GONZALO GARCIA DE SANTA MARIA:
Spanish bishop and enemy of the Jews; born at Burgos in 1379; baptized as a boy of eleven, together with his father, Paul de Burgos or de S. Maria. He was appointed Archdeacon of Briviesca in 1412, and then successively Bishop of Astorga, of Placentia, and of Siguenza. Besides his classical and historical studies, he made himself familiar with Jewish literature, and was one of the most learned men of his time in Spain. Gonzalo showed his hostility to the Jews at every opportunity. He was sent to the council at Basel as a delegate from Aragon, and was one of those who instigated the decisions hostile to the Jews which were formulated there. Gonzalo was entrusted with the oversight of the punctilious execution of the laws against the Jews which had been decreed by the anti-pope Benedict XIII., and, on the advice of Paul de S. Maria, by Juan I. and other Castilian kings.
- Rios, Hist. iii. 20 et seq.:
- idem, Estudios, pp. 379 et seq.;
- Grätz, Gesch. viii. 135, 185.
