Audiobook Lea, Henry Charles A History of the Inquisition of Spain; vol. 1

The work opens by examining the profound disorder of the Castilian monarchy under Henry IV and the gradual consolidation of royal power by Ferdinand and Isabella through the Santa Hermandad and the reform of the administration of justice. The narrative then explores the centuries of coexistence and occasional conflict between Christians, Jews, and Muslims, highlighting how mutual tolerance slowly eroded under pressure from the Church. The author traces the rise of anti-Jewish sentiment, fomented by ecclesiastical legislation and inflammatory preaching, leading up to the devastating massacres across Spain. These events created a new and troubled class of conversos, whose rapid social and political rise provoked intense racial and religious animosity. The volume culminates in an examination of the measures taken against the remaining Jews, the creation of an environment of intense suspicion, and the foundational steps that led directly to the establishment of the Inquisition as an instrument of both statecraft and religious uniformity.