Spanish Inquisition

The Jewish people in Spain faced severe persecution during the Inquisition, which ultimately led to their expulsion in 1492.

The Spanish Inquisition, established in 1478 by Ferdinand and Isabella, was initially aimed at ensuring religious conformity among converted Jews (known as conversos or New Christians) who were suspected of secretly practicing Judaism. Under the leadership of figures like Tomás de Torquemada, thousands of conversos were investigated, tortured, and executed for alleged heresy.

The situation escalated with the Alhambra Decree of 1492, which ordered all Jews who refused conversion to Christianity to leave Spain, ending more than a millennium of Jewish presence in the Iberian Peninsula.

This decree forced tens of thousands of Jews into exile, scattering communities across North Africa, the Ottoman Empire, and other parts of Europe.

Those who stayed often faced suspicion, discrimination, and the constant threat of denunciation. The Inquisition thus marked a tragic turning point in Jewish history, transforming Spain from a center of Jewish culture into a land of exile and fear.