Identidad y fiscalidad: los gazis de Sevilla ante el pago del Servicio Morisco de 1597

Abstract

In this paper the author analyses the resistence of cultural Islamic rooted groups, such as the Mudejares and gazis , to be included in the “Service of Grenadans”, which was created after the expulsion of the Moriscos from the Kingdom of Granada in 1591. Based on studies from different sources, mainly notary records, the paper reconstructs the evolution of the gazi and Berber categories from their presence in the kingdom of Granada as of 1502 until their deportation after the Alpujarras war. The author researches how the interpretation and assessment of these two categories changes depending on the interest and position of the different parties involved in the fiscal equalization process that the Moriscos imposed onto other minor categories of the new converted population in Castilian land during the XVI century. The reluctance of Sevillian Mudejares and gazis to pay the new tax shows the differences existing not only within the Morisco community but also between this community and the rest of the Islamic based population in Castile, due to the diverse geographical origin of each group and the conflicts between the deported Grenadan citizen hierarchies with individuals from different origins and social structures.