TORQUEMADA, TOMAS DE (1420-95). A Spanish Inquisitor-General. Ile was born at Valladolid, of the same family as that to which the famous theologian, better known as Tur recremata, belonged. He entered the Dominican Order, and became prior of the monastery at Segovia, a post whieh he held for twenty-two years. In 147S the Inquisition was reestablished in Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella, and four years later some assistants were given to the first Inquisitors. Torquemada was among these, and so distinguished himself by his zeal that in 1453 he was named by Sixtus IV. Grand Inquisi tor for Castile and Aragon. He erected four tribunals, at Seville, Cordova, Jaen, and Villa Real, the last of which was afterwards trans ferred to Toledo. The Grand Inquisitor was assisted by a council of theologians and jurists named by the King, but deriving their jurisdiction from the Inquisitor-General, in virtue of the latter's Papal authority. In political and legal questions he was obliged to act only in concert with them, but merely asked their advice in theological matters. Torquemada drew up the
code of procedure, which was confirmed by the Pope, though the Holy See steadily impressed upon the Inquisitors the necessity of exercising charity toward those who were accused of heresy, and frequently mitigated the rigor of their seqences, or, if the matter was dealt with independently by the Spanish Government, eom plained strongly. Torquemada took a prominent part in the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. Toward the end of his life he retired into the Dominican monastery of Avila, where he died. Consult de Documents ine'dits: Tor quemada et l'Inqnisition (Paris, 1897). As a typical representative of the Spanish Inquisition, Torquemada has been frequently condemned by Protestant historians for wanton cruelty. For a fuller discussion of the charges made by them, see INQUISITION.