The Spanish Inquisition: the Truth behind the Black Legend (Part II)

The Spanish Inquisition was not only a controversial organization, but also little understood by the general public. It was an institution that is haunted by a dark legend and, as you know, legends often times have some truth and some falsehood to them. In this case the falsity begins with its origin, which is neither medieval nor Spanish, as is commonly believed.

Read Part I

The Inquisition and the Moors

The Inquisition not only persecuted the Jewish converts, but was also responsible for prosecuting Moriscos (baptized Moors), the converts from Islam who were suspected of not fully embracing their new faith, despite having accepted baptism. The Moors were concentrated mainly in the kingdoms of Granada, Valencia, and Aragon and many of them kept their Islamic religion secret. However, the policy against the Moors was different than that for the Jewish community.