The Spanish Inquisition was a tribunal court system used by the Catholic Church to oppress and punish heretics. Based on Roman Law, the inquisitorial system differed from other court systems as the courts themselves tried the accused. Today, the Spanish Inquisition is remembered as one of the most brutal events in history.
Although we tend to think of the medieval period as a time when stunning and unreal castles dominated the landscape, the events of the Spanish Inquisition marked a period of death and misery. The terror caused by the Spanish Inquisition rivaled even that of the Black Death that swept through Europe in the 14th century. Keep reading to discover some worrying facts about the Spanish Inquisition.
The Trials Were Extremely Unfair
The trials that took place during the Spanish Inquisition were extremely unfair. If photos existed from the time, they would undoubtedly be among the creepiest in history, showing the accused being set up to fail.
The accused wasn’t always told of the charges against them immediately, and when they were, they were denied a lawyer. Anybody could testify against the accused and have their identity protected. A refusal to testify was interpreted as proof of guilt, and witnesses rarely backed up the accused because doing so would result in suspicions of heresy falling on them.
A suspected heretic could be imprisoned for years until they confessed and were often subjected to torture to extract a confession. Some were sentenced to life imprisonment or burned at the stake. The inquisitors were also better educated than the accused and set up word games to catch them out in an accidental admission of guilt. Even if the accused confessed, they still had to absolve themselves through public penance.
RELATED: 10 Unsettling Facts About The Witch Trials
The Forms Of Torture Used Were Brutal
Ironically, torture became an accepted method of extracting a confession after the Pope, the head of a religion preaching tolerance and love, issued a bull declaring it legal in 1252. During the three-century length of the Spanish Inquisition, around 150,000 people were prosecuted and subjected to possible torture.
One of the cruelest forms of torture during the Spanish Inquisition was strappado, which involved the accused having their hands tied behind their back and then raised by a pulley that would cause them to hang from their arms, pulling their shoulders out of the sockets. Similarly, the rack was used. This torture device saw the accused being tied to rollers and pulled until their joints dislocated. In addition to these, captives became the victims of heated metal pincers and thumbscrews.
RELATED: These Countries Are Best Known For Their Dark Pasts
Jews And Muslims Were Targeted Even After They Converted To Christianity
After the Inquisition was established in 1478, many Spanish Jews were banished from their homes on the orders of King Ferdinand. In order to avoid being exiled, they converted to Catholicism. However, this only made them targets of the Inquisition.
In the early 16th century, the Muslim Moors of Granada, which had been conquered by Spain, were also persecuted and banished. When the Muslims converted to Catholicism to save themselves, they caught the attention of the Inquisition. From the 16th century onwards, even Protestants were targeted and accused of heresy.
RELATED: Unsettling Facts About The Black Death That Swept Through Europe
The Government Profited From Charging People
The Spanish Inquisition was launched in the name of religion, but those behind it profited from the terror of the poor souls who were charged. Those who were found guilty of heresy had their property confiscated, which then went to the government and increased the wealth of government officials. Unfortunately, greed played a major role in how the Spanish Inquisition worked.
NEXT: Creepy History: 10 Eerie Facts About The Tower Of London