Spanish Inquisition | Vpedia - Empowering knowledge sharing

The Spanish Inquisition, established in 1478 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, was a brutal institution designed to maintain Catholic orthodoxy and consolidate royal power. Initially targeting conversos (Jews who had converted to Catholicism) suspected of secretly practicing Judaism, its scope expanded to include Protestants, Muslims, and others deemed heretical. Operating under the authority of the Pope but effectively controlled by the Spanish Crown, it employed methods like secret denunciations, torture, and public auto-da-fés to enforce religious uniformity. While its existence is often mythologized, its impact on Spanish society, culture, and the perception of religious tolerance remains a subject of intense historical debate.