Secrets & Mysteries of the Sephardim
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“Your Highness, I am very flattered, but I like my name,” Isabel said.
“You know, Isabel, I just realized you have the most beautiful name. You don’t look like the average Portuguese senhorita at all. Where are you from?”
“I was born on the Portuguese island of Madeira and live in Funchal, the island’s southern port.”
“Oh, so, on this island, all the senhoritas are as blonde and blue-eyed as you?”
Oh, no, Your Highness! The island is west of Morocco and southwest of Portugal. The island’s main population is dark in complexion. The people have dark hair and dark eyes.
“I look different than the islanders because my ancestors come from Judea,” she continued. “Many tribes of Israel once lived there, and the people had different skin color, eyes, and hair.”
“Oh, yeah. I learned something about ancient Jewish history from my tutors,” Afonso said. “And your family has not lost its lineage?”
“My ancestors were very noble people from the dynasty of the kings of Israel. My recent ancestors are of Marranos origin.
“How interesting!” exclaimed Afonso. Please, tell us more. How did your family come to be on the island?”
“My father discovered it a quarter-century ago and founded settlements there,” Isabel said. “In honor of this and other military deeds, which brought great glory to Portugal, my father was rewarded with the possession of half the archipelago.”
“What other military exploits did your father have, Isabel,” Afonso asked.
“My father began serving as a sailor at a young age, " Isabel explained. “During his service, he showed courage and proved to be a talented strategist. He soon received a high rank and became the commander of the navy. He commanded caravels 31 and participated in many battles with the Moors, where he constantly won unprecedented victories.
31
A caravel (Portuguese: caravela]) is a small, maneuverable sailing ship used in the 15th century by the Portuguese to explore along the West African coast and into the Atlantic Ocean. The lateen sails gave it speed and the capacity for sailing windward. Caravels were used by the Portuguese and Castilians for oceanic exploration voyages during the 15th and 16th centuries, during the Age of Discovery.
“During the conquest of Ceuta in northern Morocco, he lost his eye. Only after this did he decide to leave the military and become a navigator and explorer. In this venture, he also achieved great success.”
“Your father is a real hero, Isabel,” Afonso said. “I have always dreamed of being a hero like your father and my father, King Edward I.
“When I become king, I will no doubt glorify my name with many heroic deeds and discover many islands and uncharted lands. I will make Portugal the greatest country in the world.
“You will see, Isabel, what our country will be like after a few decades of my reign,” Afonso said. “But, for now, it is enough to dream about the future.”
Afonso changed the subject.
“Let’s talk about you, Isabel. I have heard about your talent for ballroom dancing. Do you mind if I ask Duchess Isabella to include some time in your schedule for additional lessons for your most humble servant?”
“Oh, Your Highness, please don’t call yourself a servant,” Isabel said. “We are YOUR servants. It would be a great honor for me to give a few lessons to our country’s future ruler.”
“Thank you. It was a pleasure meeting you and talking with you, senhorita,” said Afonso with a friendly bow.
It was also a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness,” Isabel curtsied.
“In that case, I will leave you with Fernando. I’m sorry, but I still have much work to do before tonight.”
Isabel curtseyed silently with a welcoming smile as the prince hurried away.
After meeting Isabelle, Afonso was in a good mood for the rest of the day. Later in the evening, he decided to visit his brother.
“Good evening, Fernando,” Afonso said as he entered his brother’s chambers. He noticed from Fernando’s face that he wasn’t happy with his visit.
“Oh, I’m sorry I interrupted you,” Afonso said. He noticed the papers on the table and the quill in Fernando’s hand. “I didn’t realize you were doing your homework so late.”
Afonso came closer to the table, looked at the papers, and exclaimed, “Oh, this again! More poems? Are you so enamored by Isabel that you write poetry at night?
“I can understand you, though,” Afonso continued. A person like you admires beauty and all sorts of art and cannot stay indifferent toward such an attractive and skillful dancer. I admit I was wrong when I doubted her indescribable angelic beauty. You were entirely correct. I even felt a bit inspired talking to her.
“You are not jealous of that, are you?”
“Isabelle is so beautiful that any admirer of beauty would experience what you felt when talking with her,” answered Fernando. “I have nothing to be jealous of, Afonso, because she treats you as respectfully as she treats me.
“I must tell you, though,” he continued, “that Isabel ended up in the palace because of me. It was I who first noticed her on stage. And it was I who told Duchess Isabella who my choice was. Therefore, although you are older than me and will be higher in title when you are king, I have the right of superiority to close relations with Isabel.”
Afonso answered: “No one disputes that, Fernando. I only asked her to teach me a few lessons so I could get to know her. I am not interested in having a relationship with her like what you wrote about in your poetry.”
Afonso noticed the embarrassment on Fernando’s face and said: “I wish you success both in poetry and in love.”
At noon, Duke Pedro went to the royal residence immediately after a meeting on important matters of state, intending to find the duchess in the audience chamber. At the door of the meeting hall, Pedro ran into Afonso. He looked unusually happy and cheerful. Afonso greeted his uncle in a pleasant singsongy voice and respectfully stood aside to let him enter. The duchess was sitting on her throne. Seeing Pedro enter, she stood up and approached him.