The Jews of Spain and Portugal and the Inquisition

The work The Jews of Spain and Portugal and the Inquisition by Frederic David Mocatta details the history of Jews in these Iberian nations and the impact of the Spanish Inquisition. The Inquisition, established in 1478, was a judicial institution ostensibly created to combat heresy but primarily served to consolidate monarchical power through brutal methods.1

Facing persecution, many Jews converted to Christianity, becoming known as conversos or, if they practiced Judaism in secret, Marranos. These secret practitioners were viewed with suspicion and faced severe persecution, including public burnings at the stake during autos-da-f\u00e9. The Inquisition's actions led to the expulsion of over 160,000 Jews from Spain in 1492, and similar expulsions occurred in Portugal and Navarre. Mocatta's work highlights this period of intense religious and political control, emphasizing the suffering and resilience of the Jewish communities.213