Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
1609-1621 · 12 years · show in timeline

Peru from 1609: After the denunciations of the priest Francisco de Ávila, the campaign against indigenous "idolatry" begins with an auto da fé, whipping and burning of mummies

In June 1609 the priest Francisco de Ávila of Huarochirí reported to the Jesuits that his indigenous parishioners had apostatised. Archbishop Lobo Guerrero, with the Jesuits, used this for a campaign. An auto da fé in Lima in 1609 burned idols and mummies, and "idolaters" were whipped. In 1610 Ávila became visiting judge; the Church moved from persuasion to repression. The Councils of Lima prescribed cutting of hair, whipping, humiliation, loss of property and prison.

Period
1609-1621 (12 years)
Country
Peru
Institutions
Archdiocese of Lima
Society of Jesus
Category
Colonialism, Persecution
Level of evidence
B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?
Persons
Francisco de Ávila (parish priest of Huarochirí, visitor)
Bartolomé Lobo Guerrero (Archbishop of Lima)

What happened to the people

Who was affected? Victims and numbers

  1. In 1609 an auto da fé took place in Lima at which idols and mummies were burned and "idolaters" whipped, with the support of the highest civil and religious authorities. The Councils of Lima had recommended harsh punishments: cutting of hair, whipping, humiliation, loss of property and prison.
    Evidence: Universidad Católica del Norte, Abschnitt zur Extirpation
    „En 1609, un Auto de Fe realizado en Lima, y que incluyó la quema de ídolos y momias“
    Jorge Hidalgo Lehuedé, Redes eclesiásticas, procesos de extirpación de idolatrías y cultos andinos coloniales en Atacama, in: Estudios Atacameños 42 (2011), S. 113-152, Abschnitt zur Extirpation. Original
    Evidence: Universidad Católica del Norte, Abschnitt zur Extirpation
    „como el corte del pelo, azotes, humillaciones, pérdida de bienes y prisión“
    Jorge Hidalgo Lehuedé, Redes eclesiásticas, procesos de extirpación de idolatrías y cultos andinos coloniales en Atacama, in: Estudios Atacameños 42 (2011), S. 113-152, Abschnitt zur Extirpation. Original

Background

Course of events

  1. In a letter of 23 June 1609 to the Jesuit rector, Ávila complained that he found no Indian who had not apostatised. According to Gudemos, the denunciation was used by Archbishop Bartolomé Lobo Guerrero and the Jesuits as the trigger for a series of measures between 1610 and 1621.
    Evidence: Universidad Complutense de Madrid, S. 1 f.
    „En su carta del 23 de junio de 1609 al rector de la Compañía de Jesús“
    Mónica Gudemos, La tensa coexistencia de los tiempos-espacios ceremoniales integrados, in: Revista Española de Antropología Americana, S. 1 f.. Original
    Evidence: Universidad Complutense de Madrid, S. 1 f.
    „arzobispo Bartolomé Lobo Guerrero“
    Mónica Gudemos, La tensa coexistencia de los tiempos-espacios ceremoniales integrados, in: Revista Española de Antropología Americana, S. 1 f.. Original

Response of the Church

  1. According to Hidalgo, the strategy changed from persuasion to repression. In 1610 Ávila received the post of visitor for idolatry, which was also given to other priests.
    Evidence: Universidad Católica del Norte, Abschnitt zur Extirpation
    „pasando de la persuasión a la represión“
    Jorge Hidalgo Lehuedé, Redes eclesiásticas, procesos de extirpación de idolatrías y cultos andinos coloniales en Atacama, in: Estudios Atacameños 42 (2011), S. 113-152, Abschnitt zur Extirpation. Original
    Evidence: Universidad Católica del Norte, Abschnitt zur Extirpation
    „Visitador General de Idolatrías que recibió Ávila en 1610“
    Jorge Hidalgo Lehuedé, Redes eclesiásticas, procesos de extirpación de idolatrías y cultos andinos coloniales en Atacama, in: Estudios Atacameños 42 (2011), S. 113-152, Abschnitt zur Extirpation. Original

See also

Scholarly literature and reference works

  1. Scholarly literature
    Universidad Católica del Norte: Jorge Hidalgo Lehuedé, Redes eclesiásticas, procesos de extirpación de idolatrías y cultos andinos coloniales en Atacama, in: Estudios Atacameños 42 (2011), S. 113-152, 1 January 2011. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
  2. Scholarly literature
    Universidad Complutense de Madrid: Mónica Gudemos, La tensa coexistencia de los tiempos-espacios ceremoniales integrados, in: Revista Española de Antropología Americana, 1 January 2010. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
Change log (1)

The change log is kept in German only.

  • : Aufgenommen

Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.