Christians and the Spanish Inquisition essays

Christians and the Spanish Inquisition essays Ferdinand and Isabella used the Inquisition to eliminate opposition in Spain. Their thoughts were that by eliminating the Jews, Muslims, and New Christians in Spain they would gain unity, wealth, and power. They wanted to make a Christian and only a Christian Spain. Since Ferdinand and Isabella were married they strived to make Spain a whole. With Ferdinand ruling Aragon and Isabella ruling Castile they united Spain as one. Soon Ferdinand and Isabella had the regions of Granada and Portugal as part of Spain. But Ferdinand and Isabella wanted to increase their authority over their kingdom through religion as well. Ferdinand new that the church controlled large amounts of land and also served significant roles in the political system, he took these very important things into major consideration. Isabella on the other hand, "...had a genuine concern for religious reform and believed in their responsibility for the spiritual life of their subjects and people."(Ovid 3). Ferdinand and Is abella didn't think of using the Inquisition to purify Spain until a priest named Tomas de Torquemada brought it to their attention. Torquemada was Isabella's confessor or spiritual leader. Torquemada convinced Ferdinand and Isabella that once the Inquisition was in place they could eliminate all non-Catholic believers. He bribed them with the thought that they,"...could use it to solidify the supremacy of Catholicism in Spanish life...the inquisition would promise them consolidation on their political control over the country and would increase the wealth of the crown through confiscation."(The Inquisition 50-51) Ferdinand and Isabella were now convinced that by putting the Inquisition to action they could gain wealth, power, and full unity of Spain. The Inquisition was so closely associated with the government that it became a department of state. (The Inquisition 43) The Jewish population in Spain was a very large one that caused lots of envy. Jews h...