The Inquisition records from 17th-century Spain detail the three-year imprisonment of Balthazar Orobio de Castro, a physician and university teacher who was denounced for practicing Judaism. Following his release and forced two-year period wearing the sanbenito, he eventually fled to Amsterdam to openly embrace his faith under the name Isaac, transitioning from a clandestine life to a public figure.
Early Career and Imprisonment
Born in 1617 in Bragança, Portugal, Orobio de Castro moved to Seville as a child with his parents, who were Marranos. He pursued studies in philosophy at the University of Alcalá and taught metaphysics at the University of Salamanca. His medical practice in Seville became successful, eventually leading to his appointment as physician to the duke of Medina-Celi and other families of high status. However, a domestic servant he punished for theft denounced him to the Inquisition. He was held in a narrow dungeon for three years and subjected to torture before his release.
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After being compelled to leave Spain, Orobio de Castro relocated to France. He obtained a professorship of medicine at the University of Toulouse and was appointed to the position of councilor by Louis XIV. Despite this academic and social standing, the requirement to live in a state of dissimulation regarding his religious identity became untenable for him, leading to his eventual departure for the Netherlands.
Amsterdam and Philosophical Work
Upon arriving in Amsterdam in 1666, he formally adopted the name Isaac and integrated into the local Portuguese Jewish congregation, eventually serving on its directory. He continued his medical practice while producing a significant body of writing. His notable publications include Certamen Philosophicum, a work addressing natural and divine truth. He also held a series of theological discussions with the Dutch theologian Philipp van Limborch, which were later documented in 1687. He remained in the city until his death in 1687.
Fast facts
- Born: 1617, Bragança, Portugal
- Died: 1687, Amsterdam
- Educated at: University of Alcalá
- Languages: Latin, Spanish
- Academic roles: Professor of medicine, teacher of metaphysics
- Citizenship: Spain, Kingdom of Portugal
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Orobio de Castro study?
He studied philosophy at the University of Alcalá and later focused on the study of medicine.
Why did he leave Spain for Toulouse?
He was forced to leave Spain after his imprisonment and release by the Inquisition, which also required him to wear a penitential garment for two years.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Salamanca and University of Toulouse (1896-1968)
