Inquisition

This article is about the Inquisition by the Roman Catholic Church. For other uses, see Inquisition (disambiguation).

Galileo facing the Roman Inquisition.

Inquisition (capitalized I) is broadly used in reference to the judgment of heresy by the Roman Catholic Church. It can mean an ecclesiastical tribunal or institution of the Roman Catholic Church for combating or suppressing heresy, a number of historical expurgation movements against heresy (orchestrated by the Roman Catholic Church) or the trial of an individual accused of heresyMedieval Sourcebook: Inquisition - Introduction

Contents 1 Inquisition tribunals and institutions 2 Historic Inquisition movements 2.1 Medieval Inquisition 2.2 Spanish Inquisition 2.3 Portuguese Inquisition 2.4 Roman Inquisition 2.5 Recent Investigations 3 Derivative works 4 See also 4.1 Documents and Works 4.2 Notable Inquisitors 4.3 Notable cases involving Inquisition 5 Notes 6 References 6.1 Online works 7 External links

Inquisition tribunals and institutions

Before the twelfth century, the Catholic Church gradually suppressed heresy usually through a system of ecclesiastical, proscription and imprisonment. Although many states allowed the Church to use the death penalty, initially it was not frequently imposed, as this form of punishment had many ecclesiastical opponents.CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: InquisitionA History of the Inquisition In The Middle Ages. By Henry Charles Lea. Volume 1

In the 12th century, to counter the spread of Catharism, prosecution against heresy became more frequent. Church Councils, composed of bishops and archbishops, were charged with establishing inquisitions. (see Episcopal Inquisition)

Later in the 13th century, the pope assigned the duty of carrying out inquisitions to the Dominican Order. Inquisitors acted in the name of the Pope and with his full authority. They used inquisitorial procedures, which was a common law practice at the time. They judged heresy alone, using the local authorities to establish a tribunal and prosecute heretics. After the end of the fifteenth century, inquisitions were headed by a Grand Inquisitor. Inquisition in this way persisted until the 19th century.consejo_de_inquisición

In the 16th century, Pope Paul III established a system of tribunals, ruled by the "Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Universal Inquisition", staffed by cardinals and other Church officials. This event would later be known as Roman Inquisition. In 1908 its name was changed to "Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office" by Saint Pope Pius X. This in turn was changed in 1965 to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,Profile which name continues to this day.

Historic Inquisition movements

Historians distinguish between four different manifestations of the Inquisition: the Medieval Inquisition, the Spanish Inquisition, the Portuguese Inquisition and the Roman Inquisition.

Because of its objective, combating heresy, the Inquisition had jurisdiction only over baptized members of the Church (which, however, encompassed the vast majority of the population). Non-Christians could still be tried for blasphemy by secular courts. Also, most of the witch trials were held by secular courts.

Medieval Inquisition

Main article: Medieval Inquisition

The Medieval Inquisition is a term historians use to describe the various inquisitions that started around 1184, including the Episcopal Inquisition (1184-1230s) and later the Papal Inquisition (1230s). It was in response to large popular movements throughout Europe considered apostate or heretical to Christianity, in particular the Cathars and Waldensians in southern France and northern Italy. These were the first inquisition movements of many that would follow.

Spanish Inquisition

Representation of an Auto de fe, (around 1495*Page of the painting at Prado Museum.).
Many artistic representations depict torture and the burning at the stake as occurring during the auto da fe.

Main article: Spanish Inquisition

The Spanish Inquisition was set up by King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile in 1478 with the approval of Pope Sixtus IV. In contrast to the previous inquisitions, it operated completely under royal authority, though staffed by secular clergy and orders, and independently of the Holy See. It aimed primarily at converts from Judaism and Islam (who were still residing in Spain after the end of the Moorish control of Spain), who were suspected of either continuing to adhere to their old religion (often after having been converted under duress) or having fallen back into it, and later at Protestants; in Sicily and Southern Italy, which were under Spanish rule, it targeted Greek Orthodox Christians. After religious disputes waned in the 17th century, the Spanish Inquisition more and more developed into a secret police against internal threats to the state.

The Spanish Inquisition would subsequently be employed in certain Spanish colonies such as Peru and Mexico. Also the Philippines, Guatemala, New Granada, and the Canary Islands were affected by the Inquisition. The Spanish Inquisition continued in the Americas until Mexican Independence. In South America the Inquisition was abolished by Bolívar, and in Spain it was not abolished in Europe until 1834.

Portuguese Inquisition

Main article: Portuguese Inquisition

Copper engraving intitled "Die Inquisition in Portugall", by Jean David Zunner from the work "Description de L\'Univers, Contenant les Differents Systemes de Monde, Les Cartes Generales & Particulieres de la Geographie Ancienne & Moderne" by Alain Manesson Mallet, Frankfurt, 1685.

The Portuguese Inquisition was formally established in Portugal in 1536 at the request of the King of Portugal, João III. Manuel I had asked for the installation of the Inquisition in 1515, but was only after his death that the pope acquiesced. However, many place the actual beginning of the Portuguese Inquisition during the year of 1497, when many Jews were expelled from Portugal and others were forcibly converted to Catholicism. The major target of the Portuguese Inquisition were mainly the Sephardic Jews that had been expelled from Spain in 1492 (see Alhambra decree); after 1492 many of these Spanish Jews left Spain for Portugal but were eventually targeted there as well.

The Inquisition was put under the authority of the King. It was headed by a Grand Inquisitor, or General Inquisitor, named by the Pope but selected by the king, and always from within the royal family. The Grand Inquisitor would later nominate other inquisitors. In Portugal, the first Grand Inquisitor was Cardinal Henry, who would later become King. There were Courts of the Inquisition in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, and Évora.

It held its first auto da fé in Portugal in 1540. It concentrated its efforts on rooting out converts from other faiths (overwhelmingly Judaism) who did not adhere to the strictures of Catholic orthodoxy; the Portuguese inquisitors mostly targeted the Jewish "New Christians," "conversos," or "marranos."

The Portuguese Inquisition expanded its scope of operations from Portugal to Portugal\'s colonial possessions, including Brazil, Cape Verde, and Goa, where it continued as a religious court, investigating and trying cases of breaches of the tenets of orthodox Roman Catholicism until 1821.

The activity of the courts was extended to book censure, divination, witchcraft and bigamy under João III. Book censure proved to have a strong influence in Portuguese cultural evolution, keeping the country uninformed and culturally backward. Originally oriented for a religious action, the Inquisition had an influence in almost every aspect of Portuguese society: politically, culturally and socially.

The Goa Inquisition, another inquisition rife with antisemitism and anti-Hinduism that mostly targeted Jews and Hindus, was established in Goa in 1560 by Aleixo Dias Falcão and Francisco Marques, who occupied the palace of the Sabaio Adil Khan.

According to Henry Charles LeaHenry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain, vol. 3, Book 8. between 1540 and 1794 tribunals in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra and Évora burned 1,175 persons, another 633 were burned in effigy and 29,590 were penanced, but documentation of at least fifteen Autos-da-fé between 1580-1640 - the period of the Iberian Union - disappeared, so the real numbers must be higher.

The Portuguese inquisition was extinguished in 1821 by the "General Extraordinary and Constituent Courts of the Portuguese Nation" .

Roman Inquisition

Main article: Roman Inquisition

In 1542, Pope Paul III established the Congregation of the Holy Office of the Inquisition as a permanent congregation staffed with cardinals and other officials, whose task was to maintain and defend the integrity of the faith and to examine and proscribe errors and false doctrines;The Galileo Project | Christianity | The Inquisition; it thus became the supervisory body of local Inquisitions. Arguably the most famous case tried by the Roman Inquisition was that of Galileo Galilei in 1633. Because of Rome\'s power over the Papal States, Roman Inquisition activity continued until the mid-1800s.

In 1908 the name of the Congregation was changed to "The Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office", which in 1965 was further changed to "Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith", as retained to the present day. The Congregation is presided by a cardinal appointed by the Pope, and usually includes ten other cardinals, as well as a prelate and two assistants all chosen from the Dominican Order. The Holy Office also has an international group of consultants, experienced scholars of theology and canon law, who advise it on specific questions.^{[citation needed]}

Recent Investigations

In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II called for an "Inquisition Symposium", and opened the Vatican to 30 external historians. What they found discounted many exaggerated facts previously believed. It was learned that more women accused of witchcraft died in the Protestant countries than under the Inquisition. For example, the Inquisition burned 59 women in Spain, 36 in Italy and 4 in Portugal, while in Europe civil justice put to trial close to 100,000 women; 50,000 of them were burned, 25,000 in Germany, during the 16th century by the followers of Martin Luther.Who burned the witches[http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_burn.htm The Burning Times: The extermination of Witches and other heretics][http://www.gendercide.org/case_witchhunts.html Case Study: The European Witch-Hunts, c. 1450-1750]

Derivative works

The Inquisitions have been the subject of many cultural works. Some include:

• The Spanish Inquisition was the subject of a classic Monty Python sketch ("Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"), referenced conspicuously in the film Sliding Doors.
• The short story by Edgar Allan Poe, The Pit and the Pendulum was set during the Spanish Inquisition.
• In the alternative history novel The Two Georges by Harry Turtledove and Richard Dreyfuss, the Spanish Inquisition remains active, in Spain itself and throughout Latin America, during the whole of the Twentieth century.
• A body known as the Inquisition exists in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe.
• Mel Brooks\'s 1981 film The History of the World, Part I contains a musical number about the Spanish Inquisition.
• In Terry Pratchett\'s Small Gods, the Omnian church has a Quisition, with sub-sections Inquisition and Exquisition.
• In J.K. Rowling\'s 2003 book Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Professor Dolores Umbridge sets up an Inquisition at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with herself as the High Inquisitor.
• The "Dark Ages" setting in the World of Darkness (WoD) fantasy universe makes heavy use of the Inquisition as that particular setting takes place during the early 13th century.
• The computer game "Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader" made by the late Black Isle Studios uses the Spanish Inquisition as a key plot for the storyline and development of the game.
• Man of La Mancha is a Broadway musical which tells the story of the classic novel Don Quixote as a play within a play, performed by prisoners as they await a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition.
• Starways Congress is an element of the Ender-verse by Orson Scott Card. In the latter books, they play an important part in determining the fate of Lusitania. In Speaker for the Dead, Ender Wiggin threatens to become an Inquisitor and revoke the catholic licence of Lusitania, thus ruining the fragile catholic culture there.
• The Fountain features elements of the Spanish Inquisition.
• Voltaire\'s satire Candide has a scene featuring the Portuguese Inquisition, with the title character and Dr. Pangloss both being found guilty of heresy.
• Dave Sim\'s award-winning independent comic book Cerebus the Aardvark featured Inquisition inspired characters in the High Society issues of the series.
• The 2006 film Goya\'s Ghosts starring Stellan Skarsgård, Natalie Portman, and Javier Bardem is set during the Spanish Inquisition. In the film, the painter Goya (Stellan Skarsgård) is trying to save his muse, Ines (Natalie Portman), who is being persecuted by the Holy Office. He turns to Brother Lorenzo (Javier Bardem) for help who, unknown to Goya, has an agenda of his own.

See also

• Historical revision of the Inquisition
• Witchhunt
• Inquisitorial system
• Vatican Secret Archives

Documents and Works

• Histoire de l\'Inquisition en France
• Malleus Maleficarum

Notable Inquisitors

• List of Grand Inquisitors
• Konrad von Marburg
• Tomás de Torquemada

Notable cases involving Inquisition

• Trial of Joan of Arc
• Trial of Galileo Galilei
• Edgardo Mortara\'s abduction

Notes

References

• Foxe\'s Book of Martyrs by John Foxe (Bridge-Logos Publishers) ISBN 0-88270-672-1
• Edward Burman, The Inquisition: The Hammer of Heresy (Sutton Publishers, 2004) ISBN 0-7509-3722-X
  • A new edition of a book first published in 1984, a good, well-written and objective general history based on the main primary sources.
• Edward M. Peters, Inquisition. (University of California Press, 1989). ISBN 0-520-06630-8
  • A brief, balanced inquiry, with an especially good section on the \'Myth of the Inquisition\' (see The Inquisition Myth). This is particularly valuable because much of the history available in English of the Inquisition was written in the 19th century by Protestants interested in documenting the dangers of Catholicism or Catholic apologists demonstrating that the Inquisition had been an entirely reasonable judicial body without flaws.
• Henry Kamen, The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision. (Yale University Press, 1999). ISBN 0-300-07880-3
  • This revised edition of his 1965 original contributes to the understanding of the Spanish Inquisition in its local context.
• Cecil & Irene Roth, A history of the Marranos, Sepher-Hermon Press, 1974.
• Simon Whitechapel, Flesh Inferno: Atrocities of Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition (Creation Books, 2003). ISBN 1-84068-105-5
  • "A good example of how uncritical acceptance of disjointed historical data helps inform contemporary notions of the black legend"
• William Thomas Walsh, Characters of the Inquisition (TAN Books and Publishers, Inc, 1940/97). ISBN 0-89555-326-0
• Parker, Geoffrey “Some Recent Work on the Inquisition in Spain and Italy” Journal of Modern History 54:3 1982
• Given, James B Inquisition and Medieval Society New York, Cornell University Press, 2001
• Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain (4 volumes), (New York and London, 1906–1907).
• Antonio Puigblanch, La Inquisición sin máscara (Cádiz, 1811-1813). [The Inquisition Unmasked (London, 1816)]
• Juan Antonio Llorente, “Historia Critica de la Inquisicion de Espana”
• W.T. Walsh, “Isabella of Spain,” (1931).
• Genaro Garcia, “Autos de fe de la Inquisicion de Mexico,” (1910).
• F. Garau, “La Fee Triunfante,” (1691-reprinted 1931).
• V. Vignau, “Catalogo... de la Inquisicion de Toledo,” (1903).
• J. Baker, “History of the Inquisition,” (1736).
• J. Marchant, “A Review of the Bloody Tribunal,” (1770).
• E. N Adler, “Autos de fe and the Jew,” (1908).
• Ludovico a Paramo, “De Origine et Progressu Sanctae Inquisitionis,” (1598).
• J.M. Marin, “Procedimientos de la Inquisicion” (2 volumes), (1886).
• R. Cappa, “La Inquisicion Espanola,” (1888).
• A. Paz y Mellia, “Catalogo Abreviado de Papeles de Inquisicion,” (1914).
• M. Jouve, “Torquemada,” (1935).
• Sir Alexandr G. Cardew, “A Short History of the Inquisition,” (1933).
• G. G. Coulton, “The Inquisition,” (1929).
• Ramon de Vilana Perlas, “La Verdadera Practica Apostolica de el S. Tribunal de la Inquisicion,” (1735).
• H.B. Piazza, “A Short and True Account of the Inquisition and its Proceeding,” (1722).
• A.L. Maycock, “The Inquisition,” (1926).
• H. Nickerson, “The Inquisition,” (1932).
• L. Tanon, “Histoire des Tribunaux de l’Inquisition,” (1893).
• A. Herculano, “Historia da Origem e Estabelecimento da Inquisicao em Portugal,” (English translation, 1926).
• Miranda Twiss, The Most Evil Men And Women In History (Michael O\'Mara Books Ltd., 2002).
• Warren H. Carroll, "Isabel: the Catholic Queen" Front Royal, Virginia, 1991 (Christendom Press)
• Emile van der Vekene: Bibliotheca bibliographica historiae sanctae inquisitionis. Bibliographisches Verzeichnis des gedruckten Schrifttums zur Geschichte und Literatur der Inquisition. Vol. 1 - 3. Topos-Verlag, Vaduz 1982-1992, ISBN 3-289-00272-1, ISBN 3-289-00578-X (7110 titres sur le thème de l\'Inquisition)
• Emile van der Vekene: La Inquisición en grabados originales. Exposición realizada con fondos de la colección Emile van der Vekene de la Universidad San Pablo-CEU, Aranjuez, 4-26 de Mayo de 2005, Madrid: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 2005. ISBN 84-96144-86-0

Online works

• Ludwig von Pastor, History of the Popes from the Close of the Middle Ages; Drawn from the Secret Archives of the Vatican and other original sources, 40 vols. St. Louis,
• B. Herder 1898
• Joseph de Maistre, tr. John Fletcher, Letters on the Spanish Inquisition, London: Printed by W. Hughes, 1838 (composed 1815):— late defense of the Inquisition by the principal author of the Counter-Enlightenment.
• Sister Antoinette Marie Pratt, A.M., The attitude of the Catholic Church towards witchcraft and the allied practices of sorcery and magic, A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Philosophy of The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. June 1915, reprinted 1982, New York: AMS Press, ISBN 0-404-18429-4 - Google Books

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Category:Inquisition

• The Inquisition by Jewish Virtual Library
• Frequently Asked Questions About the Inquisition by James Hannam
• Catholic Encyclopedia: "Inquisition"
• The Secret Files of The Inquistion. PBS
• The Protestant Inquisition:"Reformation" Intolerance and Persecution by Dave Armstrong
• "The Immeasurable Curiousity of Edward Peters", p.4 as found in the Pennsylvania Gazzette, a publication of the University of Pennsylvania
• "One Cheer for the Inquisition" online copy of the Catholic Dossier article by Gerard Bradley, Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame.
• Spain and the Spaniard
• Scholarly studies including Lea\'s History
• Jewish Virtual Library on the Spanish Inquisition
• Galileo Project: Christianity: Inquisition
• Spanish Inquisition (1478-1813) (in Spanish language)
• Index of the court proceedings and other documents of the Portuguese Inquisition (in Portuguese)
• Clandestine Judaism in the Shadow of the Inquisition, Dr. Rivkah Shafek Lissak
• The paths of Cathars by the philosopher Yves Maris.
• L. D. Barnett, "Two Documents of the Inquisition", in The Jewish Quarterly Review, New Ser., Vol. 15, No. 2 (Oct., 1924), pp. 213-239
• Inquisition against the Jews 1481-1834 (from Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971)

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