Definition of the word inquisition

The term "Inquisition" originated in medieval Spain during the 15th century. It referred to a series of religious tribunals established by the Catholic Church to root out heresy and other religious offenses. These tribunals primarily targeted Muslims who had converted to Christianity, but also affected Jews and other religious minorities. The origins of the Spanish Inquisition can be traced back to Pope Nicholas V's bull, "Sicciri int recordationes," issued in 1448. The bull granted King Alfonso V of Portugal the authority to prosecute and banish heretics and ordered him to consult two Dominican and two Franciscan theologians on the matter. When King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile united Spain in 1479, they established a new Inquisition to deal with religious dissent in their kingdom. The Spanish Inquisition was headed by a grand inquisitor appointed by the papacy. Its proceedings were secret, and allegations were often based on anonymous denunciations, leading to a lack of due process for those accused. The Spanish Inquisition was notorious for its use of torture to extract confessions, leading to many false accusations and false confessions. It also helped to fuel the Spanish Expulsion of the Jews in 1492, as many Jews were accused of converting to Christianity but secretly adhering to Judaism. While the Spanish Inquisition was officially dissolved in 1834, the term "Inquisition" is still used to describe any investigation, typically of a political or criminal nature, with a focus on religious dissent. Its legacy has inspired modern-day investigative institutions, such as the Soviet Union's political police department, the NKVD.