ABSTRACT
INHISDRAMATICCHRONICLE,ShevetYehudah,writtentowardthemiddleofthesixteenthcentury,theSefardi exile,ShelomoibnVerga,1tellsthestoryofSpanishJ~wsarrivedat Romein1492.Waitingoutsidethecity-infact,weknowfroman independentChristiansource,StephanInfessura,ihattheywere campedinakindoftentcityontheAppianwav:l-theseJewswere receivedmostuncordiallybytheirRomanbrethren.Whetherforfear ofcompetition,concernthattoomanyJewsinthecitymightspark Christianhostility,orplaindislikeofthehaughtySefardim(ibnVerga doesnottellus),theRoman.Jewsappealedtothepopetosendthe exilesaway.Themagnanimouspope,theSpaniardAlexanderVIBorgia,insteadwelcomedtheSefardimandplacedaheavyfineonthe locaJcommunity.
