How did the Spanish Inquisition differ from earlier medieval inquisitions?

The Spanish Inquisition differed from earlier medieval inquisitions primarily in its level of institutionalization and its relationship with state power. While medieval inquisitions were typically ad hoc tribunals established by papal delegation or individual bishops to address heresy in specific locations or periods, the Spanish Inquisition was a permanent, bureaucratically organized state institution.1

Key differences include:

• Institutional Structure: Unlike the decentralized medieval tribunals, the Spanish Inquisition operated under a vertical command-and-review structure. It maintained regional branches, required regular reporting, and managed its own archives and finances.12
• State Control: Although authorized by the papacy, the Spanish Inquisition functioned effectively as a department of the Spanish state. The monarchy exerted significant control over its appointments and operations, using the institution to consolidate royal power and enforce religious and social unity.31
• Scope and Focus: While medieval inquisitions focused on specific heretical movements, the Spanish Inquisition was established to target conversos (Jewish converts to Christianity) suspected of practicing their faith in secret, and later expanded to suppress Protestantism and enforce moral orthodoxy among both clergy and laity.31

Despite these structural differences, the Spanish Inquisition utilized legal procedures similar to those of its medieval predecessors, including the use of secrecy and, in some cases, torture.32