How my 12th great-grandfather gave me European citizenship

Rogelio Bonilla
Sep 7, 2018 · 5 min read
Spanish Inquisition accusation against Antonio de Fonseca in 1596. Archivo General de la Nación, Mexico City.

It was a warm spring morning in Madrid. I navigated the capital’s traffic on a little Nissan diesel van on our way to the notary. My mom, as usual, complained about my driving as we hastily passed slower vehicles. My dad and I were about to sign and submit the paperwork needed for European citizenship. A few months before, none of us would have thought we would become European citizens…

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Rogelio Bonilla

Written by

Product manager @ Ancestry. Husband and Father. Lover of languages, food, and history.

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