Spain

Alexander VI

Pope Alexander VI was born into the wealthy and corrupt Borgia family of Valencia, Spain, and adopted by his maternal uncle, Alfonso Borgia (later Pope Callistus III). He collected religiou... [more]

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Cardozo, Abraham

Cardozo was a member of a Portuguese Marrano family. (The Marranos are the Jews of Spain and Portugal who involuntarily converted to Christianity in the 14th century and later, many of whom... [more]

Genet, Jean

Genet's early life seems shrouded in confusion. The three sources looked at present three different stories: One gives his birthdate as 19 December, that he was abandoned by his parents... [more]

Hadrian (under Roman Empire)

Ancient Roman society institutionalized the adoption of adults. It was relatively common for a wealthy Roman couple to adopt an adult man, even a slave, as heir if they did not have any son... [more]

Isidore of Seville

St. Isidore of Seville was from a noble family of Cartagena, but was orphaned as a child and educated by his elder brother, St. Leander, in a monastery. (Another brother and sister are also... [more]

Marcus Aurelius (under Roman Empire)

Ancient Roman society institutionalized the adoption of adults. It was relatively common for a wealthy Roman couple to adopt an adult man, even a slave, as heir if they did not have any son... [more]

Marcus Ulpius Trainus (under Roman Empire)

Ancient Roman society institutionalized the adoption of adults. It was relatively common for a wealthy Roman couple to adopt an adult man, even a slave, as heir if they did not have any son... [more]

Nero Claudius Caesar (under Roman Empire)

Ancient Roman society institutionalized the adoption of adults. It was relatively common for a wealthy Roman couple to adopt an adult man, even a slave, as heir if they did not have any son... [more]

Spain, 1936-75

During and after the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) the Falangists (the Fascists, under General Franco) practiced child theft. Children of Republicans, their political opponents, were stolen f... [more]

Tiepolo, Giovanni Battista

Tiepolo was born in Venice to a merchant and his wife. His father died the year after he was born, and his mother entrusted him to a painter, Gregorio Lazzarini. He studied with other pa... [more]