In 1478, Pope Sixtus IV
granted the monarchs of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella, the right
to establish a special inquisition in Spain to deal with baptized
Jews who were suspected of remaining faithful to Judaism. Among
Spanish clergy, these Jews, known as Marranos, were considered
heretics who threatened Christianity. The Spanish theologians
developed the doctrine known as Limpieza de sangre (purity
of blood) as a means of distinguishing genuine converts from false
converts. Thousands of Marranos were burned at the stake by order
of the Special Inquisition.
See also A
Regrettable Life: Tomás de Torquemada. Tomás
de Torquemada was a Dominican priest and Isabella's confessor.
He established himself as the head of the Spanish Inquisition.
In 1492, King Ferdinand decided that all Spanish Jews should
be banned from Spain. It was feared that Jews were a danger to
Christianity. Approximately 150,000 Jews were forced to leave
Spain.
See also The
Expulsion from Spain, 1492.
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