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Origins of the Inquisition -

The creation of the Inquisition can be attributed to a papal document called "Ad Abolendam," which was issued by Pope Lucius III at the end of the 12th century. This period of the Inquisition is commonly referred to as the Medieval Inquisition.

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Persecution of the Cathars -

In the 12th and 13th centuries, non-Catholic Christian religions faced persecution in Europe through the organization of the Inquisition. Pope Lucius III sent bishops to southern France to capture individuals practicing Catharism, a Christian sect with dualist beliefs that contradicted those of Rome. The Cathars, also known as followers, were viewed as heretics by the Catholic Church due to their unorthodox form of Christianity. These efforts persisted until the 14th century.

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Rounding up the Waldensians -

In that time frame, the Waldensians were pursued by the Catholic Church in Germany and northern Italy. The Waldensians criticized the Catholic clergy, claiming they were not deserving of their religious positions. This movement, considered to be an early influence on the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, was subsequently deemed as heretical. 

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Rounding up the Waldensians -

Pope Gregory IX later introduced the papal inquisition in 1231, assigning the Dominican and Franciscan Orders with the responsibility of locating and identifying individuals who held differing views from the accepted Catholic teachings in order to apprehend and put them on trial.

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Pope Innocent IV -

In 1254, Pope Innocent IV authorized the use of torture by lay henchmen, under the supervision of inquisitors, against unwavering heretics, sometimes in concealed cells or underground dungeons.

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Torture -

During the 13th century it was common to subject those accused of heresy to torture if they refused to provide testimony. In addition, heretics were denied the chance to confront their accusers and were often falsely accused, without any legal representation. Consequently, they were inevitably sentenced to execution, typically through burning at the stake.

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Bernard Gui (c. 1261–1331) -

Bernard Gui, an infamous inquisitor during the early 14th century, gained notoriety for his actions. He held the position of chief inquisitor of Toulouse from 1307 to 1323, carrying out the orders of Pope Clement V and Pope John XXII. Gui found over 600 individuals guilty of heresy during his tenure. He also served as inspiration for a character in the popular 1980 historical novel 'The Name of the Rose,' and was brought to life by actor F. Murray Abraham in the 1986 film adaptation.

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The inquisitor's guidebook -

Bernard Gui wrote his well-known 'Conduct of the Inquisition into Heretical Depravity' in the early 14th century. This influential book aimed to guide inquisitors on how to interrogate heretics and provided detailed descriptions of their beliefs and practices. Notably, it was the first inquisitor's manual to mention penalties for Jews who relapsed. The original can be found in the Bibliothèque de Toulouse.

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Knights Templar -

In 1307, a large number of Knights Templar were arrested and subjected to torture in France with the involvement of inquisitors. Jacques de Molay (c. 1244–1314), the final Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was among those who experienced arrest and torture. An engraving depicts him being led to the stake as he shouts a warning to Pope Clement and King Philip that they will face divine judgement within a year. Shortly after, both Pope Clement and King Philip passed away.

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Joan of Arc (1412–1431) -

One of the best-known individuals targeted by the Inquisition during this time was Joan of Arc. On May 30, 1431, the "Maid of Orléans" was subjected to the brutal act of being burned at the stake. In 1456, a court established by Pope Callixtus III, as a part of the inquisitorial process, thoroughly reassessed her trial, refuted the allegations leveled against her, including heresy, affirmed her innocence, and recognized her as a martyr.

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Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition -

The Catholic Monarchs, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, established the Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in 1478. Often referred to as the Spanish Inquisition, it served as a seat of judgment.

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Spanish Inquisition -

The Spanish Inquisition earned its name due to its vast presence in Spain and all Spanish colonies and territories, spanning North, Central, and South America.

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Conversion to Catholicism -

Originally, the purpose of the Inquisition was to verify the proper conversion of those who had adopted Catholicism from Judaism or Islam, as well as to expose any heretics who may have infiltrated the reformed.

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Baptism or exile? -

Non-Catholics were given limited options and had to obey. In 1492 and 1501, two royal decrees were issued, forcing Jews and Muslims to either convert or leave.

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Leaving Spain -

In the wake of the first decree, many Jews chose not to convert. An estimated 160,000 were subsequently forced to leave Spain. Many hundreds of Muslims did the same.

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Suspicion -

The regulation of the recently converted Catholics increased as the Catholic Monarchs became concerned. They believed that corruption within the Spanish Catholic Church was a result of Jewish individuals who converted to Christianity in order to escape centuries of anti-Semitism. As a result, anyone suspected of being a heretic, including those who had willingly converted, underwent investigation.

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Spain and Portugal -

During the 14th and 15th centuries, individuals of the Jewish faith who converted to Catholicism in Spain or Portugal were called "conversos." Similarly, Muslims who underwent baptism were called "moriscos." However, unlike Jewish conversos, moriscos faced ongoing persecution and expulsion even after their conversion to Catholicism.

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Blame game -

Meanwhile, "conversos" were held responsible for a variety of issues, including the spread of disease, contaminating water, and kidnapping children.

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Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536) -

Believing in a different religious doctrine from the Catholic Church could result in a penalty of death. Sometimes, the distinction was unclear. For instance, despite being Catholic, Dutch scholar and humanist Desiderius Erasmus was regarded as a reformer. Those who adhered to his teachings were subjected to persecution.

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Tomás de Torquemada (1420–1498) -

The inaugural Grand Inquisitor was Tomás de Torquemada, a Dominican friar known for his relentless dedication to his role. The creation of the Tribunal of Castile took place in 1478, an investigative entity endorsed by the Catholic Monarchs to address heresy within the community of conversos. In the accompanying image, Torquemada is seen alongside King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella.

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Tribunal of Castile -

Torquemada's appointment marked a horrifying phase in the Spanish Inquisition's history, as torture was systematically employed to extract confessions.

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Auto-da-fé -

Sentencing of admitted heretics was carried out in a public ceremony called an "auto-da-fé," a grand and horrible ritual of penance.

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Samarra -

Heretics who were condemned wore a yellow tunic, called a "samarra," that depicted monks, dragons, and demons fueling flames. This attire indicated that the accused refused to repent and had received a death sentence.

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Fuego revolto -

This group of individuals pictured has been convicted of heresy and are now wearing the "fuego revolto," clothing that indicates their status as penitent heretics. It signifies that they will not be burned alive at the stake but will instead receive the mercy of being strangled prior to the ignition of the fire. The quartet's fate reflects their condemned but nonetheless repentant state.

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Sambenito -

Confessed heretics were required to wear the "sambenito," a garment adorned with red saltires, as a symbol of their escape from being burned and their penance. Over time, all three garments came to be known as "sambenitos."

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Burning at the stake -

In the Middle Ages, individuals accused of witchcraft or heresy who refused to confess were frequently subjected to execution by being burned at the stake. It was the prevailing method employed to deal with the heretics.

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Diego de Deza (1444–1523) -

The next Grand Inquisitor after Torquemada was Diego de Deza, who shared Torquemada's intense zeal. Deza harbored a strong aversion towards "conversos" and was convinced that many, if not all, continued to practice their original religion in secret. As a result, he intensified his efforts to expose heresy within cities and began targeting a significant number of nobles and local officials, accusing them of dissent and blasphemy.

Image: Museo del Prado

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Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros (1436–1517) -

Following the death of Queen Isabella in 1504, King Ferdinand II chose Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros (Ximenes) as Grand Inquisitor. This decision came after a falling out with Deza, who had been accused of secretly following Judaism.

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North Africa -

Ximenes pursued moriscos into North Africa, where the Inquisition became established. As Spain expanded into the Americas in the mid-1500s, so did the Inquisition. Meanwhile, Rome renewed its own Inquisition.

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Portugal and Spain -

In 1580, Spain and Portugal were under joint rule by the Spanish crown. During this time, Jewish refugees from Spain faced persecution and violence. Lisbon (pictured) became a brutal stage where individuals accused and found guilty of heresy were mercilessly treated.

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Joseph Bonaparte (1768–1844) -

The Inquisition persisted with its deadly proceedings during the 1600s and into the 18th century. In 1808, Spain suffered defeat at the hands of Napoleon, who consequently mandated the abolition of the Inquisition. Despite Ferdinand VII's unsuccessful attempt to reinstate the Inquisition after Napoleon's defeat in 1814 during the Peninsula War, it was ultimately Napoleon's elder brother, Joseph, who is recognized for putting an end to the Spanish Inquisition. He served as the King of Naples and Sicily from 1806 to 1808 and as the King of Spain from 1808 to 1813. Finally, in July 1834, the Spanish Inquisition was officially abolished through a royal decree.

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End of the tyranny -

Estimates as to how many people died during the three-century duration of the Spanish Inquisition vary widely, anything from 5,000 to as many as 25,000. Certainly around 150,000 were persecuted and prosecuted for their religious beliefs.

Sources: (HistoryExtra) (World History Encyclopedia) (The Atlantic) (Britannica) 

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