Michael Brooks
The persecution of Catholics in Spain occurred during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), when the Republican faction carried out violent acts of persecution against the Catholic Church and its followers. This period, known as the Red Terror, saw the killing of thousands of people, including priests, nuns, and laypeople, as well as the destruction of churches and religious symbols. The persecution was driven by the Republican government's hostility towards the Church and was part of a broader campaign of religious persecution and political upheaval in Spain during the 1930s. The Catholic Church venerates those who died during this time as martyrs, with many individuals being beatified by the Pope in recognition of their sacrifice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name given to the persecution of Catholics in Spain | Red Terror |
| Time period | 1936 until the end of the Spanish Civil War |
| Number of Catholic martyrs | 6,800 |
| Number of martyrs beatified by the Catholic Church | 2,129 |
| Number of martyrs beatified by Pope Benedict | 522 |
| Number of martyrs beatified by Pope Benedict XVI | 530 |
| Number of martyrs beatified by Pope John Paul II | 1 |
| Number of martyrs beatified in the biggest beatification ceremony | 498 |
| Number of martyrs according to the Catholic Church | 10,000 |
| Number of people martyred for not renouncing their faith | Thousands |
| Number of bishops killed | 18 |
| Number of priests killed | 4,184 |
| Number of nuns killed | 283 |
| Number of laymen killed | 4,000 |
| Number of synagogues pillaged and closed | 3 |
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What You'll Learn
The Spanish Civil War
During the Spanish Civil War, Catholics were targeted by leftist groups, including socialists, communists, and anarchists. The violence included murders, sacrilegious acts, and the destruction of religious properties. Thousands of people, including priests, nuns, and laypeople, were martyred for refusing to renounce their faith. The Catholic Church in Spain, with its strong ties to the monarchy, was perceived as a supporter of the Nationalists, leading to its persecution by Republicans.
The persecution of Catholics during the Spanish Civil War was not limited to individuals but also extended to religious communities and institutions. Cathedrals, churches, and monasteries were attacked, ransacked, and burned. Sacred objects were desecrated, and priests and nuns were subjected to horrific abuses, such as being forced to dig their own graves or swallow rosary beads. The violence was widespread, occurring in major cities and Republican-controlled regions across Spain.
The Republican government's anticlerical policies and its ban on classical Catholic education further contributed to the persecution. The government sought to eradicate all traces of Catholic influence and tradition in Spain. This resulted in the closure of Catholic churches and schools, and the enforcement of secular ideologies. The persecution was not solely confined to Catholics, as synagogues were also pillaged and closed, demonstrating a broader intolerance towards religious institutions.
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The Red Terror
The persecution of Catholics during the Red Terror was driven by the Republicans' hostility towards the Catholic Church, which was seen as supporting the Nationalists and the recently abolished monarchy. The Republicans aimed to erase all traces of Catholic tradition in Spain and targeted both people and symbols of the Church. This included attacks on cathedrals, churches, and religious communities, as well as the killing of priests, nuns, and laypeople associated with the Church.
Eyewitness accounts describe the horrific nature of the violence, including people connected to the Catholic Church being forced to swallow rosary beads, thrown down mine shafts, and buried alive. There are also accounts of tabernacles being emptied, consecrated particles being desecrated, and churches being used for profane purposes. On the night of July 19, 1936, 50 churches were burned, and similar attacks occurred across Republican-controlled Spain.
The exact number of Catholics killed during the Red Terror is disputed. Some sources claim that tens of thousands of people were killed, including over 6,800 clerics and other Catholics. The Nationalists claimed that 20,000 priests had been killed, but the figure is now estimated to be around 4,184 priests, along with 2,365 members of other religious institutes, 283 nuns, and about 4,000 laypeople.
The persecution of Catholics during the Red Terror has been recognized by the Catholic Church, which has beatified many of the victims as martyrs. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI beatified 498 Spanish martyrs, the largest group in the history of the Catholic Church. The beatifications were seen as a recognition of the extraordinary fate and brutal death of those who died for their faith during the Red Terror.
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Anticlerical violence
The Spanish Civil War, which lasted from 1936 to 1939, saw the persecution of Catholics by the Republican faction. This was partly due to their support of the nationalists and the recently abolished monarchy. The violence committed by leftist groups during this period is known as the Red Terror. Tens of thousands of people were killed, including 6,832 Roman Catholic priests, 2,365 members of other religious institutes, 283 nuns, and about 4,000 laypeople. The persecution also included sacrilegious acts such as forcing priests to dig their own graves before burying them alive, using churches as stables, and demolishing altars.
The Second Spanish Republic, which lasted from 1931 to 1936, saw an alternation between leftist and conservative coalition governments. The leftist governments were openly hostile to the Catholic Church, strictly enforcing a ban on classical Catholic education. This hostility culminated in the Red Terror, which began in May 1931 with arson attacks on Church property throughout Spain.
During the Spanish Civil War, the Republican government targeted individuals they considered reactionaries, including priests and nuns. The persecution was not limited to these individuals, as entire religious communities were attacked, ransacked, and burned. The violence was aimed at the physical elimination of the Church and the eradication of all traces of Catholic tradition in Spain.
The persecution of Catholics during the Spanish Civil War was not an isolated event but part of a longer history of religious persecution in Spain. For example, following the conversion of the Visigoth royal family to Catholicism in 587, the situation for Jews in Spain deteriorated as the monarchy and church aligned to consolidate the realm under the new religion. This persecution continued with the Spanish Inquisition, which began in 1492 with the Alhambra Decree, ordering the expulsion or conversion of Jews in Spain. The Inquisition also targeted Muslims, conversos (Jewish converts to Christianity), and other groups accused of various crimes against the Catholic Church.
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The Inquisition
The Spanish Inquisition was a period of intense persecution of Jews and non-Catholics, lasting from the late 15th century through the 17th century. In 1492, the joint Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, issued the Alhambra Decree, accusing Jews of trying to subvert the Catholic faith and ordering their expulsion from Spain and its territories. This marked the beginning of a wave of forced conversions, torture, and executions, as Jews and Muslims were given the choice to convert to Catholicism or face expulsion or death. The Inquisition also targeted those accused of various crimes, such as alumbradismo, Protestantism, witchcraft, blasphemy, and sodomy.
A key feature of the Spanish Inquisition was the auto-da-fe, a public ceremony where the accused were paraded, sentences were read, and confessions made, followed by the execution of sentences carried out by civil authorities. The Inquisition was not only limited to Spain but also expanded to other domains under the Spanish Crown, including Southern Italy and the Americas. The persecution and expulsion of Jews from Spain likely had adverse effects on the country's economy, as Jews were highly skilled and had substantial numerical abilities.
During the Spanish Inquisition, the Catholic Church in Spain faced opposition from various groups, including socialists, communists, and anarchists. The Republican government, in particular, was openly hostile to the Church and sought to erase all traces of Catholic tradition in the country. This persecution lasted from 1936 to 1939 and resulted in the killing of thousands of people, including priests, nuns, and laypeople who refused to renounce their faith. The Catholic Church venerates these victims as martyrs, and many have been beatified in recent years.
The Spanish Inquisition had far-reaching consequences, shaping the religious landscape of Spain and its colonies for centuries. It left a legacy of religious intolerance and persecution, with Spain becoming a predominantly Catholic country. The Inquisition's impact extended beyond religious affairs, influencing economic development and social dynamics within Spain and the wider regions under Spanish influence.
Overall, the Spanish Inquisition represents a dark chapter in European history, marked by religious persecution, forced conversions, and the suppression of religious minorities. The Inquisition's legacy continues to be a subject of historical debate and reflection, offering important lessons on the dangers of religious intolerance and the importance of religious freedom and coexistence.
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The Expulsion of Jews
The number of Jews who left Spain as a result of the decree is uncertain, with estimates ranging from 130,000 to 800,000. Many of those who remained, estimated to be between 50,000 and 70,000, chose to convert to Christianity rather than face expulsion. However, conversion did not always protect them from persecution and expulsion in the following years, as they became targets of the Spanish Inquisition. The expulsion of Jews from Spain had lasting consequences, contributing to a decline in the country's economy, culture, and intellectual life. It deprived Spain of a productive and skilled population, including merchants, government officials, and artisans.
The impact of the expulsion extended beyond Spain, as those who were expelled relocated to various parts of the world, including North Africa, Italy, Turkey, the Netherlands, and England. The Jewish community in Spain would not openly practise their religion again until the 20th century, when synagogues were once more legal places of worship under Spain's Laws of Religious Freedom. In recent years, the Spanish government has passed laws allowing dual citizenship to Jewish descendants, recognizing the wrongs of the past and seeking to compensate for the shameful events that occurred during this period of religious intolerance and persecution.
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Frequently asked questions
The Red Terror was the name given by historians to the various acts of violence committed by leftist groups against Catholics during the Spanish Civil War. This included the killing of thousands of people, including 6,832 Roman Catholic priests, the destruction of churches, and other sacrilegious acts.
The persecution of Catholics during the Red Terror was widespread and violent. In addition to the killing of thousands of priests, nuns, and laypeople, there were also numerous accounts of sacrilegious acts, such as forcing people to swallow rosary beads, throwing them down mine shafts, and using churches as stables. All Catholic churches in the Republican zone were closed, and synagogues were also pillaged and closed.
The persecution of Catholics during the Red Terror had a significant impact on the Catholic Church in Spain. The Church venerates those who were killed as martyrs, and as of November 2023, 2,129 Spanish martyrs have been beatified, with more in process. The persecution also drove many Catholics to support the Nationalists during the Civil War.
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