A key figure associated with the Spanish Inquisition was Tomás de Torquemada, who became the first Grand Inquisitor in 1483. A Dominican friar, Torquemada was a fervent advocate for Catholic orthodoxy and played a pivotal role in shaping the Inquisition’s harsh policies.

Under Torquemada’s leadership, the Inquisition intensified its efforts to root out heresy, primarily targeting Conversos suspected of secretly practicing Judaism, as well as other groups deemed threats to the Catholic faith. His tenure is often remembered for its severity and the scale of persecutions and executions.

Historical Context and Motivation

The Spanish Inquisition emerged in the context of Spain’s recent political unification following the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1469, and the completion of the Reconquista with the conquest of Granada in 1492.

The monarchs viewed religious unity as essential for national unity. The Inquisition was a tool to:

• Enforce Catholic orthodoxy
   

• Suppress heresy and non-Christian practices
   

• Monitor and control the behavior of converts
   

• Strengthen the monarchy’s control over religious and political matters
   

In 1492, the same year as Columbus’s first voyage, the monarchs issued the Alhambra Decree, expelling Jews from Spain unless they converted to Christianity. This decision intensified the activities of the Inquisition.

Summary

• Year Founded: 1478
   

• Founders: Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon
   

• Papal Authorization: Pope Sixtus IV, 1478
   

• First Grand Inquisitor: Tomás de Torquemada, appointed 1483
   

• Purpose: Enforce Catholic orthodoxy, suppress heresy, and unify Spain religiously and politically
   

The Spanish Inquisition would continue for centuries, becoming a symbol of religious intolerance and state control, deeply affecting Spanish society and its minorities. shutdown123