The Spanish Inquisition occurred from 1478 to 1834 in Spain. Catholic rulers Ferdinand and Isabella established the Inquisition to enforce Catholic orthodoxy and eliminate heresy. It targeted Jews, Muslims, and converts from those faiths who were suspected of secretly practicing their original religions. The Inquisition used brutal methods like torture to extract confessions, with those convicted facing execution or life in prison. It ended in 1834 after the French Revolution weakened the Catholic Church's power in Spain.

1. The Spanish Inquisition 1478-1834