The Inquisitions were a dark period in the history of the Catholic Church. Heresy was savagely sought out and eradicated by the most extreme methods. Many would be surprised to learn that the Inquisition started in France in the 12th-century to combat the Cathars and Waldensians, who were considered heretical. Cathars believed in two gods (deistic), one good and the other evil. Waldensians would be considered an early form of the Protestant Church; they believed in the priesthood of all members and that each congregation was independent (of the Pope).
But by the 1250s, the Inquisition took on an uglier form - death by the most awful means imaginable. As the Protestant Reformation swept across Europe, the Portuguese Inquisition focused on the forced conversion of Jewish and Muslim citizens in their country. Incredibly, even after conversion to Catholicism, these same groups were suspected of not really converting and were still persecuted. The Inquisition policy was 'guilty until proven innocent.' Torture was used routinely against those accused of heresy as well as those who were 'witnesses.'
As Portugal expanded their borders through maritime exploration, it exported the Inquisition to its new empires in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The Goa Inquisition (Portugal had a trading center in Goa, India), was stunning reading. The Inquisition even affected the Indian natives (generally Hindu). In other words, the Portuguese dictated religion in the region where they traded (but did not own). The Portuguese investigated the religious traditions of the Hindi and forbade each of them specifically. The minutiae of the rules listed were astounding; they tried to obliterate Indian culture and religion (that was older than their own). Before it was all over, gifted writers and great minds were scrutinized and threatened.
In Portugal, Manuel II had asked for the institution of an Inquisition as part of his commitment to marry Maria of Aragon. However, it wasn't until after his death that the pope agreed to the plan. The Portuguese Inquisition was formally established in 1536 and ended in 1821.
Please note: Charles Rivers has separate books about the Inquisition in the Americas and the Spanish Inquisition.
But by the 1250s, the Inquisition took on an uglier form - death by the most awful means imaginable. As the Protestant Reformation swept across Europe, the Portuguese Inquisition focused on the forced conversion of Jewish and Muslim citizens in their country. Incredibly, even after conversion to Catholicism, these same groups were suspected of not really converting and were still persecuted. The Inquisition policy was 'guilty until proven innocent.' Torture was used routinely against those accused of heresy as well as those who were 'witnesses.'
As Portugal expanded their borders through maritime exploration, it exported the Inquisition to its new empires in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The Goa Inquisition (Portugal had a trading center in Goa, India), was stunning reading. The Inquisition even affected the Indian natives (generally Hindu). In other words, the Portuguese dictated religion in the region where they traded (but did not own). The Portuguese investigated the religious traditions of the Hindi and forbade each of them specifically. The minutiae of the rules listed were astounding; they tried to obliterate Indian culture and religion (that was older than their own). Before it was all over, gifted writers and great minds were scrutinized and threatened.
In Portugal, Manuel II had asked for the institution of an Inquisition as part of his commitment to marry Maria of Aragon. However, it wasn't until after his death that the pope agreed to the plan. The Portuguese Inquisition was formally established in 1536 and ended in 1821.
Please note: Charles Rivers has separate books about the Inquisition in the Americas and the Spanish Inquisition.
