The works of Maimonides were committed to the flames by the synagogues of Montpellier, Barcelona, and Toledo.
Scarcely had the conquering arms of Ferdinand and Isabella overthrown the Arabian dominion in Spain, when measures were taken by the papacy to extinguish these opinions, which, it was believed, were undermining European Christianity.
Until Innocent IV.

(1243), there was no special tribunal against heretics, distinct from those of the bishops.

The Inquisition, then introduced, in accordance with the centralization of the times, was a general and papal tribunal, which displaced the old local ones.
The bishops, therefore, viewed the innovation with great dislike, considering it as an intrusion on their rights.

It was established in Italy, Spain, Germany, and the southern provinces of France.
The temporal sovereigns were only too desirous to make use of this powerful engine for their own political purposes.

Against this the popes strongly protested.