The Inquisition began in the late 1470’s, when Spanish monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon (1452-1516) and Isabella I of Castile (1451-1504) asked Pope Sixtus IV (1471-1484) permission to establish The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in order to fight the increase of heretical practices, mainly among the controversial Jewish and the Moors.
From the publication of the Papal Bull Exigit Sincerae Devotionis Affectus (November 1st, 1478) to its definitive termination in 1834, the Holly Office was present across the Spanish Empire, including the setting of Tribunals in America (Peru in 1570, Mexico in 1571 and Cartagena in 1610).
In Portuguese territory the experience started during the rule of King John III (1521-1557), when Pope Paul III (1534-1549) published the bull Meditatio Cordis in July 16, 1547, establishing the Portuguese Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition. This institution existed for almost three hundred years (1536-1821), accumulating more than 40 thousand processes, which involved many more people, among the ones charged and arrested. The Portuguese portion of America also witnessed a segregating process that left several groups excluded from society and destitute of a few rights, especially the New Christians. Crimes under inquisitional jurisdiction were classified as crimes against faith, moral and customs, like bigamy, sodomy and witchcraft, among others. Crimes against faith were considered the most serious, thus being more severely punished.
Besides the Iberian tribunals, the bull Licet ab Initio created the Roman Inquisition, known as Congregation of the Holy Office, in July 4, 1542. The rise in so-called “Protestant” practices led to the creation of this Congregation. The Roman Inquisition generated files, hugely important for the study of that era. Highlights are the processes against Giordano Bruno (1548-1600) and Galileu Galilei (1564-1642).
Nowadays, we have access to important studies about the structure of Inquisition. Due to the complexity of this institution, we have to reassess the theme, evaluate what has been written about it, as well as to open new fields of research. For this purpose, the event aims at gathering researchers on the theme and also all who use inquisitorial sources so that we can get to know other areas of knowledge concerning modern and contemporary society.
