Abraham Senior

Crown rabbi of Castille, late-life convert to Christianity (1412–1493)

Abraham Senior was a prominent figure in 15th-century Castile, serving as the last Crown rabbi of the region. Born in 1412, he held significant influence as a senior member of the Castilian hacienda, leveraging his expertise in business and politics to shape the community. As a respected Sephardi rabbi, he played a crucial role in the Jewish community, while also making a name for himself in the financial sector as a banker.

In a surprising turn of events, Abraham Senior converted to Roman Catholicism in 1492, at the age of 80. Upon his conversion, he adopted the name Ferrán, Fernán, or Fernando Pérez Coronel, marking the beginning of the noble Coronel lineage. This significant life change had a lasting impact, as he went on to found a distinguished family legacy that would endure for generations. Abraham Senior passed away in 1493, leaving behind a complex and fascinating legacy that reflected his multifaceted career and personal transformation.