Michael Brooks
Spain has a long and complex religious history, with the country's dominant religion, Catholicism, influencing its politics and culture. While there is no official religion in Spain, the country has been predominantly Catholic since the Middle Ages, when the Christian reconquest of Spain and the expulsion of Jews and Muslims took place. The Spanish Inquisition, established in 1478, aimed to complete the religious purification of the Iberian Peninsula, and the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, issued the Alhambra decree in 1492, ordering the expulsion of Jews from the Kingdom of Spain. This period also marked the end of Islamic rule in Spain, with the Catholics reconquering the country by 1492. Since then, Spain has played a significant role in spreading Catholicism to Central and South America, as well as the Philippines during colonialism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date Spain became a Catholic country | 587 AD |
| Date Catholicism became the official state religion | 1851 |
| Date Catholicism was renounced as the official state religion | 1931 |
| Date Catholicism was reinstated as the official state religion | 1939 |
| Date Catholicism was again renounced as the official state religion | 1975 |
| Percentage of the population that identifies as Catholic | 71.1% |
| Percentage of the population that is irreligious | 26% |
| Percentage of the population that identifies with a religion other than Catholicism or irreligion | 2.3% |
| Largest religion other than Catholicism | Islam |
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What You'll Learn
The Spanish Inquisition and expulsion of Jews
The Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478 to complete the religious purification of the Iberian Peninsula. The Inquisition was originally intended primarily to identify heretics among those who converted from Judaism and Islam to Catholicism. The regulation of the faith of newly converted Catholics was intensified following royal decrees issued in 1492 and 1502, ordering Jews and Muslims to convert to Catholicism or leave Castile, or face death. This resulted in hundreds of thousands of forced conversions, torture, and executions, the persecution of conversos and moriscos, and the mass expulsions of Jews and Muslims from Spain.
The Spanish Inquisition targeted those accused of alumbradismo, Protestantism, witchcraft, blasphemy, bigamy, sodomy, Freemasonry, and more. A key feature was the auto-da-fé, a public ceremony devised to reinforce the Church's power and the monarchy's control, where the accused were paraded, sentences read, and confessions made, sometimes even attended by royalty. The Inquisition expanded to other domains under the Spanish Crown, including Southern Italy and the Americas.
The Alhambra Decree, issued on March 31, 1492, by the joint Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, ordered the expulsion of Jews from the Kingdom of Spain and its territories by July 31 of that year. The decree accused Jews of trying to "subvert their holy Catholic faith and try to draw faithful Christians away from their beliefs." Jews were given only four months to leave the kingdom or convert to Christianity, and they were permitted to take their belongings with them, except for gold, silver, or money. The punishment for any Jew who did not comply by the deadline was death, and any non-Jew who helped hide Jews would have their belongings and hereditary privileges confiscated.
The expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 was a cataclysmic event in Jewish history, with an entire community of about 200,000 people expelled. Tens of thousands of refugees died while trying to reach safety, and those who made it settled in Turkey, North Africa, Italy, and elsewhere in Europe and the Arab world. They became known as Sephardic Jews, and the expulsion was remembered with particular bitterness, as it was seen as a betrayal of the previously happy coexistence of Jews and Christians in Spain. The Alhambra Decree was officially overturned in 1968, and in 2015, the Spanish Parliament approved a measure to restore citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews.
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The Reconquista
The beginning of the Reconquista is traditionally dated to about 718 (or 722) with the Battle of Covadonga, where the Christian Asturians, led by Pelagius of Asturias, opposed the Moors. By 718, the Muslims were in control of nearly the whole Iberian Peninsula. The advance into Western Europe was only stopped in what is now north-central France by the West Germanic Franks at the Battle of Tours in 732. The Kingdom of Asturias became the main base for Christian resistance to Islamic rule in the Iberian Peninsula for several centuries.
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Catholic Monarchs Isabella I and Ferdinand II
Isabella I and Ferdinand II, also known as the Catholic Monarchs, played a pivotal role in shaping the religious landscape of Spain and its global influence. They are recognized as the first queen and king of Spain, respectively, and their actions had a lasting impact on the country's history. Here is an overview of their significance:
Isabella I and Ferdinand II: The Catholic Monarchs
Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon were married in 1469, laying the foundation for the unification of Spain. Their marriage was a strategic political union aimed at consolidating power and unifying the Iberian Peninsula. Isabella was the heiress presumptive to the Crown of Castile, while Ferdinand was the heir apparent to the Crown of Aragon. They were jointly committed to defending the Catholic faith within their realms.
Accession to the Throne:
In 1474, upon the death of Isabella's half-brother, King Henry IV of Castile, a succession crisis emerged. Isabella proclaimed herself Queen of Castile and León, facing opposition from Henry's daughter, Joanna la Beltraneja, who sought the Portuguese throne with her husband, Afonso V of Portugal. This dispute led to the War of the Castilian Succession from 1475 to 1479. With the support of Aragon, Isabella and Ferdinand secured victory, and their sovereignty over Castile was recognized through the Treaty of Alcáçovas in 1479.
Religious Unification:
Isabella and Ferdinand shared a vision of religious unification on the Iberian Peninsula. They actively pursued the completion of the Reconquista, a centuries-long campaign against the Muslim kingdom of Granada, which culminated in their conquest of Granada in 1492. This marked the end of Islamic rule in Spain and the beginning of a religious transformation.
The Alhambra Decree and Expulsion of Jews:
On March 31, 1492, Isabella and Ferdinand issued the Alhambra Decree, ordering the expulsion of Jews from the Kingdom of Spain and its territories. Jews were given an ultimatum: convert to Christianity or face expulsion within a short timeframe. This decree reshaped Spain's religious landscape and ended centuries of Jewish presence on the Iberian Peninsula.
Spanish Inquisition:
Isabella and Ferdinand played a role in initiating the Spanish Inquisition, which was established in 1478. The Inquisition aimed to enforce religious conformity and targeted those suspected of heresy, including converted Jews and later, Protestants. While it was intended to ensure doctrinal purity, it also led to persecution and expulsion.
Exploration and Empire-Building:
The Catholic Monarchs financed Christopher Columbus' voyage in 1492, which led to the discovery of the New World. This expedition marked the beginning of the Spanish Empire and solidified Spain's dominance in European politics and global exploration.
In summary, Isabella I and Ferdinand II, the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, left an indelible mark on the country's history. Their reign was characterized by religious unification, territorial expansion, and the establishment of Spain as a major power in Europe and the world. Their policies and actions continue to shape Spain's cultural, religious, and political landscape even today.
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Catholicism as state religion under Franco
The Catholic Church in Spain has a long and complex history that dates back to the early centuries of the Common Era. During the Visigothic rule from the 5th to the 7th centuries, synods were held in Toledo to standardize and regulate disciplinary matters, imposing liturgical uniformity across the kingdom. Medieval Spain witnessed near-constant warfare between Islamic and Christian kingdoms, with the latter seeking to "reclaim" Europe from Islamic rule. This culminated in the Reconquista, a prolonged struggle that culminated in the Catholics retaking Spain from Islamic rule by 1492.
The Spanish Inquisition, established in 1478, aimed to complete the religious purification of the Iberian Peninsula, leading to the persecution and expulsion of Jews and Muslims who refused to convert to Catholicism. This period marked the beginning of Spain's self-perception as a bastion of Catholic doctrinal purity. The country's missionaries played a pivotal role in spreading Catholicism to the New World and the Philippines during the colonial era.
During the 19th century, the Catholic Church maintained its influence among peasants and experienced a revival among the upper classes, particularly aristocratic women who formed devotional and charitable organizations. However, the Republican government that came to power in 1931 was strongly anti-clerical, introducing secular reforms and challenging the Church's influence. This brief democratic experiment sparked tensions with the Church, which opposed social change and benefited from the previous regime's state financing.
The rise of General Franco and the ensuing Spanish Civil War significantly shaped the role of Catholicism in Spain. Franco's nationalist coup was blessed by the Catholic Church, which described the conflict as a "national crusade" against the Republic. The Church and Franco's regime shared a symbiotic relationship, with the Church retaining political influence and shaping the official state ideology of National Catholicism. In return, the Church provided moral legitimacy to Franco's dictatorship, with priests and bishops disseminating state propaganda to their congregations.
The collaboration between the Catholic Church and Franco's regime extended beyond the political realm. The Valley of the Fallen estate, which includes a basilica, a monastery, and a towering cross, was built by Franco as his final resting place. The Church's opposition to relocating Franco's body to another location in 2018 highlighted their continued connection to the former dictator.
Following Franco's death in 1975, the Church assumed an influential role during the transition to democracy. However, the Church has been criticized for its silence and lack of acknowledgment regarding its role during Franco's dictatorship. The German Catholic Church's admission of guilt for supporting the Nazis in World War II has further intensified the scrutiny on the Spanish Catholic Church's actions during that tumultuous period in Spain's history.
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Catholic influence on culture and society
Catholicism has had a longstanding influence on Spanish culture and society since it became the official religion in 589. There is a church in almost every neighbourhood and town in Spain, and Christian artefacts are visible throughout the country.
The Catholic Church in Spain has historically been involved in politics. For example, the Church supported Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War, and many Catholic priests served in the government during his dictatorship. Franco's regime influenced the role of the Church in Spain, and the Church's close alliance with Franco caused many believing Catholics to become sceptical of the clergy. The Church was also involved in education, and it joined conservative opposition parties in mounting a vigorous protest against education reforms that impinged on its control of schools. The Church has also been vocal in its opposition to the legalisation of same-sex marriage and the easing of restrictions on divorce, abortion, and euthanasia.
Catholicism has also influenced Spanish culture through its various traditions centred on Catholic celebrations, holidays, and formalities. For example, each region or city in Spain has a patron saint with a dedicated day (santo) that is celebrated as the regional day of that area. It is common for Spaniards, even irreligious ones, to attend mass with their families on Christian dates of significance or baptise their children. Holy Week (Semana Santa) in Spain attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists and is a special week in the church calendar. For centuries, solemn processions and celebrations have led up to Easter Sunday.
The Catholic Church in Spain has also influenced the country's history. For example, the Spanish Inquisition, established in 1478, was intended to complete the religious purification of the Iberian Peninsula. In 1492, the joint Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, issued the Alhambra decree, ordering the expulsion of Jews from the Kingdom of Spain and its territories and possessions. During the reign of King Philip II, a devout Catholic, Spain became the leading European power.
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Frequently asked questions
Spain was Christianized and became part of the Roman Empire around 201 B.C. The Germanic Visigoths, who ruled the region during the 4th century, supported Arianism until they were converted to Catholicism in 587.
The year 1492 is significant in Spain's Catholic history because it marked the end of the Reconquista, the long process by which the Catholics reconquered Spain from Islamic rule. It was also the year when the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, issued the Alhambra decree ordering the expulsion of Jews from the Kingdom of Spain.
The Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478 to complete the religious purification of the Iberian Peninsula. It played a significant role in the religious persecution and expulsion of Jews and Muslims during the Middle Ages, contributing to the formation of Spain as a predominantly Catholic country.
According to estimates, about 71.1% of the population in Spain identifies as Catholic, but only around one-third of them are practicing Catholics. The presence of the Catholic Church is evident in cultural aspects such as bank holidays, hours of operation, schools, and cultural events.
