Torquemadas

people like Tomas de Torquemada (1420-1498), first Grand Inquisitor of Spain. The Spanish Inquisition, established under Ferdinand and Isabella in 1478, was centralized by Torquemada after his appointment in 1483 as Grand Inquisitor. He gained the reputation, partly deserved, partly exaggerated, of great cruelty in his conduct of the Spanish Inquisition, which reportedly was responsible for the burning of some two thousand persons between 1481 and 1504.