Tommaso Torquemada (Spanish: Tommaso de Torquemada; 1420 — September 16, 1498) was the founder of the Spanish Inquisition and the first Grand Inquisitor of Spain. He was a nephew of cardinal Juan de Torquemada was descended from a Spanish family.
Having received theological education and differing ascetic inclinations, Torquemada entered the Dominican order, in 1459 became the prior of one of the most important monasteries in Segovia, and then — the Confessor of the Castilian Infanta Isabella.He was instrumental in the construction of her on the throne and the conclusion of her marriage with Ferdinand of Aragon, who also has a huge impact, due to the harsh and unyielding nature, of religious enthusiasm and theological erudition. The influence of his subordinate and dad, the Main task of Torquemada was the religious and political unification of Spain. To achieve this goal, he reorganized and expanded the activities of the Inquisition. In 1483 Torquemada was appointed the "Grand Inquisitor" of Castile and later of Aragon.
The expulsion of Jews (1492) and Moors (1502, came after his death) from Spain, confiscation of property of those convicted by the Inquisition, the burning of heretics at the stake — these were the results of the activities of Torquemada Inquisitor.
On his conscience hundreds of burned. The total number of auto-da-Fe during Torquemada is estimated at 2,200, half of this number-straw stuffed individuals who died before arrest or were out of reach for the Inquisition.
Thanks to the activities of Torquemada as a politician, it became possible to unite the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon into a single Kingdom of Spain.
Subsequently, Spain became one of the most powerful States in Europe, marked the beginning of the colonization of the New World and was the "cultural matrix" of all Latin America. To this day in Latin American countries there is an idiom, which can be translated as "mother-Fatherland". This word means Spain.