isabella , one of history 's darker figures , was a violent anti- semite who is given credit for beginning the spanish inquisition and for formulating the march 14 , 1492 , order for the expulsion of all jews from spain . ; ecause of that order , many southern spanish ports were filled with refugees ; the two sovereigns finally ordered all ships carrying jewish exiles to leave port by aug. 2 -- the day before columbus sailed. ; land ho ! ;