Spanish Crusade

The Spanish Crusade, also known as the Spanish Inquisition, refers to a series of campaigns initiated in the late 15th century aimed at consolidating Catholic orthodoxy in Spain. Following the Reconquista, which expelled Muslims from Spain, the Inquisition sought to identify and punish heresy, particularly among converted Jews and Muslims. It used various methods, including trials and torture, to root out dissent. The Crusade was part of a broader effort to unify Spain under Catholicism, significantly impacting the country’s social and religious landscape for centuries and contributing to the rise of a more centralized Spanish state.