TOMÁS DE TORQUEMADA (1474)

First grand inquisitor in Spain whose name has become synonymous with the Inquisition´s horror, religious bigotry and cruel fanaticism.

He joined the Dominicans and from 1452 to 1474 was prior of Santa Cruz Monastery Segovia.

His belief that the Marranos (Jewish converts) and the Moors threatened Sapin´s welfare enabled him to influence and effect the religious policies of the Catholic monarchs Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand V to whom he was confessor and adviser.

Torquemada ironically of Jewish descent himself in 1492 persuaded the rulers to expel all Jews who refused to be baptized causing about 170,000 Jewish subjects to leave Spain.

In August 1483 he was appointed grand inquisitor for Castilla and León and on October 17 for Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia and Mallorca.

As grand inquisitor Torquemada established local tribunals at Sevilla, Jaén, Córdoba, Ciudad Real and Zaragoza.
The following year he promulgated 28 articles to guide inquisitors judging crimes of heresy, apostasy, witchcraft, bigamy, usury and blasphemy and authorized torture to obtain evidence if the accused failed to confess.
The number of burnings at the stake during his tenure has been estimated at about 2,000.

Torquemada´s health and age, coupled with widespread outrage and complaints, caused Pope Alexander VI to appoint four assistant inquisitors in June 1494 to restrain him.