Spanish Inquisition

The Spanish Inquisition or Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition was a tribunal formed in 1478 in Spain. Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile requested a Papal bull to create the tribunal, with the assistance of Tomás de Torquemada.  

During the Spanish Inquisition, many people were burnt to death in front of crowds on the streets. Using infamously brutal means, the Spanish Inquisition stabilized power in the monarchy of the newly unified Spanish kingdom. 









Background


In 1492, they demanded that all morisco leave Spain. Many left, but many stayed and claimed to be Christians. The Inquisition became busy deciding which ones were truthful. In 1502, the Muslims were also ordered out. Some parts of Spain actually enforced this order. When Protestants appeared, the Inquisition said they were faking as Christians. 

Approximately 150,000 people were prosecuted during the centuries of the Spanish Inquisition. Most trials ended with the defendant giving up his beliefs and being let go.  About 3000-5000 were executed. The Inquisition became less active in later years and was completely abolished in 1834.

Denial

The Vatican

In 2004, the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) published findings that the judges of the Inquisition were "not as brutal as previously believed". 

  The RCC also denied that most trials were carried out by Catholic courts, while claiming that the victims put on trial were often "tortured for only 15 minutes in the presence of doctors".

Spain

Movements within Spain have emerged to rewrite the history of the Spanish Inquisition. Members of the movements released a series of books, films, TV programs and mobile exhibitions to beautify the Inquisition-associated Spanish history.

Related pages

 Supersessionism
 Antisemitism in Europe

References

Category:Spain
Category:Racism in Europe
Category:Massacres
Category:Catholicism
Category:Antisemitism
Category:Discrimination
Category:Spanish Empire
Category:History of Spain
Category:History of Europe
Category:15th century in Spain
Category:16th century in Spain
Category:17th century in Spain
Category:18th century in Spain
Category:19th century in Spain
Category:15th century in Europe
Category:16th century in Europe
Category:17th century in Europe
Category:18th century in Europe
Category:19th century in Europe
Category:Antisemitism in Europe
Category:15th-century establishments in Spain
Category:Catholicism-related controversies