The InquisitionThe Inquisition

Looking into the Human SoulLooking into the Human Soul

DefinitionDefinition

1.1. A formal tribunal of the A formal tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church created to discover and created to discover and suppress heresysuppress heresy

2.2. A severe interrogation (often A severe interrogation (often violating the rights or privacy violating the rights or privacy of individuals)of individuals)

The Church in Medieval EuropeThe Church in Medieval Europe

By 1200, Catholicism had been By 1200, Catholicism had been dominant religion in Europe for 800+ dominant religion in Europe for 800+ yearsyears

In most of Europe, the pope was the In most of Europe, the pope was the undisputed religious leaderundisputed religious leader

Heresy wasn’t much of a problemHeresy wasn’t much of a problem Church tolerated small groups with Church tolerated small groups with

opposing viewsopposing views Others were suppressedOthers were suppressed

Challenge to ChurchChallenge to Church

In 1100’s, thousands began following In 1100’s, thousands began following CatharismCatharism

They believed they were true Christians They believed they were true Christians and the Catholic Church was falseand the Catholic Church was false

Many dukes and local leaders in France Many dukes and local leaders in France protected the Catharsprotected the Cathars

This new religion attracted large #sThis new religion attracted large #s Threatened pope and French Threatened pope and French

governmentgovernment

Crusade Against CatharsCrusade Against Cathars

1209, Pope Innocent III declared a 1209, Pope Innocent III declared a Crusade against the CatharsCrusade against the Cathars

This led to a long war b/w Northern This led to a long war b/w Northern and Southern French noblesand Southern French nobles

North won, but many thousands of North won, but many thousands of people remained secret Catharspeople remained secret Cathars

Chruch leaders felt something Chruch leaders felt something stronger needed to be donestronger needed to be done

The Coming of the InquisitionThe Coming of the Inquisition

1232, Pope Gregory IX decided to 1232, Pope Gregory IX decided to end this heresy once and for all.end this heresy once and for all.

He set up a system of special courts He set up a system of special courts called the Inquisition.called the Inquisition.

Gregory authorized the leaders of the Gregory authorized the leaders of the Dominican religious order to send out Dominican religious order to send out friars to find and question heretics.friars to find and question heretics.

PurposePurpose

Bernard Gui, a French inquisitioner Bernard Gui, a French inquisitioner described the purpose of the described the purpose of the Inquisition thus:Inquisition thus:

““Heresy cannot be destroyed unless Heresy cannot be destroyed unless heretics are destroyed and . . . their heretics are destroyed and . . . their defenders and [supporters] are defenders and [supporters] are destroyed, and this is effected in two destroyed, and this is effected in two ways: . . . they are converted to the ways: . . . they are converted to the true Catholic faith, or . . . burned.”true Catholic faith, or . . . burned.”

ProcedureProcedure

When the Inquisition arrived in town, When the Inquisition arrived in town, townspeople would gather in a public townspeople would gather in a public placeplace

Failure to show = suspicionFailure to show = suspicion Anyone could denounce self for a light Anyone could denounce self for a light

punishmentpunishment They would also have to inform on They would also have to inform on

other hereticsother heretics Other people faced forced Other people faced forced

interrogationinterrogation

Sample Inquisition TrialSample Inquisition Trial

The inquisition has come to

town. Everyone

gather together to

confess your crimes!

The TrialThe Trial

Generally favored prosecution (Church)Generally favored prosecution (Church) Lawyers were allowed, but seldom usedLawyers were allowed, but seldom used Closed trialsClosed trials Defendant allowed to confess (but Defendant allowed to confess (but

seldom knew charges)seldom knew charges) Defendant didn’t have right to face Defendant didn’t have right to face

accuseraccuser Testimony was taken from all sortsTestimony was taken from all sorts

Defendants’ RightsDefendants’ Rights

Defendants named those with Defendants named those with “mortal hatred” against them.“mortal hatred” against them.

If the accused was named, the If the accused was named, the defendant was released.defendant was released.

The accuser faced a life sentence.The accuser faced a life sentence. This was meant to keep the This was meant to keep the

Inquisition out of local grudges.Inquisition out of local grudges.

TortureTorture

Used after 1252Used after 1252 A confession under torture was not A confession under torture was not

admissable in courtadmissable in court The inquisitor could threaten tortureThe inquisitor could threaten torture Torture was common in medieval Torture was common in medieval

judicial systemjudicial system Torture used by Inquisition was mild Torture used by Inquisition was mild

in comparisonin comparison

TortureTorture Forbidden to use methods that Forbidden to use methods that

resulted in bloodshed, mutilation or resulted in bloodshed, mutilation or deathdeath

One of the more common forms of One of the more common forms of medieval inquisition torture was medieval inquisition torture was known as known as strappadostrappado. .

The hands were bound behind the The hands were bound behind the back with a rope, and the accused back with a rope, and the accused was suspended this way, dislocating was suspended this way, dislocating the joints painfully in both arms.the joints painfully in both arms.

Weights could be added to the legs Weights could be added to the legs dislocating those joints as well.dislocating those joints as well.

StrappadoStrappado

Another Torture Method – the RackAnother Torture Method – the Rack

PunishmentPunishment

Long pilgrimage for first offendersLong pilgrimage for first offenders Wearing a yellow cross for lifeWearing a yellow cross for life Confiscation of propertyConfiscation of property BanishmentBanishment Public recantationPublic recantation Long-term imprisonmentLong-term imprisonment

PunishmentPunishment

Burning at the stake was only for the Burning at the stake was only for the most serious cases, including repeat most serious cases, including repeat offenders and unrepentant heretics. offenders and unrepentant heretics.

Execution was done not by the Execution was done not by the Church, which was forbidden to kill, Church, which was forbidden to kill, but by secular officials.but by secular officials.

PunishmentPunishment The inquisitors generally preferred to The inquisitors generally preferred to

persuade the heretic to repent. persuade the heretic to repent. They wanted to be perceived as merciful, and They wanted to be perceived as merciful, and

they generally preferred to keep defendants they generally preferred to keep defendants alive in hopes of obtaining confessions. alive in hopes of obtaining confessions.

Bernard Gui executed 42 people out of over Bernard Gui executed 42 people out of over 900 guilty verdicts in fifteen years of office. 900 guilty verdicts in fifteen years of office.

Execution was to admit defeat, that the Execution was to admit defeat, that the Church was unable to save a soul from Church was unable to save a soul from heresy, which was the goal of the Inquisition.heresy, which was the goal of the Inquisition.

““No one expects the Spanish No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!”Inquisition!”

Spanish InquisitionSpanish Inquisition

Founded 1478 under Ferdinand & Founded 1478 under Ferdinand & IsabellaIsabella

Thousands of Jews & Muslims had Thousands of Jews & Muslims had settled in Spainsettled in Spain

They’d been forced to convert to They’d been forced to convert to Christianity to participate in Christianity to participate in business and governmentbusiness and government

These These conversosconversos made up a large made up a large portion of the wealthy and portion of the wealthy and influentialinfluential

Spanish InquisitionSpanish Inquisition

Much anti-Semitism in SpainMuch anti-Semitism in Spain Rumors spread that Rumors spread that conversosconversos

continued to practice Judaismcontinued to practice Judaism Anti-Anti-conversosconversos riots erupted riots erupted This upset the finally-united SpainThis upset the finally-united Spain Ferdinand and Isabella took actionFerdinand and Isabella took action

Spanish InquisitionSpanish Inquisition

Didn’t attack riotersDidn’t attack rioters They attacked the They attacked the conversosconversos Pope Sixtus IV gave permission for Pope Sixtus IV gave permission for

them to set up their own them to set up their own InquisitionInquisition

Tomas de Torquemada, Dominican Tomas de Torquemada, Dominican friar, appointed Inquisitor Generalfriar, appointed Inquisitor General

Tomas de TorquemadaTomas de Torquemada

The Spanish Inquisitor-GeneralThe Spanish Inquisitor-General

Spanish InquisitionSpanish Inquisition

Ferocious in dealing with hereticsFerocious in dealing with heretics Within 10 years, 2,000 people had Within 10 years, 2,000 people had

been burned at the stakebeen burned at the stake Another 15,000 suffered other Another 15,000 suffered other

penaltiespenalties Even the Even the auto-da-feauto-da-fe was was

horrendoushorrendous

Auto-da-feAuto-da-fe

““Act of faith”Act of faith” Final public ceremony of Spanish Final public ceremony of Spanish

InquisitionInquisition Crowds gathered in public squareCrowds gathered in public square A bishop called out names of A bishop called out names of

condemnedcondemned Heretics led out, wearing black robes Heretics led out, wearing black robes

with red demons and flameswith red demons and flames They were tied to the stakesThey were tied to the stakes

Auto-da-feAuto-da-fe

A priest would ask if they’d given A priest would ask if they’d given up their heresy to the churchup their heresy to the church

Anyone who repented would be Anyone who repented would be strangled to deathstrangled to death

The others were burnedThe others were burned Their screams mingled with the Their screams mingled with the

crowd’s cheerscrowd’s cheers

Spanish Inquisition EndsSpanish Inquisition Ends

In 1492, Ferdinand & Isabella In 1492, Ferdinand & Isabella expelled all Jews who refused to expelled all Jews who refused to convertconvert

This paralyzed Spanish commerceThis paralyzed Spanish commerce 100 years later, same resentment 100 years later, same resentment

and fury turned toward Muslimsand fury turned toward Muslims Spain never recovered as a Spain never recovered as a

commercial powercommercial power

♫ ♫ The Inquisition ♫The Inquisition ♫

Protestant ReformationProtestant Reformation

In the 1500’s, the Pope tried to use In the 1500’s, the Pope tried to use the Inquisition against the growing the Inquisition against the growing Protestant movementProtestant movement

UnsuccessfulUnsuccessful Protestants had government alliesProtestants had government allies They were therefore protectedThey were therefore protected A single Europe had come apartA single Europe had come apart

Inquisition Peters OutInquisition Peters Out

The Inquisition began as an The Inquisition began as an attack on a few sects of hereticsattack on a few sects of heretics

300 years later, it could no 300 years later, it could no longer hold Europe togetherlonger hold Europe together

Religious and national wars were Religious and national wars were to last centuries and take to last centuries and take hundreds of thousands of liveshundreds of thousands of lives

GalileoGalileo

Galileo's belief in the Copernican Galileo's belief in the Copernican System eventually got him into System eventually got him into trouble with the Catholic Church. trouble with the Catholic Church.

A committee of consultants declared A committee of consultants declared to the Inquisition that the Copernican to the Inquisition that the Copernican proposition that the Sun is the center proposition that the Sun is the center of the universe was a heresy. of the universe was a heresy.

Because Galileo supported the Because Galileo supported the Copernican system, he was warned Copernican system, he was warned that he should not discuss or defend that he should not discuss or defend Copernican theories.Copernican theories.

GalileoGalileo

In 1624, Galileo was assured by Pope In 1624, Galileo was assured by Pope Urban VIII that he could write about Urban VIII that he could write about Copernican theory as long as he Copernican theory as long as he treated it as a mathematical treated it as a mathematical proposition. However, with the proposition. However, with the printing of Galileo's book, printing of Galileo's book, Dialogue Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Concerning the Two Chief World SystemsSystems, Galileo was called to Rome , Galileo was called to Rome in 1633 to face the Inquisition again. in 1633 to face the Inquisition again.

Galileo was ordered to stand trial on Galileo was ordered to stand trial on suspicion of heresy in 1633.suspicion of heresy in 1633.

Galileo’s SentenceGalileo’s Sentence

Galileo was required to recant his Galileo was required to recant his heliocentric ideas, which were heliocentric ideas, which were condemned as “formally heretical”.condemned as “formally heretical”.

He was ordered imprisoned; the He was ordered imprisoned; the sentence was later commuted to sentence was later commuted to house arrest. house arrest.

His offending His offending DialogueDialogue was banned; was banned; and in an action not announced at the and in an action not announced at the trial, publication of any of his works trial, publication of any of his works was forbidden, including any he might was forbidden, including any he might write in the future. write in the future.

The InquisitionThe Inquisition