Torquemada

Tomás de Torquemada was a Spanish Dominican friar and the first Grand Inquisitor in the Spanish Inquisition. Born around 1420, he became a confessor to Isabella I of Castile and played a significant role in the unification of Spain and the establishment of religious uniformity.

Torquemada's influence grew after Isabella's marriage to Ferdinand II of Aragon, and the Spanish Inquisition was formally established in 1478 with papal approval. His primary objective was to ensure the orthodoxy of converts from Judaism and Islam, whom he suspected of secretly practicing their former faiths. This led to widespread persecution, trials, torture, and executions of those deemed heretics.

Under Torquemada's leadership, the Inquisition became known for its severity. He implemented strict procedures and oversaw numerous autos-da-fé, public ceremonies where sentences were read and carried out. His tenure is often associated with the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492, a decree he strongly advocated for.

Torquemada died in 1498. His legacy is one of extreme religious zeal and brutal repression, making him a controversial figure in Spanish history, often remembered as a symbol of intolerance and cruelty. While his actions were motivated by a desire to maintain Catholic purity, they resulted in immense suffering and the exile of large populations.