Did anyone expect the Spanish Inquisition?

[robert_columbia]

That is, in the months and years leading up to it, or did anyone expect that it would become as significant as it did?

[aceplace57]

just an observation....
the Spanish Inquisition is the Christian version of religious fanaticism that we currently see in some radical Muslim groups.

When religious fanaticism obtains power over the majority then very bad things happen.

So far its taken three decades since the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran. Each generation of radical clerics gets a little worse and dangerous.

Eventually we may see the rise of radical Christians again. They are out there, but still small in numbers and they have no power.

[md2000]

Their chief weapon was surprise... or surprise and fear... and a fanatical devotion to the pope...

[aceplace57]

I've always wondered why the majority of moderate Christians didn't rise up and revolt against the priests during the Spanish Inquisition? The Catholic fanatics in Spain only represented a small number of Catholics.

But we see the same thing today. Millions and millions of moderate Muslims stay silent as a tiny fraction of fanatics hijack & pervert their religion.

I can't recall, did the Pope support the Spanish Inquisition?

[aceplace57]

This may help the OP. It was established in 1480. Then strengthened by royal degrees in 1492 and then another in 1501. So it did take awhile to fully implement. Nearly 20 years.

Interesting that the Spanish Inquisition was controlled by the Spanish Monarchy. It replaced the Medieval Inquisition that was under Papal (The Pope) control.

Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. Right in the middle of the Spanish Inquisition.

The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition (Spanish: Tribunal del Santo Oficio de la Inquisición), commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition (Inquisición española), was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval Inquisition which was under Papal control. The Inquisition was originally intended in large part to ensure the orthodoxy of those who converted from Judaism and Islam. This regulation of the faith of the newly converted was intensified after the royal decrees issued in 1492 and 1501 ordering Jews and Muslims to convert or leave.
<snip>
The body was under the direct control of the Spanish monarchy. It was not definitively abolished until 1834, during the reign of Isabella II, though it had ceased effective operation sometime earlier after a long decline.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition

[Little Nemo]

Parts of Spain had been occupied by the Muslims from 711 to 1492 so there had been a lot of Muslims around. Jews, who were tolerated by the Muslim regimes, were regarded as allies of the Muslims. As Christian forces retook the country, Muslims and Jews were pressured to convert to Christianity. There was a suspicion that many of them were converting in name only and were still secretly holding on to their original religion.

The Spanish Inquisition was started in 1480 and was directly mostly towards looking for false converts. Being as there had been a growing atmosphere of suspicion against these converts throughout the 1470's, I don't think anyone was surprised by the actual declaration of an inquisition. By 1480, everybody was expecting the Spanish Inquisition.

[Dano83860]

According to Monty Python. No one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

[aceplace57]

I've wondered what the other major countries reaction was to Spain and its decades of torture and killing? Did France or Britain protest at all?

[Shmendrik]

I've always wondered why the majority of moderate Christians didn't rise up and revolt against the priests during the Spanish Inquisition? The Catholic fanatics in Spain only represented a small number of Catholics.

But we see the same thing today. Millions and millions of moderate Muslims stay silent as a tiny fraction of fanatics hijack & pervert their religion.

I can't recall, did the Pope support the Spanish Inquisition?

Do you have a source for the idea that the vast majority of Catholics were "moderates" who silently opposed the Inquisition, or is it just presentism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presentism_%28literary_and_historical_analysis%29)?

[clairobscur]

I've wondered what the other major countries reaction was to Spain and its decades of torture and killing? Did France or Britain protest at all?

I doubt that overzealous religious persecution in a neighboring country could have been a significant concern during the late 15th century. And quite soon after that there was the rise of protestantism, and about every country in Europe demonstrated how religiously tolerant it was, and how big an issue it had with torturing and killing for religious motives.

Anyway, I'd note that both England and France had expelled Jews long ago when the Spanish inquisition appeared on the scene. So, they weren't particularly tolerated in those countries, either. In western Europe, you'd find them in Germany and Italy at this time.

[MacSpon]

According to Q.I., everyone expected the Spanish Inquisition ... because they told you 30 days in advance that you were going to be inquisited (so you could get your defence in order, etc).

[Walther Ego]

This was a time in Europe when central institutions were created to replace the weaker medieval state structures. Most catholics probably saw the Spanish inquisition as part of progress towards a more orderly world, where people who worship wrong stuff get what they deserve. While it had exceptional power and the sentences were harsh, state level persecution of heretics was normal.

[Shakester]

I've wondered what the other major countries reaction was to Spain and its decades of torture and killing? Did France or Britain protest at all?

The reason it's called the Spanish Inquisition is that there were other, non-Spanish, Inquisitions.

The Portuguese Inquisition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Inquisition), for instance, or the Pope's own personal version, the Roman Inquisition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Inquisition).

[Hari Seldon]

I've always wondered why the majority of moderate Christians didn't rise up and revolt against the priests during the Spanish Inquisition? The Catholic fanatics in Spain only represented a small number of Catholics.

But we see the same thing today. Millions and millions of moderate Muslims stay silent as a tiny fraction of fanatics hijack & pervert their religion.


But just see what is happening in Egypt. I predict that once the fanatics gain power, even though they will be freely elected by a majority of the population, I will be a long time before there is another free election there. Remember that the religious government in Iran was the popular choice in 1979. Thirty two years later, once can doubt that, but the Iranians are not given the choice.

Although I was not a fan of William Buckley (far from it, he was an idiot for, among other things, supporting McCarthy), one thing he said stuck in my mind: That if you vote in a Communist regime, you will never get another chance to vote again. I always viewed Communism as a kind of secular religion.

I have long felt that the most important thing George Washington did (at least after the war) was to quit after two terms. The most difficult time for a post-revolutionary government is the transition to the second government.

[raskolnik]

-People do often forget that Catholics aren't really democratic at heart. They are monarchists, believing in a catholic monarch who does the will of the pope of matters spirtual, while mantaining the faith in matters political. Thus the state,not the church, punishes heretics. Before anybody complains, I kind of like the idea.

[Steken]

-People do often forget that Catholics aren't really democratic at heart. They are monarchists

Are they? All of them?

[Little Nemo]

I've always wondered why the majority of moderate Christians didn't rise up and revolt against the priests during the Spanish Inquisition? The Catholic fanatics in Spain only represented a small number of Catholics.You're charitably assuming that the majority of Spanish Catholics didn't support the Inquisition. As has been noted, the victims of the Inquisition were not traditional Catholics. It was mostly the converted Muslims and Jews who were persecuted. I wouldn't be surprised if other Spaniards had no issues with that - persecuting the minorities has usually been popular with the masses.

[BMalion]

Their chief weapon was surprise... or surprise and fear... and a fanatical devotion to the pope...

I'll come in again.

[Si Amigo]

Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as: fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and nice red uniforms

[MarcusF]

I've always wondered why the majority of moderate Christians didn't rise up and revolt against the priests during the Spanish Inquisition? The Catholic fanatics in Spain only represented a small number of Catholics.

Why would the majority of Catholics do that? Remember most of the population fully believed in the teachings of the Church and heaven and hell were very real to them. I suspect they fully supported the rooting out of "false Christians" and heretics when allowing such evil people to live amongst them might lead to damnation and an eternity in hell. What is the torment of a heretic's flesh against the loss of your immortal soul?

Remember the Reformation that was about to kick off was driven not by a loss of faith in Christianity but by a fear that a corrupt Catholic Church could not lead you to salvation.

[smiling bandit]

The Spanish Inquisition was less about religion than politics. Contrary to propaganda (mostly English), it wasn't terribly violent and preferred to boot people out of the country.

The key is that the now-united Spanish monarchy had been struggling for centuries with the Moors, along with periodic waves of invasion from North Africa. They decidedly wished to avoid that in the future, which is one reason they established a protectorate (read: border zone) in Morocco later on.

When they captured Granada, many Muslims "converted" but kept their old ways. Thus, they formed in the eyes of the Crown a dangerous and unreliable group which might support Islamic powers trying to invade Spain, or simply rebel themselves. Thus, the Inquisition, intended to root out, depending on your view, heretics or closet Muslims, with Jews thrown in for good measure. This sparked an exodus to Morroco and Algiers.

Was it cruel? Yes. Was it necessary? That's a different question and much tougher. Having fought over the land for generations upon generations, the monarchs of Castille and Aragon were not about to endure any more, and took what steps they felt were needed to deal with it permanently.

[griffin1977]

Contrary to that respected historical source Monty Python. EVERYONE expected the Spanish Inquisition as each "Auto-da-fe" was always proceeded with a 40-day grace period during which anyone was free to confess (or to accuse others).

[Nava]

The reason it's called the Spanish Inquisition is that there were other, non-Spanish, Inquisitions.

The Portuguese Inquisition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Inquisition), for instance, or the Pope's own personal version, the Roman Inquisition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Inquisition).

That's one reason for the name. Another reason is that people, specially foreigners, don't realize there were several Inquisitions within Spain, and locations which never had an Inquisition (a religious tribunal dedicated to religious "crimes") but where charges of witchcraft or heresy were investigated by civilian tribunals; the one that's famous abroad albeit with the wrong name, and which has actually been referenced several times in this same thread (dates given, etc.) is the Castillian Inquisition.

There were several separate Inquisitions for Castilla and for some of the territories of the Crown of Aragon. Other territories within Aragon had no Inquisition; Navarra had one on and off (more off than on; for example, the Salem-style witchhunts of Zugarramurdi took place under a civilian tribunal).

[Shakester]

That's one reason for the name. Another reason is that people, specially foreigners, don't realize there were several Inquisitions within Spain, and locations which never had an Inquisition (a religious tribunal dedicated to religious "crimes") but where charges of witchcraft or heresy were investigated by civilian tribunals; the one that's famous abroad albeit with the wrong name, and which has actually been referenced several times in this same thread (dates given, etc.) is the Castillian Inquisition.

There were several separate Inquisitions for Castilla and for some of the territories of the Crown of Aragon. Other territories within Aragon had no Inquisition; Navarra had one on and off (more off than on; for example, the Salem-style witchhunts of Zugarramurdi took place under a civilian tribunal).

Thanks for that info, Nava. Ignorance fought!