It's estimated that around 40000 died due to the Spanish Inquisition during its run. In the first five years around 25000. The Inquistition was began by Ferdinand and Isabella without Papal authority. Papal authority was extracted by way of force by Ferdinand and Isabella. Scholars also guess that around 5000 of the victims were in fact political enemies of the crown. Like all government programs it took several hundred years to wind it's course. Of course there were other inquisitions. Some of them rather bloody in southern France, but nowhere near the scale of the Spanish Inquisition. The inquisition that Gallileo was caught up in was pretty tame. Now the liberals and commie apologists always bring up the inquisitions in order to defend Stalin or to bash Catholics and Christians in general. Torquemanda was a school boy compared with uncle Joe. I'm not an apologist, nor a Catholic but reality and perspective are important. It is interesting that the most vile and feared Christian is one of these protestant Fundamentalists. What I'd really like to know is why the fear? Is there a history to support it? :-)
And the politcal and economic realities surrounding the crusades are far more relevant, historically interesting and enlightening than the religious aspects. But I digress.. :-)
I've often wondered this myself. With the primary exception of Ireland, the history of serious religious persecution by Protestants is rather short and mild, when compared to that of Catholics and, especially, Muslims.
But the common perception in this country is that there are hordes of toothless fundamentalists lurking in the Bushes, just waiting for a moment's inattention on the part of the press to set up the crematoriums for the Jews.