Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
Person 1705-1739 · about 34 years old · show in timeline

Antonio José da Silva

The poet Antonio José da Silva, born in Rio de Janeiro and known as the Jew, came from a family of Portuguese New Christians whom the Inquisition had already persecuted in Brazil. In 1726 he was arrested for judaizing and tortured so cruelly that he could no longer sign his name. After an auto-da-fé he was released and became a successful writer of comedies in Lisbon. In 1737 he and his wife were arrested again after a slave denounced them to the Holy Office. Despite intercession even by the king he was executed at an auto-da-fé in October 1739; that same evening one of his operettas was performed at the theatre. The sources contradict each other on whether he was burned alive or beheaded first, and whether on 18 or 19 October.

Life dates
1705-1739 (about 34 years old)
Country
Brazil, Portugal
Institutions
Portuguese Inquisition
Category
Anti-Judaism, Torture, Heresy trials, Murder
Level of evidence
B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?

What happened to the people

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. On 8 August 1726 he was arraigned before the Inquisition for writing satirical poems and observing the Mosaic law. He was tortured so cruelly that three weeks later he could not sign his name. His confession saved his life; at an auto-da-fé in October 1726 he abjured and was released. His mother remained in prison until 1729 and was tortured again.
    Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901 bis 1906), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da
    „he was arraigned before the tribunal of the Inquisition for writing satirical poems and for observing the Mosaic laws“
    Silva, Antonio José da (Isidore Singer, George Alexander Kohut), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da. Original
    Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901 bis 1906), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da
    „he was tortured so cruelly that he was unable to sign his name“
    Silva, Antonio José da (Isidore Singer, George Alexander Kohut), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da. Original
    Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel
    „He confessed to having followed the practices of the Mosaic law, and this saved his life.“
    Silva, Antonio José da, Artikel. Original
    Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel
    „His mother was only released from prison in October 1729, after she had undergone torture“
    Silva, Antonio José da, Artikel. Original
  2. On 5 October 1737 he and his wife were imprisoned on the charge of judaizing. A slave had denounced them to the Holy Office; according to the Britannica the details of the accusation seem trivial and even contradictory. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia the Inquisition set spies disguised as prisoners to watch him and confiscated his property. Even the intercession of King John V was fruitless.
    Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel
    „on the 5th of October 1737 husband and wife were both imprisoned on the charge of “judaizing.”“
    Silva, Antonio José da, Artikel. Original
    Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel
    „the details of the accusation against them seem trivial and even contradictory“
    Silva, Antonio José da, Artikel. Original
    Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901 bis 1906), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da
    „a number of spies, disguised as prisoners, were engaged to watch him“
    Silva, Antonio José da (Isidore Singer, George Alexander Kohut), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da. Original
    Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901 bis 1906), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da
    „even King John V. interceding for him; but all proved fruitless“
    Silva, Antonio José da (Isidore Singer, George Alexander Kohut), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da. Original

What happened to those affected?

  1. For fear of the Inquisition his works were published anonymously until the end of the 18th century. According to the Britannica the triple licence of the Palace, the Ordinary and the Inquisition crippled Portuguese drama.
    Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901 bis 1906), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da
    „Until the end of the eighteenth century all of his compositions were published anonymously for fear of the Inquisition“
    Silva, Antonio José da (Isidore Singer, George Alexander Kohut), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da. Original
    Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel
    „the triple licence of the Palace, the Ordinary and the Inquisition, which a play required, crippled spontaneity and freedom“
    Silva, Antonio José da, Artikel. Original

Background

Course of events

  1. Antonio José da Silva was born in Rio de Janeiro on 8 May 1705. His parents were descended from Portuguese Jews who had emigrated to Brazil to escape the Inquisition; in 1702 the Inquisition began to persecute the Marranos in Rio, in 1712 his mother was seized and in 1713 in Lisbon she figured among the reconciled after undergoing torture.
    Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901 bis 1906), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da
    „born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 8, 1705“
    Silva, Antonio José da (Isidore Singer, George Alexander Kohut), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da. Original
    Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel
    „were descended from Portuguese Jews who had emigrated to Brazil to escape the Inquisition, but in 1702 that tribunal began to persecute the Marranos in Rio“
    Silva, Antonio José da, Artikel. Original
    Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel
    „she figured among the "reconciled" in the auto-da-fé of the 9th of July 1713, after undergoing the torment only“
    Silva, Antonio José da, Artikel. Original
  2. In October 1739 he was executed at an auto-da-fé in Lisbon; the same evening one of his popular operettas was performed. The sources contradict each other on the details: according to the Jewish Encyclopedia he was publicly burned on 19 October and his family was compelled to attend, according to the Britannica he was beheaded on 18 October and his body burned.
    Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901 bis 1906), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da
    „on Oct. 19, 1739, he was publiclyburned, his family being compelled to attend the auto“
    Silva, Antonio José da (Isidore Singer, George Alexander Kohut), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da. Original
    Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel
    „On the 18th of October he was beheaded and his body burnt in an auto-da-fé“
    Silva, Antonio José da, Artikel. Original
    Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901 bis 1906), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da
    „The same evening one of his popular operettas was produced at the theater in Lisbon.“
    Silva, Antonio José da (Isidore Singer, George Alexander Kohut), Artikel Silva, Antonio José da. Original

See also

  • 23 May 1536-31 Mar 1821 · 284 years

    Portuguese Inquisition

    • Brazil
    • India
    • Portugal
    • Anti-Judaism
    • Expropriation
    • Torture
    • Heresy trials
    • Persecution

Scholarly literature and reference works

  1. Reference work
    Jewish Encyclopedia (1901 bis 1906): Silva, Antonio José da (Isidore Singer, George Alexander Kohut). Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
  2. Reference work
    Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911): Silva, Antonio José da, 1 January 1911. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
Change log (1)

The change log is kept in German only.

  • : Aufgenommen

Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.