Which groups did Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain target and persecute during the Spanish Inquisition?

Answer 1

Strictly speaking, the Spanish Inquisition was designed to persecute Christian heretics, people who were believed to be following Christianity improperly. However, most of the people accused of heresy were former Jews and Muslims who converted to Christian under threat of death. As a result, it is generally oversimplified to say that the Spanish Inquisition targeted JEWS AND MUSLIMS.

Answer 2

The Spanish Inquisition mainly persecuted anyone or group they considered as being a heretic, or not a strict follower of the Catholic religion. Many innocent people also suffered torture and death, simply on a vague rumour or direct accusation by another person. Some people used the Inquisition to take revenge on a neighbour, when a dispute or slight arose.

Answer 3

Muslims and Jews were the primary targets of the Spanish Inquisition.

Answer 4

First, Ferdinand and Isabella offered the Jews and Muslims living in Spain a simple choice: Convert to Christianity or leave. Then, the Inquisition was established to seek out any of the "new Christians" who were still practicing any vestige of Judaism or Islam. The biggest problem for the inquisition was "secret Jews" who were outwardly Christian while still practicing Judaism in secret. Between 1478 and 1834, thousands were burned at the stake by the inquisition, and many times that number were imprisoned, tortured, or stripped of their assets. The last auto da fe, public execution of a crypto-Jew, was in 1826.