Crisis in the Medieval Church Purge of the Heretics, The Reconquista, and The Spanish Inquisition

The Reconquista (Reconquest) At the same time that Christians were making trips to recapture the Holy Land from Muslims, Christian warriors also fought to remove Muslims from Spain.  Until about 1000 AD, Muslims (called Moors) ruled in Spain and Portugal.  Once the Muslim governments became weak, Christian armies were sent to drive them from power.  In the end, the Moors were almost entirely kicked out of Europe.  The Reconquista lasted from AD.

“Purge of the Heretics” Religious ideas that oppose accepted church teachings are called “heresy”. A person who commits heresy is called a “heretic”. Around 1100 AD, some people began to question the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and the behavior of church leaders. They began to spread their own ideas.

“Purge of Heretics” (cont.) The church began to seek out heretics throughout Europe.  People found guilty of heresy were fined, imprisoned and sometimes killed.  Some innocent people were tortured into making false confessions. In the early 1200s, Pope Innocent III declared a crusade against heretics. He sent French knights into battles around France in a war that lasted almost 20 years.

Left: Stone relief showing the forced baptism of Moors in Granada Right: Ink drawing showing torture device used to extract the “confession” of a heretic

The Spanish Inquisition Under the rule of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Spain came completely under Christian rule. They made the practice of Judaism and Islam illegal. They also created The Spanish Inquisition.  Priests searched for Jews, Muslims and heretics  The reign of terror lasted from

The Spanish Inquisition (cont.) Accused heretics were given a chance to confess their heresy against the Catholic Church and were also encouraged to accuse other heretics. If they admitted their wrongs and turned in other people, they were either released or sentenced to a prison penalty. If they would not admit their heresy or turn in others, the accused were publicly introduced in a large ceremony before they were publicly killed or sentenced to a life in prison.  Most were burned to death.  About 3,400 died altogether.

Burned at the Stake

The Chair

The Coffin

The Rack

The Water Torture