<P> In Spanish historiography, the Black Legend (Spanish: La leyenda negra) is an alleged style of tendentious, subjective historical writing or propaganda demonizing Spain, its people and its culture in an intentional attempt to damage its reputation . </P> <P> While those who defend the existence of the Black Legend acknowledge that there is much documented evidence of atrocities by all European nations during the conquest of the Americas, and the Inquisition represented a period of cruel excess; they suggest foreign authors lay this legacy on the Spanish without balance and as a somehow intrinsic element of Spanish character . Its proponents claim that the Black Legend originated in the 16th century, a time of strong rivalry between European colonial powers, and served as anti-Spanish and anti-Catholic propaganda . </P>

What was the purpose of the black legend