Thomás de Torquemada, Spanish Grand Inquisitor

Thomás de Torquemada is known more for his persecution of Jews than for his persecution of perceived witches. Nonetheless, the techniques he used are similar to those of the witch hunt and therefore deserve mention.

In 1480, under pressure from the populace, the Spanish Court on Inquisition was established. The aim of this Inquisition was to discover if the Conversos (Jews who had been baptized as Catholic) were really Judaists. In 1492, the Jews were expelled from Spain so they would have no influence over the Conversos. 250,000 Jews left and went to Muslim countries and to the economic merchant centres of Northern Europe.

The Inquisition decided that Jewish ancestry determined secret Jews. If one had a Jewish grandparent, this person had Jewish blood and was therefore a Converso. Although all Conversos had been baptized, washing sin from their souls, it was determined that Jewish blood was so filthy it was impervious to baptism and divine grace (which is in itself a heresy). The Pure Blood Laws were introduced.

In 1484, Grand Inquisitor Thomás de Torquemada declared the Blood Laws official doctrine. Since Torquemada responded only to a council of eight who reported to royalty, there was no possible appeal to the Pope. Since Torquemada had Jewish ancestry (four generations back), he drew the line of the Blood Laws at 1/64 Jewish blood, or three generations back.

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Thomás de Torquemada, Spanish Grand Inquisitor copyrighted 1996-1998 to Shantell Powell.