jjares reviewed The Spanish Inquisition: The History and Legacy of the Catholic Church?s Notorious Persecution of Heretics on + 3270 more book reviews
Although the Inquisition started in France in the 12th-century to combat the belief in two gods (Cathars believed in a good and evil god) and early protestant churches (Waldensians believed in the priesthood of all members and that each congregation was independent (of the Pope).
The Spanish inquisition focused on the forced conversion of Jewish and Muslim citizens in their countries. Incredibly, even after conversion to Catholicism, these same groups were suspected of not really converting and were still persecuted. The Inquisition policy was 'guilty until proven innocent.' Torture was used routinely against those accused of heresy as well as those who were 'witnesses.'
Spaniards exported their Inquisition to their new empires around the world. In Spain, the Inquisition was established in 1478 by the Catholic monarch, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The idea was to control Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms and to replace the papal Medieval Inquisition. When Joseph Napolean came to the throne, the Inquisition was stopped in 1808. Later, it was restored by Ferdinand VII in 1814, then suppressed in 1820. It was finally disbanded in July 1834.
FYI: Charles Rivers Editors has a separate book about the Inquisition in the Americas.
The Spanish inquisition focused on the forced conversion of Jewish and Muslim citizens in their countries. Incredibly, even after conversion to Catholicism, these same groups were suspected of not really converting and were still persecuted. The Inquisition policy was 'guilty until proven innocent.' Torture was used routinely against those accused of heresy as well as those who were 'witnesses.'
Spaniards exported their Inquisition to their new empires around the world. In Spain, the Inquisition was established in 1478 by the Catholic monarch, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The idea was to control Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms and to replace the papal Medieval Inquisition. When Joseph Napolean came to the throne, the Inquisition was stopped in 1808. Later, it was restored by Ferdinand VII in 1814, then suppressed in 1820. It was finally disbanded in July 1834.
FYI: Charles Rivers Editors has a separate book about the Inquisition in the Americas.
