History of Christianity: The Inquisitions

This segment is a continuation of the dark periods of Christian History, concerning the atrocities of the Inquisition; from the Medieval Inquisitions of the 1200s, the notorious Spanish Inquisition of the late 1400s, and on to the Roman Inquisition of the 1500s. It was a period of persecution, trial, torture, and often execution led by both the government and the Catholic Church. The initial intent was to purge society from heretics, apostates, Jews, atheists, Muslims, and any other form of non-Christian believer.

The Catholic Church initiated this cleansing campaign in the name of God and for the good of humanity. Similar to the crusades and other religious wars, it brought forth elements of violence and theological hypocrisy. Although I do not want to emphasize this terrible period of the church's history, I think it is important to understand and acknowledge it.


Episcopal Inquisition

The first major Christian inquisition began in 1184, when Pope Lucius III, issued a decree to do away with heresy. The main target of this Episcopal Inquisition was against the growing religious movement in southern France known as Catharism. These Cathars believed in elements of dualism and gnosticism, (a pursue of higher intellect) quite different than the established Christian theology. The episcopal structure began to fear this rising movement, and felt it should be purged accordingly. This was handled through excommunications, public trials, and due punishment.

This inquisition also led to a military campaign in the Southern French city of Languedoc, considered a center for Catharism. The Albigensian Crusade was called upon by Pope Innocent III, to bring an end to Christian heretics. It lasted for 20 years, from 1209-1229, and greatly reduced the number of practicing Carthars. However the crusade, did not entirely succeed in abolishing Catharism, and a second inquisition was put into affect in the year 1230.


Papal Inquisition

Pope Gregory IX considered the first Episcopal Inquisition and the Albigensian Crusade a failure, and decided to intensify the campaign against heretics with a second purging known as the Papal Inquisition. This campaign was far more organized and carefully administered by the newly established Dominican Order. The main target was once again to purge the remaining Cathars, as well as other heretic movements, such as the Waldensians. The Waldensians were based out of Northern Italy and believed in God, however did not believe in the episcopal structure of priesthood and sainthood.

This Inquisition established a much more effective system of prosecution through methods of investigation, trial, torture, and eventual punishment. The punishment for an accused heretic would range from prayer, banishment, or long-time imprisonment. It is important to note that these early inquisitions were quite mild in nature, with minimal torture, and no executions. The Catholic Church felt it was their duty to save heretics through cleansing, yet not murder.This was however not the case for the Spanish Inquisition.

Spanish Inquisition

One of the most infamous of the Inquisitions took place within the Spanish Empire, initiated by the Catholic Monarchs King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabelle of Castille. By the year 1480, the Spanish Empire had become a major power in the West, heavily influenced by Catholicism. The monarchy thus felt it was their duty to intensify the previous papal inquisitions and maintain Catholic orthodoxy within the kingdom. A tribunal was established, led by a Grand Inquisitor, to purge, convert, or expel any non-Christians. This mostly targeted Jewish and Muslims, however also persecuted those who practiced witchcraft, blasphemy, bigamy, sodomy, and freemasonry. It became a highly organized system that lasted for nearly 350 years, and finally came to an end in the year 1834.

Although this Inquisition was approved by Pope Sixtus IV, the papacy had little control or say over it's administration. This enabled the monarchy to put forth a much harsher system of investigation and punishment to those considered a threat to the Catholic faith. The system had a process of accusation, detention, trial, torture, and finally a sentencing. The sentencing ranged from penance, fines, imprisonment, expulsion, physical punishment, or execution. The executions were often held publicly, ranging from hangings to horrific burnings at the stake. Throughout it's 350 year history there are believed to have been over 150,000 trials, and roughly 5,000 executions.

A Portuguese Inquisition was also launched in the year 1536, by King Joao III, in solidarity with the Spanish Inquisition. This was primarily to persecute and punish Jews who were fleeing from Spain. There was believed to have been over 30,000 trials and over 1000 executions.

Roman Inquisition

In the midst of the 15th century, the Episcopal Holy See launched another Inquisition within Rome, to target an emerging threat of reformation, science, and enlightenment. By the year 1542, the papacy and the Dominican Order once again began a campaign against the usual suspects ranging from heresy, sorcery, blasphemy, Judaism, Islam, and witchcraft.

However a new breed of threat also emerged in this period of Renaissance, most notably from the Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Revolution. The most famous of these trials were against the scientists Copernicus and later Galileo, who proposed a revolutionary concept, of which the sun (rather than the earth) was at the center of the universe. These thoughts were considered quite heretic at the time, and some scientists were arrested while others were burnt at the stake. This campaign lasted until 1858, with an estimate of 75,000 trials and 1250 executions.