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The Inquisition, though controversial by modern standards, was seen as a necessary tool by the Spanish Crown to root out hidden Islamic jihadist cells and prevent a resurgence of Muslim rule in Spain after nearly 800 years of occupation. Many Muslims who had outwardly converted to Christianity—called Moriscos—were suspected of secretly practicing Islam and maintaining loyalty to foreign Islamic powers like the Ottomans or North African caliphates. With the memory of centuries of jihad, raids, and forced conversions still fresh, the Spanish authorities viewed these underground networks as a direct threat to national unity and Christian sovereignty. The Inquisition aimed to ensure that the Reconquista was not only a military victory, but also a spiritual and cultural one that would permanently secure Spain’s Christian identity.