• The Spanish Inquisition's Secret Prisoners: Conversos and Crypto-Jews
    2026/06/08
    In Episode 86 of The Story of Spain, Lucas and Luna explore the human stories behind the Spanish Inquisition's persecution of conversos — Jews who converted to Christianity but were suspected of secretly practicing Judaism. They focus on the period after the Alhambra Decree of 1492, examining the lives of crypto-Jews in cities like Toledo, Sevilla, and Zaragoza. Lucas explains how the Inquisition targeted conversos through the Edict of Faith, the use of fama pública (public reputation), and the Cárcel Secreta in Toledo. The episode delves into the case of Francisco de la Cruz, a converso accused of Judaizing, and the role of inquisitor Alonso de Salazar y Frías, who questioned the reliability of denunciations. Luna and Lucas also discuss the complex identity of conversos, including those who practicing Judaism in secret (crypto-Jews) versus sincere converts. The episode sheds light on the social and economic factors driving the Inquisition's focus on conversos, and the long shadow it cast on Spanish society. #SpanishInquisition #Conversos #CryptoJews #AlhambraDecree #Toledo #Sevilla #EdictOfFaith #CarcelSecreta #FranciscoDeLaCruz #AlonsoDeSalazar #Judaizing #1492 #CatholicMonarchs #Inquisition #Spain #History #FexingoHistory #FerdinandAndIsabella Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    10 分
  • The Moriscos' Secret World: Crypto-Muslims in Inquisition Spain
    2026/06/08
    After the fall of Granada in 1492 and the forced conversions that followed, tens of thousands of Moriscos—Spanish Muslims baptized as Christians—continued to practice Islam in secret. This episode peels back the hidden world of the crypto-Muslims of Spain: the clandestine rituals, the networks of trusted neighbors, the Arabic manuscripts hidden behind false walls, and the brutal efficiency of the Spanish Inquisition's hunt for Islamic heresy. We follow the story of a Morisco alfaquí (teacher) in Aragon who taught children the Quran in underground schools, and the Inquisitorial investigation that unraveled his network. We also explore the rise of the aljamiado literature—Spanish written in Arabic script—as a way to preserve faith without revealing it. Lucas and Luna discuss the 1568-1571 Alpujarras Revolt through the lens of crypto-Muslim resistance, the tragic fate of the Moriscos after their final expulsion in 1609, and what this history tells us about identity, survival, and the price of religious conformity. #Moriscos #CryptoMuslims #SpanishInquisition #AlpujarrasRevolt #Aljamiado #Alfaqui #PhilipII #Valencia #Aragon #Granada #ForcedConversion #EdictOfExpulsion1609 #IslamInSpain #HiddenHistory #AlAndalus #InquisitionTrials #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    10 分
  • The Spanish Tercio in Italy: Gonzalo de Córdoba and the Birth of Modern Warfare
    2026/06/07
    Long before the tercios dominated the battlefields of Flanders and Germany, their tactics were forged in the rugged mountains of southern Italy. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the early career of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, the 'Great Captain,' whose innovative use of arquebusiers, pike squares, and entrenchments shattered French heavy cavalry at the Battles of Seminara (1495) and Cerignola (1503). They discuss how the combination of Swiss-style pike formations, Genoese crossbowmen, and Spanish light infantry evolved into the classic tercio model, and how the Italian Wars provided the crucible for Spain's military revolution. Along the way, they touch on the role of condottieri, the fortress of Barletta, and the famous 'Desafío de Barletta' – a chivalric duel that echoed the old world vanishing before gunpowder. This episode connects the Spanish military system to the broader story of early modern state formation and imperial power. #SpanishTercio #GonzaloDeCórdoba #ItalianWars #Cerignola #Seminara #Barletta #GreatCaptain #MilitaryHistory #PikeAndShot #RenaissanceWarfare #Condottieri #Spain #Italy #15thCentury #16thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #EuropeanHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 分
  • The Spanish Tercio: How Pike and Shot Dominated Europe
    2026/06/07
    In this episode of The Story of Spain: Empire, Gold, and Global Power, Lucas and Luna break down the military machine that made Spain the superpower of the 16th century: the tercio. They explore how the tercio's combination of pike and shot revolutionized warfare, from the Battle of Pavia in 1525 to the dramatic last stand at Rocroi in 1643. Lucas explains the training, tactics, and esprit de corps of the soldado viejo, the veteran soldier who was the backbone of the Spanish army. He discusses the key reforms of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, the Great Captain, and the role of the Duke of Alba in deploying tercios along the Spanish Road. The conversation also touches on the challenges of logistics, the iconic image of the tercio in formation, and how the system eventually fell to French tactical innovations under the young Condé. Listeners will come away understanding why the tercio was feared from Milan to the Netherlands, and why its legacy endures in modern military organization. #SpanishTercio #PikeAndShot #MilitaryHistory #HabsburgSpain #BattleOfPavia #Rocroi #GonzaloFernandezdeCordoba #DukeOfAlba #SoldadoViejo #16thCenturyWarfare #SpanishRoad #ArmyOfFlanders #TercioViejo #Condé #FexingoHistory #SpainEmpireGold #Europe #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 分
  • The Alhambra Decree: Spain's Jewish Expulsion of 1492
    2026/06/06
    In 1492, while Columbus prepared his voyage, the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella signed the Alhambra Decree, ordering the expulsion of all Jews from Spain. This episode dives into the lead-up: the massacre of 1391, the forced conversions that created conversos, and the Inquisition's suspicion of crypto-Jews. We follow the last Jewish communities under the Nasrids, the negotiations with Isaac Abravanel, and the tragic exodus of perhaps 200,000 people. We explore the decree's global ripple effects—from the Ottoman Empire's welcome to the establishment of Sephardic communities in North Africa and Amsterdam. And we ask: was it driven by faith, political consolidation, or greed for property? Lucas and Luna walk through the motives, the competing interests at court, and the enduring legacy of Sephardic memory. A story of heartbreak, resilience, and a wound that still echoes in Spanish identity today. #AlhambraDecree #SpanishInquisition #SephardicJews #FerdinandAndIsabella #JewishExpulsion #1492Spain #Conversos #CryptoJews #IsaacAbravanel #CatholicMonarchs #Reconquista #Toledo #Seville #OttomanEmpire #SephardicDiaspora #MedievalSpain #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    6 分
  • The Spanish Inquisition's Secret Prison: Inside the Cárcel Secreta
    2026/06/06
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna take you inside the Cárcel Secreta, the Spanish Inquisition's hidden prison network in Seville and Toledo. Discover how the Inquisition operated beyond the public autos de fe, using secret cells, psychological torture, and meticulous record-keeping to extract confessions. Hear about the infamous case of Francisco de la Cruz, a priest who claimed divine visions, and the controversial inquisitor Alonso de Salazar, who questioned the validity of confessions obtained under duress. We explore the daily life of prisoners, the role of the carcelero, and the infamous Edict of Faith that encouraged denunciations. Learn about the beatas, crypto-Jews, and conversos who were caught in the Inquisition's web, and how the Cárcel Secreta became a symbol of fear and control in early modern Spain. #SpanishInquisition #CárcelSecreta #InquisitionPrison #Seville #Toledo #FranciscoDeLaCruz #AlonsoDeSalazar #AutoDeFe #EdictOfFaith #CryptoJews #Conversos #Beatas #Inquisitor #Suprema #FamaPublica #History #FexingoHistory #Spain Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 分
  • The Spanish Tercio: How Spain's Soldiers Dominated Europe
    2026/06/05
    Lucas and Luna dive into the military innovation that made Spain the superpower of the 16th century: the Spanish tercio. They explore how the tercio combined pike and shot tactics to dominate battlefields from Italy to the Netherlands, the role of veteran soldiers like the 'soldado viejo,' and the internal culture of discipline and pride. Specific figures like the Duke of Alba and battles like Pavia and Rocroi are discussed. The episode also examines the tercio's decline and its legacy in military history. #SpanishTercio #Tercio #PikeAndShot #SpanishEmpire #DukeOfAlba #BattleOfPavia #BattleOfRocroi #MilitaryHistory #16thCentury #HabsburgSpain #ArmyOfFlanders #SoldadoViejo #Hapsburg #PhilipII #FexingoHistory #History #Europe #Warfare Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    6 分
  • El Escorial: Philip II's Monastery-Palace of Power and Piety
    2026/06/05
    In episode 79 of The Story of Spain, Lucas and Luna explore the construction, symbolism, and legacy of El Escorial, the colossal monastery-palace built by Philip II in the late 16th century. Perched in the Guadarrama mountains, this granite complex was designed as a royal residence, a monastery for Hieronymite monks, a mausoleum for the Habsburg dynasty, and a library of forbidden knowledge. They discuss its architect Juan Bautista de Toledo and his successor Juan de Herrera, the grid-like layout symbolizing the gridiron of Saint Lawrence, the battle of St. Quentin that inspired its construction, and the famous library that once held banned books. The episode delves into Philip's personal involvement — he oversaw every detail from his spartan office — and how the building reflected his vision of a Catholic empire. They also touch on the royal pantheon, where generations of Spanish monarchs are buried, and the esoteric debates about whether the design encodes mystical meanings. This is a story of power, faith, and the obsessive control of a king who built his own world in stone. #ElEscorial #PhilipII #JuanBautistaDeToledo #JuanDeHerrera #SpanishEmpire #Habsburg #RenaissanceArchitecture #MonasteryPalace #BattleOfStQuentin #RoyalPantheon #Heresy #SpanishHistory #16thCentury #PatrimonioNacional #FexingoHistory #History #Spain #Architecture Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 分