kochi. [[Franciscans\|Franciscan]] [[friar]] Diogo do Monte Olivete from Kochi said the following in his testimony in court regarding Oliveras:		Oliveras tried to prove his innocence by stating that he was a zealous Christian, which is evidenced by his experiences in Kochi. [[Franciscans\|Franciscan]] [[friar]] Diogo do Monte Olivete from Kochi said the following in his testimony in court regarding Oliveras:
	{{Blockquote\|"And thus he knows him to have always been well behaved, and very regular in the houses of the monasteries, principally in this monastery (Santo António), where he, the accused, came many times to play the organ at vespers and masses."~~<ref>~~{{~~cite book~~\|~~title=Sinners and Saints: The Successors of Vasco Da Gama\|editor=[[Sanjay~~ Subrahmanyam~~]]\|location=[[Oxford]]~~\|~~publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]\|date=~~1998\|~~url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Sinners_and_Saints.html?id=orE8Qsd0AKUC\|page~~=99}}~~</ref>~~}}		{{Blockquote\|"And thus he knows him to have always been well behaved, and very regular in the houses of the monasteries, principally in this monastery (Santo António), where he, the accused, came many times to play the organ at vespers and masses."{{sfn\|Subrahmanyam\|1998\|p=99}}}}

	However, this was all an attempt of Olivares to convince people that he was a Christian. Olivares was in fact a [[Marrano]], practicing Judaism secretly while espousing Christian ideals in public. This is especially evident with Olivares actively participating in [[Purim]] with the Jews of Kochi, in which the figure of [[Jesus]] was reviled.~~<ref>~~{{~~cite book~~\|~~title=Sinners and Saints: The Successors of Vasco Da Gama\|editor=[[Sanjay~~ Subrahmanyam~~]]\|location=[[Oxford]]~~\|~~publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]\|date=~~1998\|~~url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Sinners_and_Saints.html?id=orE8Qsd0AKUC \|page~~=112}}~~</ref>~~		However, this was all an attempt of Olivares to convince people that he was a Christian. Olivares was in fact a [[Marrano]], practicing Judaism secretly while espousing Christian ideals in public. This is especially evident with Olivares actively participating in [[Purim]] with the Jews of Kochi, in which the figure of [[Jesus]] was reviled.{{sfn\|Subrahmanyam\|1998\|p=112}}

	Olivares was imprisoned for four years by now, and had lost his fortune.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 125.</ref> He had also lost a few of his children while imprisoned.<ref name=":1" /> On 16 March 1561, Olivares was sentenced to life imprisonment, alongside his wife.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Both of them were forced to attend mass and engage in Christian gatherings.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 124.</ref><ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 6369, fol. 84.</ref>		Olivares was imprisoned for four years by now, and had lost his fortune.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 125.</ref> He had also lost a few of his children while imprisoned.<ref name=":1" /> On 16 March 1561, Olivares was sentenced to life imprisonment, alongside his wife.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Both of them were forced to attend mass and engage in Christian gatherings.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 124.</ref><ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 6369, fol. 84.</ref>

	== Life in the Ottoman Empire ==		== Life in the Ottoman Empire ==
	It is not known how, but in 1571, Olivares escaped to [[Istanbul]] in order to flee Portuguese persecution, much like Simão Correia, who was also a Jew in India who fled to the Ottoman Empire, later serving as a court physician.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 10096, fol. 11v.</ref> There, Olivares would re-convert to [[Judaism]]. Olivares acted as a spy for the [[Ottoman Empire]] in India, informing [[Sultan]] [[Selim II]] of developments in Portugal and their plans in India.<ref name=":0">[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 10906, fol. 11.</ref> He regularly reported his findings to [[Joseph Nasi]],<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite journal \|~~author~~=Jóse Alberto Rodrigues da Silva Tavim\|title=Sephardic Intermediaries in the Ottoman Empire\|journal=Oriente Moderno\|url=https://brill.com/view/journals/ormo/93/2/article-p454_5.xml?language=en \|publisher=[[Brill Publishers\|Brill]] \|date=2013 \|volume=93 \|issue=2 \|page=469}}</ref> a fabulously rich Ottoman–Jewish businessman who was a loyal servant of the [[Sublime Porte]].		It is not known how, but in 1571, Olivares escaped to [[Istanbul]] in order to flee Portuguese persecution, much like Simão Correia, who was also a Jew in India who fled to the Ottoman Empire, later serving as a court physician.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 10096, fol. 11v.</ref> There, Olivares would re-convert to [[Judaism]]. Olivares acted as a spy for the [[Ottoman Empire]] in India, informing [[Sultan]] [[Selim II]] of developments in Portugal and their plans in India.<ref name=":0">[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 10906, fol. 11.</ref> He regularly reported his findings to [[Joseph Nasi]],<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite journal \|first=Jóse Alberto Rodrigues da Silva \|last=Tavim\|title=Sephardic Intermediaries in the Ottoman Empire\|journal=Oriente Moderno\|url=https://brill.com/view/journals/ormo/93/2/article-p454_5.xml?language=en \|publisher=[[Brill Publishers\|Brill]] \|date=2013 \|volume=93 \|issue=2 \|page=469\|doi=10.1163/22138617-12340026 \|url-access=subscription }}</ref> a fabulously rich Ottoman–Jewish businessman who was a loyal servant of the [[Sublime Porte]].

	Olivares was an invaluable asset for the Ottomans since Ottoman–Portuguese relations were at an all-time low during this period due to competition over territories such as [[East Africa]],<ref>{{cite journal \|first1=Mehmet \|last1=Özkan \|first2=Birol \| last2=Akgün \|title=Turkey's opening to Africa\|journal=[[Journal of Modern African Studies]]\|url=https://~~www~~.~~cambridge~~.~~org~~/~~core~~/~~journals~~/~~journal-of-modern-african-studies/article/abs/turkeys-opening-to-africa/0A1A322EBEA7C607C970C46E7F34B3BC~~ \|location=[[Cambridge]] \|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] \|date=December 2010 \|volume=48 \|issue=4 \|page=530}}</ref> [[Aceh]], [[Aden]] (and thus the [[Red Sea]]),<ref name=":2">{{cite book \|last=~~Hakkı~~ Göksoy\|first=İsmail \|date=2011 \|editor1=R. Michael Feener\|editor2=Patrick Daly\|editor3=Anthony Reed\|title=Mapping the Acehnese Past\|publisher=[[Brill Publishers\|Brill]] \|page=67 \|chapter=Chapter 4: Ottoman-Aceh relations as documented in Turkish sources\|url=https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789004253599/B9789004253599-s005.xml\|isbn=9789004253599\|series=Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde\|volume=268\|location=[[Leiden]]}}</ref> and the [[Indian Ocean]].<ref name=":2" /> Therefore, any intelligence gathered on the country would have been pivotal for the Sultan.		Olivares was an invaluable asset for the Ottomans since Ottoman–Portuguese relations were at an all-time low during this period due to competition over territories such as [[East Africa]],<ref>{{cite journal \|first1=Mehmet \|last1=Özkan \|first2=Birol \| last2=Akgün \|title=Turkey's opening to Africa\|journal=[[Journal of Modern African Studies]]\|url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID1977545_code1305905.pdf?abstractid=1977545&mirid=1 \|location=[[Cambridge]] \|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] \|date=December 2010 \|volume=48 \|issue=4 \|page=530\|doi=10.1017/S0022278X10000595 \|url-access= }}</ref> [[Aceh]], [[Aden]] (and thus the [[Red Sea]]),<ref name=":2">{{cite book \|last=Göksoy\|first=İsmail Hakkı \|date=2011 \|editor1-first=R. Michael \|editor1-last=Feener\|editor2-first=Patrick \|editor2-last=Daly\|editor3-first=Anthony \|editor3-last=Reed\|title=Mapping the Acehnese Past\|publisher=[[Brill Publishers\|Brill]] \|page=67 \|chapter=Chapter 4: Ottoman-Aceh relations as documented in Turkish sources\|url=https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789004253599/B9789004253599-s005.xml\|isbn=9789004253599\|series=Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde\|volume=268\|location=[[Leiden]]}}</ref> and the [[Indian Ocean]].<ref name=":2" /> Therefore, any intelligence gathered on the country would have been pivotal for the Sultan.

			== Citations ==
			{{reflist}}

	==References==		==References==
	{{~~Reflist~~}}		* {{cite book\|last=Cunha\|first=Ana Cannas da\|title=A Inquisição no estado da India: origens (1539-1560)\|location=[[Lisbon]]\|publisher=[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]\|date=1995\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3BG2AAAACAAJ \|language=Portuguese\|isbn=9728107145}}
			* {{cite book\|title=Sinners and Saints: The Successors of Vasco Da Gama\|editor-first=Sanjay \|editor-last=Subrahmanyam\|editor-link=Sanjay Subrahmanyam\|location=[[Oxford]]\|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]\|date=1998\|isbn=978-0-19-564426-5 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=orE8Qsd0AKUC}}

	{{~~Uncategorized\|date=September 2023~~}}		{{Authority control}}
			{{DEFAULTSORT:Olivares, Jacome de}}
			[[Category:People from Setúbal]]
			[[Category:Cochin Jews]]
			[[Category:People from the Ottoman Empire]]
			[[Category:16th-century Portuguese Jews]]
			[[Category:16th-century spies]]

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article

2023-09-21T14:04:41Z

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{{Short description|Portuguese–Jewish merchant and informant for the Ottoman Empire}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jácome de Olivares
| birth_date = [[Floruit|fl.]] 1540
| birth_place = [[Setúbal]], [[Kingdom of Portugal]]
| death_date = [[Floruit|fl.]] 1571
| death_place = [[Ottoman Empire]] ?
| occupation = [[Merchant]], [[Espionage|spy]]
| parents = Violante Lopes<br/>António de Olivares
| spouse = Maria Nunes
| opponents = Rodrigo Àlvares<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 4516, fol. 60.</ref>
}}

'''Jácome de Olivares''' ([[Floruit|fl.]] 1540 – [[Floruit|fl.]] 1571) was a [[Cochin Jews|Cochin Jew]] who converted to [[Catholicity|Catholicism]] in [[Kingdom of Portugal|Portugal]] ([[converso]]). He later re-converted to [[Judaism]] after fleeing to the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1571. Olivares was mostly active as a merchant, and spied for the Ottoman Sultan [[Selim II]] in [[Kochi]], [[Portuguese India]].

== Family ==
Olivares was a native of [[Setúbal]]. His mother was a [[New Christian]] by the name of Violante Lopes. His father, António de Olivares, was an [[Old Christian]] who was an important figure in town as he was squire of the household of the [[Order of Santiago|Grand Master of the Order of Santiago]].<ref name=":3">{{cite book|last=Cannas da Cunha|first=Ana|title=A Inquisição no estado da India: origens (1539-1560)|location=[[Lisbon]]|publisher=[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]|date=1995|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3BG2AAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y |language=Portuguese|isbn=9728107145}}</ref>{{rp|137–138}}

In 1550, Olivares married into a New Christian family. His wife's name was Maria Nunes, daughter of Leonor Dias, who died in 1552.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 6369, fol. 69v.</ref> Leonor and her husband had moved to Kochi from Lisbon, where they had been baptised. They were forcibly converted, and thus were Marranos.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 6369, fol. 5.</ref>

== Early life and career ==
Olivares was baptised in his native city of Setúbal in the [[Igreja de São Julião (Setúbal)|church of São Julião]]. He was said to be an ardent Christian, and served the Grand Master of Santiago, [[João de Lencastre, 1st Duke of Aveiro]], and his son, [[George of Lencastre, 2nd Duke of Aveiro]].<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fols. 5, 16, 39.</ref> Olivares left for India on the ''Sāo Filipe'' in 1540.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 49.</ref> He lived in Kochi for nine years, with most of his time being spent at sea.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 3.</ref> Olivares served Governors of Portuguese India [[Estêvão da Gama]] and [[Martim Afonso de Sousa]],<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fols. 16v, 20, 35.</ref> as did his brother-in-law, Diogo Vaz.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 4656, fol. 21.</ref>

Olivares was imprisoned in [[Malacca City|Malacca]] in 1557 on suspicion of being a practicing Jew. He claimed that it was his enemy, Rodrigo Àlvares, nephew of his brother-in-law, who convinced authorities to imprison him.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 4516, fol. 54.</ref> Olivares was an extremely successful and rich trader at the time,<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 79.</ref> with extensive ties across India and beyond. He was also a slave owner, having owned multiple. Olivares was transferred to [[Goa]] for an interrogation between 1558 and 1559.<ref name=":3" />{{rp|136}} It was noted from his interrogations that Olivares 'knows how to write very well and is very crafty'
<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fols. 8, 16, 20, 35, 46.</ref> This would have been seen as a threat since widespread literacy was believed by many before the modern age to have inspired dissatisfaction and produced insurrection and rebellion, such as with slaves in [[Southern United States]].<ref>{{cite book
|title=An Inquiry Into the Character and Tendency of the American Colonization, and American Anti-slavery Societies
|author-link=William Jay (jurist)|first=William|last=Jay|year=1835|edition=2nd|location=New York|publisher=[[Dudley Leavitt (publisher)|Leavitt, Lord & Co.]]|
page=136|url=https://archive.org/details/aninquiryintoch05jaygoog/page/n6/mode/2up}}</ref> Olivares was then sent to [[Lisbon]] alongside other New Christians, some of whom were members of his family.<ref name=":1">[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 123.</ref> He was handed over to the bailiff of the prison of the Inquisition in Lisbon on 12 August 1560. He would be interrogated there from December 1560 to 16 March 1561, where he was sentenced to [[auto-da-fé]].<ref name="ReferenceA">[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fols. 120r–121r.</ref>

Oliveras tried to prove his innocence by stating that he was a zealous Christian, which is evidenced by his experiences in Kochi. [[Franciscans|Franciscan]] [[friar]] Diogo do Monte Olivete from Kochi said the following in his testimony in court regarding Oliveras:
{{Blockquote|"And thus he knows him to have always been well behaved, and very regular in the houses of the monasteries, principally in this monastery (Santo António), where he, the accused, came many times to play the organ at vespers and masses."<ref>{{cite book|title=Sinners and Saints: The Successors of Vasco Da Gama|editor=[[Sanjay Subrahmanyam]]|location=[[Oxford]]|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|date=1998|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Sinners_and_Saints.html?id=orE8Qsd0AKUC|page=99}}</ref>}}

However, this was all an attempt of Olivares to convince people that he was a Christian. Olivares was in fact a [[Marrano]], practicing Judaism secretly while espousing Christian ideals in public. This is especially evident with Olivares actively participating in [[Purim]] with the Jews of Kochi, in which the figure of [[Jesus]] was reviled.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sinners and Saints: The Successors of Vasco Da Gama|editor=[[Sanjay Subrahmanyam]]|location=[[Oxford]]|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|date=1998|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Sinners_and_Saints.html?id=orE8Qsd0AKUC |page=112}}</ref>

Olivares was imprisoned for four years by now, and had lost his fortune.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 125.</ref> He had also lost a few of his children while imprisoned.<ref name=":1" /> On 16 March 1561, Olivares was sentenced to life imprisonment, alongside his wife.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Both of them were forced to attend mass and engage in Christian gatherings.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 5265, fol. 124.</ref><ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 6369, fol. 84.</ref>

== Life in the Ottoman Empire ==
It is not known how, but in 1571, Olivares escaped to [[Istanbul]] in order to flee Portuguese persecution, much like Simão Correia, who was also a Jew in India who fled to the Ottoman Empire, later serving as a court physician.<ref>[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 10096, fol. 11v.</ref> There, Olivares would re-convert to [[Judaism]]. Olivares acted as a spy for the [[Ottoman Empire]] in India, informing [[Sultan]] [[Selim II]] of developments in Portugal and their plans in India.<ref name=":0">[[Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo]]. Inquisição de Lisboa. proc. 10906, fol. 11.</ref> He regularly reported his findings to [[Joseph Nasi]],<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite journal |author=Jóse Alberto Rodrigues da Silva Tavim|title=Sephardic Intermediaries in the Ottoman Empire|journal=Oriente Moderno|url=https://brill.com/view/journals/ormo/93/2/article-p454_5.xml?language=en |publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]] |date=2013 |volume=93 |issue=2 |page=469}}</ref> a fabulously rich Ottoman–Jewish businessman who was a loyal servant of the [[Sublime Porte]].

Olivares was an invaluable asset for the Ottomans since Ottoman–Portuguese relations were at an all-time low during this period due to competition over territories such as [[East Africa]],<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Mehmet |last1=Özkan |first2=Birol | last2=Akgün |title=Turkey's opening to Africa|journal=[[Journal of Modern African Studies]]|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-modern-african-studies/article/abs/turkeys-opening-to-africa/0A1A322EBEA7C607C970C46E7F34B3BC |location=[[Cambridge]] |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |date=December 2010 |volume=48 |issue=4 |page=530}}</ref> [[Aceh]], [[Aden]] (and thus the [[Red Sea]]),<ref name=":2">{{cite book |last=Hakkı Göksoy|first=İsmail |date=2011 |editor1=R. Michael Feener|editor2=Patrick Daly|editor3=Anthony Reed|title=Mapping the Acehnese Past|publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]] |page=67 |chapter=Chapter 4: Ottoman-Aceh relations as documented in Turkish sources|url=https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789004253599/B9789004253599-s005.xml|isbn=9789004253599|series=Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde|volume=268|location=[[Leiden]]}}</ref> and the [[Indian Ocean]].<ref name=":2" /> Therefore, any intelligence gathered on the country would have been pivotal for the Sultan.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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