2. What was the Inquisition?
Occurred mostly in the 15th-16th Centuries
Finally stopped in 19th Century
“inquisition”refers to the Catholic Church
or its Monarchs finding and punishing
heretics
Heretics were baptized members of the
church who had different ideas than the
church or those who had converted to
save themselves but did not belive
3. Background
Itwas founded by King Ferdinand and
Queen Isabella in 1478
Freedom of religion did not exist in Spain
or its territories
The Catholics wanted to maintain
Catholic traditions despite the
Reformation
They wanted to ensure that Catholic
converts followed Catholic Law
5. Early Days
At first the Catholics gave non-Catholics a
choice: convert or sell your land and
move out of the country
Non-Catholics who did not convert or
leave the country were tortured
If they did not convert they were then
killed
The Church was also after adulterers,
“witches”, and non-traditional Catholics
6. Procedures
1. Accusation (Edict of Grace)
An Inquisitor would read a list of heresies
and encourage citizens to confess to
heresies they committed
If you admitted to a crime you would only
be given a minor punishment
You needed to give names of other
heresies so the church could find them!
7. Procedures
2. Detention
The one accused would be isolated in
prison while priests and officials looked at
their case
Sometimes the person in jail would be
there for months without knowing why
they were placed there
8. Procedures
3. Trial and Sentencing
In a usual trial the accused would be
tortured until they admitted the crime
The accused would either be sentenced
to death, freedom (very rare) or if they
admitted their crimes they would go
through the Auto de fe
The Auto de fe was a public ritual where
the accused publically declared their sins
9. Forms of Torture
toca: water torture, forced down throat
potro: tied onto rack by tight cords that
could be tightened
garrucha: hung by wrists on pulley, weight
on feet, pain and dislocation
13. Torquemada
Nicknamed “The Black Legend”
Very close to Isabella
Pope named him one of the Grand
Inquisitors
Vented his hatred of Jews and heretics
forcing up to 300,000 out of Spain
14. Story of Torquemada
Watch the video clip
Take notes on what makes Torquemada
evil
15. Torquemada By the #’s
Towns would have about 50 executions
and 200+ prisoners
Fined 1/5th of property
Would flagellate themselves on 6
successive Fridays
5,000 people were captured in first year,
50 a day were burned