I misunderstood what you were replying to. Actually, you’re both partially wrong. There were Jews forcibly converted to Christianity during a really hellish period of pogroms in the years preceding the expulsion of 1492. They practiced Judaism in secret, and Catholicism in public, and with a wink and a nod life went on.
Then Ferdinand and Isabella united their two kingdoms and wanted to raise funds to boot the Muslims out of Spain once and for all, so they established the Inquisition to prosecute these backsliders and confiscate their wealth. They’d confess under torture, forfeit their property, and get burnt at the stake as heretics.
Ferdinand and Isabella financed their war, expelled the Moors, and famously financed Columbus’ voyages. The Jews expelled from Spain in 1492 were those that never converted, and it was their last chance to avoid forcible conversion. Those that stayed had to convert or be put to death. Several prominent community leaders did convert and remain.
Many of those who left took refuge in Portugal, where a later wave of persecution saw them all forcibly converted, except for Rabbi Isaac Abarbanel, who left Portugal in a small rowing dingy. The Inquisition stayed in Spain and Portugal until Napoleon’s brother, appointed governor of Spain or something, abolished it.
“... it was their last chance to avoid forcible conversion...a later wave of persecution saw them all forcibly converted..”
That’s the sort of thing Michener meant by “Black Legend.” Christian doctrine does not allow for forcible conversion, at all, ever. That, together with other sources I have read, leads me to classify allegations of “forced conversion” as fake history.