When many Africans,
commonly known as "Moors," (as well as other Muslims and Jews) were
expelled from the Iberian peninsula (by Manuel I of Portugal in 1496 Ferdinad V
and Isabella I of Spain in 1502), some of them migrated to Northern and Central
Europe where they became important figures. At the same time, Western European
nations, beginning with Portugal, began regularly sailing long distances to
trade directly with Western and Southern Africans. This trade included African
slaves, just as the trading of slaves had existed in much of the world for
centuries. Although there were many European slaves in Europe (and Africa), it
had become quite fashionable for nobles to have African rather than Europeans
as servants. And as more Africans were servants in noble households, they were
increasingly the subject of scorn in European society.
Nevertheless, Europeans
had held Africans in high regard for centuries prior, (from the Catholic patron
saint, Maurice, to the legendary black knights). Therefore it was possible for
many Africans to move to the highest eschelons of society, particularly in
England, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Russia and Germany. Some became
nobles, military leaders, and other respectable professionals in royal courts
throughout Europe (excluding the Iberian peninsula). They became so numerous in
England that Queen Elizabeth I issued a warrant (July 1596) and a proclamation
(January 1601) by which she expelled all "Blackmoores" from England:
The Queen is highly
discontented to understand the great number of Negroes and black a moors which
are [in England]; who are fostered here, to the great annoyance of her own
people who are unhappy at the help these people receive, as also most of them
are infidels having no understanding of Christ...
After Elizabeth's
reign, however, Africans were once again present and active in England and
elsewhere in Western Europe.
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