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Spanish Inquisition

Type Object Region Spain Time 1478–1834

Established in 1478 by the Castilian and Aragonese monarchs with papal authorization, the Spanish Inquisition was a religious tribunal upholding Cath…

Timeline

  1. 1478Segovia · Castile and LeónFerdinand and Isabella established the Inquisition under authorization from Pope Sixtus IV, initially targeting heresy suspects among Jewish and Muslim converts, establishing a model of cooperation between crown and papacy in religious trials.
  2. 1480–1500Seville · AndalusiaTorquemada, appointed first Grand Inquisitor, established permanent tribunals in Seville and elsewhere, formulating interrogation procedures and rules for property confiscation; the inquisitorial network rapidly covered the major cities.
  3. 1500–1600Madrid · Community of MadridAlongside American colonization and the Reformation, the Inquisition extended its scrutiny to Protestant ideas, books, and moral heresy, becoming a core tool for maintaining the Catholic empire's ideology.
  4. 1700–1812Spain · SpainUnder the impact of Enlightenment thought and the Napoleonic Wars, the Inquisition's caseload plummeted and its prestige suffered; the 1812 Cadiz Constitution briefly curtailed its powers, and the institution's legitimacy was widely questioned.
  5. 1834Madrid · SpainDuring the regency of Maria Christina, a decree formally abolished the Spanish Inquisition; some archives were transferred to the national archive, marking a transition toward modern law and religious freedom.

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