Between Christians and Moriscos : Juan de Ribera and religious reform in Valencia, 1568-1614 /

Historian Ehlers (Univ. of Georgia) considers the implementation of Tridentine reforms and the expulsion of Moriscos (baptized Muslims) in Valencia by examining the attitudes and actions of long-tenured Archbishop Juan de Ribera. Named in 1568 while in his mid-thirties, the Andalusian noble served until his death in 1611. As archbishop, he quickly discovered the strength of Valencian native sons in the civil and religious institutions of the kingdom's capital. In response to their recalcitrance, he built a new, post-Tridentine seminary, the Colegio de Corpus Christi, as the foundation for educational and religious reform. He also attracted Old Christians by venerating local holy figures and securing relics of saints for the Colegio. In contrast to these successes, Ribera's efforts to convert fully the kingdom's Moriscos failed. Indeed, Ehlers argues that Ribera's early disappointments with the Moriscos led him to undertake evangelical efforts that he knew would be futile. He then used their failure to lobby Kings Philip II and III for the Moriscos' expulsion, which started in 1609 and affected over 111,000 in the kingdom of Valencia alone. This well-documented, tightly argued, and clearly written book should be in all university libraries. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. M. A. Burkholder University of Missouri--St. Louis