Torquemada (Tomás de Torquemada)

Tomás de Torquemada (1420–1498) was a Spanish Dominican friar best known as the first Grand Inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition, a powerful institution established to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in Spain. He played a key role in the persecution of Jews and other non-conformists, seeking to unify the country under Christianity. Torquemada's methods included torture and execution, which were intended to root out heresy. His legacy is often associated with religious intolerance and the repression of diverse beliefs during a tumultuous period in Spanish history, reflecting the complexities of power, faith, and society in the late 15th century.