Pedro de Herrera

Who is Pedro de Herrera?

Pedro de Herrera was a Spanish Converso leader. He led a community of Sephardic Jews who settled for two years in the town of Gibraltar.

Herrera led a group of Jewish refugees from Córdoba in 1474. Sefardic Gibraltar was granted sovereignty by the Dukes of Medina Sidonia. The community grew to over 4,000, who paid taxes to Medina Sidonia and established a garrison of cavalry at his command. This lasted only 2 years though. In 1476, the Duke of Medina Sidonia realigned with Spain; the Sefardim were then forced back to Córdoba to face the Inquisition. Herrera's community was later dispersed from Córdoba and Seville subsequent to the Edict of Expulsion of 1492.