Inquisition

Spanish Inquisition
The Spanish Inquisition was used to maintain Catholic orthodoxy and to convert Jews and Muslims. Royal decrees issued in 1492 and 1502 ordered Jews and Muslims to convert or leave Spain. More than half of Spain's Jewish inhabitants had converted as a result of the religious persecution and pogroms which occurred in 1391. Due to the Alhambra decree and persecution in prior years, thousands of Jews converted to Catholicism and thousands were expelled.

Portuguese Inquisition
Many Spanish Jews left Spain for Portugal and were later targeted there too. Many Jews were expelled from Portugal and others were forcibly converted to Catholicism.