Spanish Inquisition

The Spanish Inquisition was the Inquisition acting in Spain under the control of the Kings of Spain. This Inquisition was the result of the reconquest of Spain from the Muslims and the policy of converting Spanish Jews and Muslims to Christianity. The Inquisition was an important tool in enforcing the limpieza de sangre ("cleanliness of blood") against descendants of converted Jews or Muslims.

Context

In the 15th century, Spain was not a single state but a confederation of realms, each with their own administrations, such as the Crown of Aragon and the Crown of Castile, ruled by Ferdinand and Isabella, respectively. In the Crown of Aragon, a confederation of the Kingdom of Aragon, Baleares, Catalunya and Valencia, there was a local inquisition from the Middle Ages, as in the rest of the European countries, but not in the Kingdom of Castile & Leon.

Related Topics:
Aragon - Castile - Ferdinand - Isabella - Baleares - Catalunya - Valencia - Middle Ages

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Much of the Iberian peninsula had been ruled by the Moors, and the southern regions, particularly Granada, were heavily populated by Muslims. Until 1492, Granada was still under Moorish rule. The large cities, especially Seville, Valladolid, capital of Castile, and Barcelona, capital of the Crown of Aragon, had large Jewish populations centered in Juderías.

Related Topics:
Iberian peninsula - Moors - Granada - Muslims - Moorish - Seville - Valladolid - Barcelona - Crown of Aragon - Jew - Juderías

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There was a long tradition of Jewish service to the Crown of Aragon. Ferdinand's father, John II of Aragon, appointed Abiathar Crescas, a Jew, as his court astrologer. Jews held many prominent posts, both religious and political. Pedro de la Caballeria, a Marrano, played a major role in arranging Ferdinand's marriage to Isabella. Castile even had an unofficial Crown Rabbi, a professing Jew.

Related Topics:
John II of Aragon - Abiathar Crescas - Astrologer - Pedro de la Caballeria - Marrano - Rabbi - Jew

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~