Spanish Inquisition in the Americas (Mexico, Lima, Cartagena)
With the Spanish colonial empire the Inquisition spread to the Americas, with tribunals in Mexico, Lima and Cartagena. It persecuted above all New Christians and Jews who had fled there. The first auto-da-fé in Mexico took place in 1574. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia there were 129 autos-da-fé in the Americas in total; between 1581 and 1776, 59 people were burned alive. In Lima in 1639, of 63 accused, the 11 richest were burned.
Deaths
59(counted, burned alive in the Americas, 1581 to 1776)Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906)
Philip II (King of Spain) Juan Álvarez (physician from Zafra, burned in Lima with his family) Diego Díaz (burned at the stake in 1659) Francisco Botello (burned at the stake in 1659)
Palacio de la Inquisición in Cartagena (Colombia), seat of the tribunal of the Inquisition, today a museum
Image: Bernard Gagnon,
CC BY-SA 4.0,
Source
What happened to the people
Who was affected? Victims and numbers
The Inquisition persecuted above all New Christians and Jews who had fled to the colonies. At the auto-da-fé in Mexico on 8 December 1596, 60 people appeared in penitential garb, on 25 March 1602 more than 100. In 1659 Diego Díaz and Francisco Botello died at the stake.
Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906), Abschnitt In America
„Spain introduced the Inquisition into her American colonies, and proceeded against the Maranos and Jews who had sought refuge there.“
Inquisition, Abschnitt In America.
OriginalEvidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906), Abschnitt In America
„At one held Dec. 8, 1596, 60 persons appeared in the sanbenito, and more than 100 at the auto of March 25, 1602.“
Inquisition, Abschnitt In America.
OriginalEvidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906), Abschnitt In America
„In 1659 Diego Diaz and Francisco Botello suffered at the stake as faithful Jews“
In Lima around 1581 the physician Juan Álvarez of Zafra was burned with his wife, children and father. At the great auto-da-fé in Lima on 23 January 1639, of 63 accused, 11 were burned, according to the Jewish Encyclopedia the richest.
Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906), Abschnitt In America
„One of the first victims at Lima, about 1581, was the physician Juan Alvarez of Zafra, who, together with his wife, children, and father, was burned as a confessor of Judaism.“
Inquisition, Abschnitt In America.
OriginalEvidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906), Abschnitt In America
„A great auto da fé was held at Lima Jan. 23, 1639. Of the 63 Judaizers who then appeared 11 (and these were the wealthiest) were burned.“
In the Americas 129 autos-da-fé took place in total. Between 1581 and 1776, 59 people were burned alive and 18 in effigy.
Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906), Abschnitt In America
„In all, 129 autos da fé were held in America; and in the period between 1581 and 1776, 59 persons were burned alive, and 18 in effigy.“
On 15 October 1538 Charles V decreed that only the European colonists should be subject to the Inquisition; Philip II extended the powers of the inquisitors. In Mexico Jorge de Almeida was excommunicated in absentia in 1608, and the young Gabriel de Granada was sentenced in 1645; at the auto-da-fé of 13 March 1648, 48 people stood before the tribunal, and in 1649 many "Judaizers" were burned in effigy or readmitted to the Church.
Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Randtitel Spanish and Portuguese Colonies
„Charles V. decreed (October 15, 1538) that only the European colonists should be subject to the jurisdiction of the Inquisition; but Philip II. increased the powers of the inquisitors’ delegate“
Inquisition, Randtitel Spanish and Portuguese Colonies.
OriginalEvidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906), Abschnitt In America
„In 1608 Jorge de Almeida was excommunicated "in contumaciam," and in 1645 the young Gabriel de Granada was sentenced“
Inquisition, Abschnitt In America.
OriginalEvidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906), Abschnitt In America
„at the auto of March 13, 1648, 48 persons, among them Anna Xuarez; and in 1649 many Judaizers were either readmitted to the Church or burned in effigy“
Besides Jews and New Christians, the Inquisition also struck alleged sorcerers: according to the Britannica, most executions of sorcerers probably took place in the colonies, in the Philippines and in Mexico.
Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Inquisition, Abschnitt über Zauberei
„perhaps the greatest number of executions of sorcerers took place in the colonies, in the Philippines and Mexico“
Inquisition, Artikel Inquisition, Abschnitt über Zauberei.
Original
Background
Course of events
The Inquisition spread with the Spanish colonial empire almost simultaneously with the Catholic faith. Philip II established tribunal districts in Lima, Mexico and Cartagena. The sources name different years: according to the Britannica 1541, according to the Jewish Encyclopedia the Inquisition was introduced in Mexico in 1571. The sources agree that the first auto-da-fé in Mexico took place in 1574.
Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Randtitel Spanish and Portuguese Colonies
„Inquisition spread throughout it almost contemporaneously with the Catholic faith.“
Inquisition, Randtitel Spanish and Portuguese Colonies.
OriginalEvidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Randtitel Spanish and Portuguese Colonies
„in 1541, established on a permanent basis three new provinces of the Inquisition at Lima, Mexico and Cartagena. The first auto-da-fé took place at Mexico in 1574“
Inquisition, Randtitel Spanish and Portuguese Colonies.
OriginalEvidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906), Abschnitt In America
„The Inquisition was introduced into Mexico in 1571; and three years later the first auto da fé was held.“
Kirchenakte
