Have you ever wondered what the Spanish Inquisition was about and who it affected? In Spain, heretics were often considered a converso, a person who converted from Jewish or Muslim faiths, especially the former, who were put on trail for relapsing into their previous religions beliefs. Punishments for being convicted of heresy varied from fines, loss of property, exile, death by being burned alive at the stake, and/or life imprisonment. If the heretic repented, the final sentence could be made less severe but could still end in death. An excerpt from an description of an auto de fe at Toledo in 1692, details a list of prisoners, their crimes, and their sentences. "Don Pedro Diaz, alias Henrriquez, Portuguese, native of Madrid, money changer. Relapsed Jew, perpetuator of the blessed sacraments, refused absolution and penitence. Burned alive." The sentencing of those on trail were often held in a public Auto de Fe, "Act of Faith," which was often proceeded by a procession of the prisoners. These events could be very elaborate and were sometimes held during royal occasions and marriages. Before King Carlos II marriage to Princess Marie-Louise of France, a procession of seven hundred people went through the streets of Madrid. The prisoners were dressed in costume (a sambieno and corazos) that showed the sentences that they were to receive.
To learn more about the Spanish Inquisition and to see illustrations of the different kinds of sambieno's, the campus community can stop by the library entrance to see this display.
Check out these eBooks and other University resources below for more on the Inquisition.
Spanish Inquisition by
Spanish Attitudes Toward Judaism by
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