An Inquisition is an organization in the Roman Catholic Church. In the past the church was responsible for finding and punishing people who did not accept its beliefs and practices. Prior to the Spanish Inquisition, the Medieval Inquisition occurred around 1184. The Medieval Inquisition was a series of investigations in response to actions opposing Christianity in southern France and northern Italy. With Christianity dominating most of Europe, the Medieval Inquisition played a major role in influencing a large portion of Europeans during its reign. Spain, a nation born out of religious struggles between beliefs of Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism, and Judaism (Western and Central Europe Chronology) was an ideal setting for a potential inquisition.
The Spanish Inquisition was one of the deadliest inquisitions in history and was the counterpart of the Medieval Inquisition. It was used for religious and political reasons from 1478-1834. The principal objective of the Spanish Inquisition was to locate and torment heretics, those who did not convert to Christianity, and root out non-believers from a nation. The Spanish Inquisition also dealt with Muslim and Jewish individuals whom converted to Christianity under false pretenses. Typically, the cycle of an Inquisition would begin with the Inquisitor and his fellow believers would visit a town or community. The Inquisitor would preach to the whole population in the community or church about the sin of heresy. An Edict of Faith was often issued by the Inquisitor, giving detailed information as to how to spot a heretic. A Term of Grace was followed in which voluntary confessions were required. Individuals that had stepped forward voluntarily and acknowledged to their heresy were often given partial punishment. Also during this period the Inquisitor would start gathering information from those that were reporting heresy in others. After the period of grace, everyone in the community that did not voluntarily confessed was at risk of being accused. The Inquisition only required evidence of two witnesses for prosecution. Wives and husbands, convicted heretics and criminals could testify and accuse against each other. The informers were encourage to accuse those who were suspects however never confronted by them as well as the convicted were not allowed to appeal to the Pope. The Spanish Inquisition occurred in the countries of Europe. However, it spread throughout Spanish and Portuguese colonies in the New World (America), as well as Mexican and Asian countries. Many Jews, Conversos (Spanish or Portuguese Jews who converted to Christianity) fled from Portugal and Spain to the New World.
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella were the driving force of the Spanish Inquisition. They then married to join together in ruling Spain in 1470. Before then, Ferdinand was advanced in military and political skills ruling Aragon and Isabella was a Catholic who ruled Castile. Isabella practiced Catholic teachings and pressed upon the populous in which she ruled to follow suit. She believed that Spain’s unity as a nation depended upon a strong Church. As well she wanted to reform the Church, raising the educational and the moral standards of it. Ferdinand on the other hand was more open in reference to religious direction and influence. He believed in a non-controlling environment, and as a domino effect the affection given to the people under his realm was ultimately reciprocated back onto the ruler of Aragon. Although Ferdinand appeared to be a symbol of endearment in the eyes of his followers, other ethnicities and religious followers did not carry the same affection and praise as the Spaniards. In fact, Ferdinand ordered the execution of Jewish and Muslim follower’s.
The issues that the Church challenged was the number of Jews and Muslims who had been baptized Catholics and risen to high positions in the government in addition to the Church without believing in Christian doctrine. King