The Spanish Inquisition Vs. The Portuguese Inquisition The Spanish and Portuguese “Inquisition” is often treated as a single, monolithic occurrence, when it was multiple systems operating differently across time and empires. They had different legal structures; targeted different populations and peaked in different centuries. Here is a simplified view:Spanish Inquisition• Time period: 1478 - 1834• Founded by: The Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile• Controlled by: The Spanish crown, not the Pope, highly bureaucratic and systematic • Purpose: Strengthen political unity and religious conformity in Spain• Primary targets: Jewish and Muslim converts (Conversos, Moriscos)• Severity: Fewer executions than popular myth suggests, but widespread fear • Estimated executions: 3,000 - 5,000 people • Estimated executions by gender: Men 2,250-4,000 (75-80%), Women 750- 1,250 (20-25%)Portuguese Inquisition• Time period: 1536 - 1821• Founded by: King João III (with papal approval)• Controlled by: Directly influenced by the Papacy, backed by the monarchy• Purpose: Enforce Catholic orthodoxy, especially among converts (New Christians)• Primary targets: Jewish converts (New Christians)• Severity: Harsher towards New Christians • Estimated executions: 1,000-1,500 people• Estimated executions by gender: Men 600 – 975 (60-65%), Women 350 – 525 (35- 40%) The key differences were that the Spanish Inquisition served mainly as a tool of state power and unity, while the Portuguese Inquisition focused more on persecuting Jewish converts and controlling wealth. The Portuguese Inquisition was especially severe in its colonies. But in both cases fear and surveillance impacted entire communities, perpetuating centuries of terror. Note: Numbers refer strictly to executions (people executed in person, not in effigy, imprisonment, or other penalties). Picture: Drawing by Francisco de Goya depicting a punishment associated with the Spanish Inquisition.