Shaina Wheeler
Honors English 11-1
Mrs. Schoech
10 February 2009
The Story of the Spanish Inquisition
In the late 15th century King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella ran Spain. They believed in purifying their country and with help from Pope Sixtus IV they achieved it. At first Spain struggled with having multiple religions practiced, Catholism, Islam, Protestantism, and Judaism. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella believed Catholism would unify Spain, therefore wanted to convert all that was not. No Catholics are living today that participated in the Spanish Inquisition. The Inquisition took place over nearly 400 years, having the most murders in an inquisition.
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella first wanted to convert all people to Christianity. Their first targets were the Jew and Muslims who had been converted to Christians. They thought that the Jew and Muslims still practiced their previous religious rituals. The public would often accuse the Jews and Muslims and they would be tortured. After being tortured if the victim did not confess he or she would have been publicly killed or sentenced to life in prison.
Many people were convicted during this time. In 1438 Tomas de Torquemada became a general in Spain. He established the rules of the inquisitorial procedures. Torquemada also created the branches in many cities. He was responsible for over 2,000 executions.
Later on the King and Queen decided to get rid of the Protestants as well. They were trailed similar to the Jew and Muslims. If they confessed they were only jail but if not they were killed or sentenced to life in prison, which included being tortured. The only way one wasn’t killed after confessing was if they also told would else was still practicing their other rituals.
Once King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella believed they purified Spain, the wanted Catholism to be present in the entire world. They conquered many countries like Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala. They also used...