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The Mendez Family were Sephardic Jews originating in Spain. They rose too prominence during the Jewish expulsion of Spain. Their original last name was not Mendez but was actually Nasi. most of the Jewish families where expelled from Spain but a few families converted to Catholicism and were accepted. These people were called the Maranos. the most prominent member of the family was Don Joseph Nasi Duke of Naxos.The family consisted of three brothers. The youngest was Joseph's father. He died when Joseph was still very young. The orphan was brought up by his two uncles who had assumed Spanish names, Francesco and Diego. Finding life in Spain unbearable, the two brothers escaped to Lisbon, Portugal, taking their young nephew with them.
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