Spanish Inquisition

1478-1834

Information

• It took place in the 12th to 19th Centuries• Used by the Catholic Church and Monarchs.• Used to purify the people of Spain.– Started when Spain was a young country.

• The HERETICS were those who were persecuted… (those who were NOT Catholic)– Non-Catholics– Jews– Muslims

Information

• 5000 people were killed• Based on ANCIENT Roman Law.• Monarchies made each religious group they

were against be deported from the country (banished)

• Spanish Law considered Catholics to be SUPERIOR.

• One of several Inquisitions throughout history.

Torture

• TORTURES:– Starving– Stretching– Holding Fluids (drinking and not allowing them to pee)– Strapado (weights on the ankles and then lifted from the arms….)– Cut off extremities

• Torture was used to get confessions:– Wanted them to denounce their religion and say Catholicism was

the only TRUE religion.– People confessed their sins to not be tortured anymore----even if

they were lies.

Ended

• Ended in 1834 with Queen Elizabeth II.• She banished the practice…

Spanish Jews pleading before King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, while grand inquisitor Tomás de Torquemada argues for their expulsion from Spain, in a painting by Solomon A. Hart.

St. Dominic Presiding at an Auto-da-Fé, panel by Pedro Berruguete,c. 1503; in the Prado, Madrid.

Suspected Protestants being tortured as heretics during the Spanish Inquisition.