The Inquisition Looking into the Human Soul

Definition 1. A formal tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church created to discover and suppress heresy 2. A severe interrogation (often violating the rights or privacy of individuals)

The Church in Medieval Europe By 1200, Catholicism had been dominant religion in Europe for 800+ years By 1200, Catholicism had been dominant religion in Europe for 800+ years In most of Europe, the pope was the undisputed religious leader In most of Europe, the pope was the undisputed religious leader Heresy wasn’t much of a problem Heresy wasn’t much of a problem Church tolerated small groups with opposing views Church tolerated small groups with opposing views Others were suppressed Others were suppressed

Challenge to Church In 1100’s, thousands began following Catharism In 1100’s, thousands began following Catharism They believed they were true Christians and the Catholic Church was false They believed they were true Christians and the Catholic Church was false Many dukes and local leaders in France protected the Cathars Many dukes and local leaders in France protected the Cathars This new religion attracted large #s This new religion attracted large #s Threatened pope and French government Threatened pope and French government

Crusade Against Cathars 1209, Pope Innocent III declared a Crusade against the Cathars 1209, Pope Innocent III declared a Crusade against the Cathars This led to a long war b/w Northern and Southern French nobles This led to a long war b/w Northern and Southern French nobles North won, but many thousands of people remained secret Cathars North won, but many thousands of people remained secret Cathars Chruch leaders felt something stronger needed to be done Chruch leaders felt something stronger needed to be done

The Coming of the Inquisition 1232, Pope Gregory IX decided to end this heresy once and for all. 1232, Pope Gregory IX decided to end this heresy once and for all. He set up a system of special courts called the Inquisition. He set up a system of special courts called the Inquisition. Gregory authorized the leaders of the Dominican religious order to send out friars to find and question heretics. Gregory authorized the leaders of the Dominican religious order to send out friars to find and question heretics.

Purpose Bernard Gui, a French inquisitioner described the purpose of the Inquisition thus: Bernard Gui, a French inquisitioner described the purpose of the Inquisition thus: “Heresy cannot be destroyed unless heretics are destroyed and... their defenders and [supporters] are destroyed, and this is effected in two ways:... they are converted to the true Catholic faith, or... burned.”

Procedure When the Inquisition arrived in town, townspeople would gather in a public place When the Inquisition arrived in town, townspeople would gather in a public place Failure to show = suspicion Failure to show = suspicion Anyone could denounce self for a light punishment Anyone could denounce self for a light punishment They would also have to inform on other heretics They would also have to inform on other heretics Other people faced forced interrogation Other people faced forced interrogation

Sample Inquisition Trial The inquisition has come to town. Everyone gather together to confess your crimes!

The Trial Generally favored prosecution (Church) Generally favored prosecution (Church) Lawyers were allowed, but seldom used Lawyers were allowed, but seldom used Closed trials Closed trials Defendant allowed to confess (but seldom knew charges) Defendant allowed to confess (but seldom knew charges) Defendant didn’t have right to face accuser Defendant didn’t have right to face accuser Testimony was taken from all sorts Testimony was taken from all sorts

Defendants’ Rights Defendants named those with “mortal hatred” against them. Defendants named those with “mortal hatred” against them. If the accused was named, the defendant was released. If the accused was named, the defendant was released. The accuser faced a life sentence. The accuser faced a life sentence. This was meant to keep the Inquisition out of local grudges. This was meant to keep the Inquisition out of local grudges.

Torture Used after 1252 Used after 1252 A confession under torture was not admissable in court A confession under torture was not admissable in court The inquisitor could threaten torture The inquisitor could threaten torture Torture was common in medieval judicial system Torture was common in medieval judicial system Torture used by Inquisition was mild in comparison Torture used by Inquisition was mild in comparison

Torture Forbidden to use methods that resulted in bloodshed, mutilation or death Forbidden to use methods that resulted in bloodshed, mutilation or death One of the more common forms of medieval inquisition torture was known as strappado. One of the more common forms of medieval inquisition torture was known as strappado. The hands were bound behind the back with a rope, and the accused was suspended this way, dislocating the joints painfully in both arms. The hands were bound behind the back with a rope, and the accused was suspended this way, dislocating the joints painfully in both arms. Weights could be added to the legs dislocating those joints as well. Weights could be added to the legs dislocating those joints as well.

Strappado

Another Torture Method – the Rack

Punishment Long pilgrimage for first offenders Long pilgrimage for first offenders Wearing a yellow cross for life Wearing a yellow cross for life Confiscation of property Confiscation of property Banishment Banishment Public recantation Public recantation Long-term imprisonment Long-term imprisonment

Punishment Burning at the stake was only for the most serious cases, including repeat offenders and unrepentant heretics. Burning at the stake was only for the most serious cases, including repeat offenders and unrepentant heretics. Execution was done not by the Church, which was forbidden to kill, but by secular officials. Execution was done not by the Church, which was forbidden to kill, but by secular officials.

Punishment The inquisitors generally preferred to persuade the heretic to repent. The inquisitors generally preferred to persuade the heretic to repent. They wanted to be perceived as merciful, and they generally preferred to keep defendants alive in hopes of obtaining confessions. They wanted to be perceived as merciful, and they generally preferred to keep defendants alive in hopes of obtaining confessions. Bernard Gui executed 42 people out of over 900 guilty verdicts in fifteen years of office. Bernard Gui executed 42 people out of over 900 guilty verdicts in fifteen years of office. Execution was to admit defeat, that the Church was unable to save a soul from heresy, which was the goal of the Inquisition. Execution was to admit defeat, that the Church was unable to save a soul from heresy, which was the goal of the Inquisition.

“No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!”

Spanish Inquisition Founded 1478 under Ferdinand & Isabella Founded 1478 under Ferdinand & Isabella Thousands of Jews & Muslims had settled in Spain Thousands of Jews & Muslims had settled in Spain They’d been forced to convert to Christianity to participate in business and government They’d been forced to convert to Christianity to participate in business and government These conversos made up a large portion of the wealthy and influential These conversos made up a large portion of the wealthy and influential

Spanish Inquisition Much anti-Semitism in Spain Much anti-Semitism in Spain Rumors spread that conversos continued to practice Judaism Rumors spread that conversos continued to practice Judaism Anti-conversos riots erupted Anti-conversos riots erupted This upset the finally-united Spain This upset the finally-united Spain Ferdinand and Isabella took action Ferdinand and Isabella took action

Spanish Inquisition Didn’t attack rioters Didn’t attack rioters They attacked the conversos They attacked the conversos Pope Sixtus IV gave permission for them to set up their own Inquisition Pope Sixtus IV gave permission for them to set up their own Inquisition Tomas de Torquemada, Dominican friar, appointed Inquisitor General Tomas de Torquemada, Dominican friar, appointed Inquisitor General

Tomas de Torquemada

The Spanish Inquisitor-General

Spanish Inquisition Ferocious in dealing with heretics Ferocious in dealing with heretics Within 10 years, 2,000 people had been burned at the stake Within 10 years, 2,000 people had been burned at the stake Another 15,000 suffered other penalties Another 15,000 suffered other penalties Even the auto-da-fe was horrendous Even the auto-da-fe was horrendous

Auto-da-fe “Act of faith” “Act of faith” Final public ceremony of Spanish Inquisition Final public ceremony of Spanish Inquisition Crowds gathered in public square Crowds gathered in public square A bishop called out names of condemned A bishop called out names of condemned Heretics led out, wearing black robes with red demons and flames Heretics led out, wearing black robes with red demons and flames They were tied to the stakes They were tied to the stakes

Auto-da-fe A priest would ask if they’d given up their heresy to the church A priest would ask if they’d given up their heresy to the church Anyone who repented would be strangled to death Anyone who repented would be strangled to death The others were burned The others were burned Their screams mingled with the crowd’s cheers Their screams mingled with the crowd’s cheers

Spanish Inquisition Ends In 1492, Ferdinand & Isabella expelled all Jews who refused to convert In 1492, Ferdinand & Isabella expelled all Jews who refused to convert This paralyzed Spanish commerce This paralyzed Spanish commerce 100 years later, same resentment and fury turned toward Muslims 100 years later, same resentment and fury turned toward Muslims Spain never recovered as a commercial power Spain never recovered as a commercial power

♫ The Inquisition ♫

Protestant Reformation In the 1500’s, the Pope tried to use the Inquisition against the growing Protestant movement In the 1500’s, the Pope tried to use the Inquisition against the growing Protestant movement Unsuccessful Unsuccessful Protestants had government allies Protestants had government allies They were therefore protected They were therefore protected A single Europe had come apart A single Europe had come apart

Inquisition Peters Out The Inquisition began as an attack on a few sects of heretics The Inquisition began as an attack on a few sects of heretics 300 years later, it could no longer hold Europe together 300 years later, it could no longer hold Europe together Religious and national wars were to last centuries and take hundreds of thousands of lives Religious and national wars were to last centuries and take hundreds of thousands of lives

Galileo Galileo's belief in the Copernican System eventually got him into trouble with the Catholic Church. Galileo's belief in the Copernican System eventually got him into trouble with the Catholic Church. A committee of consultants declared to the Inquisition that the Copernican proposition that the Sun is the center of the universe was a heresy. A committee of consultants declared to the Inquisition that the Copernican proposition that the Sun is the center of the universe was a heresy. Because Galileo supported the Copernican system, he was warned that he should not discuss or defend Copernican theories. Because Galileo supported the Copernican system, he was warned that he should not discuss or defend Copernican theories.

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

Galileo’s Sentence Galileo was required to recant his heliocentric ideas, which were condemned as “formally heretical”. Galileo was required to recant his heliocentric ideas, which were condemned as “formally heretical”. He was ordered imprisoned; the sentence was later commuted to house arrest. He was ordered imprisoned; the sentence was later commuted to house arrest. His offending Dialogue was banned; and in an action not announced at the trial, publication of any of his works was forbidden, including any he might write in the future. His offending Dialogue was banned; and in an action not announced at the trial, publication of any of his works was forbidden, including any he might write in the future.

The Inquisition