Tribunal de la Inquisición de Lima
Item
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Country
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CL
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Name of institution (English)
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National Historical Archive
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Language of name of institution
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spa
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Contact information: postal address
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Miraflores 50, Santiago de Chile
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Contact information: phone number
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0056 2 2997 85 11
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Contact information: email
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archivonacional.historico@archivonacional.gob.cl
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Reference number
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CLAN / HTIL
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Type of reference number
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Archival reference number
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Title (English)
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Tribunal of the Inquisition of Lima
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Title (official language of the state)
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Tribunal de la Inquisición de Lima
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Language of title
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spa
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Creator / accumulator
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Tribunal de la Inquisición de Lima
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Date(s)
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1518/1822
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Language(s)
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spa
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Extent
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513 books
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Type of material
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Textual Material
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Scope and content
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This fonds comprises documentation produced by the Inquisitorial Court in Lima. From 1569 to 1820, the Inquisition of Lima prosecuted about 1,474 people, of whom 32 were condemned to death; among the latter, there were 23 Conversos accused of "crimes of Judaism". The fonds reflects the activity of this court, which had a strong connection with other inquisitorial courts, royal institutions in Madrid, and local agents (the so-called "comissários") that were essential for extending the territorial implementation of this court.
The documentation is organised into four main series:
1) Judicial files (1671-1817);
2) "Autos" (1699-1820);
3) Documents related to the last years of the Inquisition of Lima (1796-1820);
4) "Ofícios", i.e. instructions and orders (1570-1793).
In general, the fonds contains documentation related to judicial procedures, reappraisal of goods, embezzlement of funds, inventories and seizure of assets, and irregularities in the administration of sacraments, among other subjects. It also includes a few notarial deeds, royal decrees, and provisions related to the court's functioning.
In the National Historical Archive of Chile, researchers have access to information through microfiches, which are difficult to read. The archive has a complete typed inventory.
The National Archives of Chile and Peru contain documentation from the Inquisition Court established in Lima. They also contain the documentation produced by the courts and court officials of Cartagena and Mexico and documents related to several "comissários" (inquisitorial officials) of Guatemala and other Spanish-American territories.
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Administrative / Biographical history
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On January 25, 1569, the Spanish Crown established new Inquisition courts in Lima and Mexico. From its origin to 1820, when the Tribunal of the Inquisition in Lima was abolished, 40 "autos da fé" were held, and about 300 people were trialled, of whom 48 were "relajados" (condemned to death). According to Jose Toribio Medina (1956), about 20% of the trials were of bigamy, the most common crime punished by the tribunal. The "crime of Judaism" represented nearly 17% of the Inquisition of Lima's trials.
The Tribunal of Lima was first suppressed on July 30, 1813. Restored in 1814, it maintained a nominal existence until 1820, when it was definitively suppressed.
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Sources:
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National Historical Archive website (Chile)
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Guía de Fondos Del Archivo Nacional Histórico: Instituciones Coloniales y Republicanas. 2009. Santiago do Chile: Dirección de Bibliotecas, Archivos y Museus.
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Vassallo, Jaqueline. 2010. “Archivo Nacional Histórico. Santiago de Chile. Sección Instituciones Coloniales: Fondo Inquisición.” Anuario II: 46–49
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System of arrangement
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The fonds is organised according to document type. Series are organised chronologically.
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Finding aids
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Some finding aids are available in the archive reading room.
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Author of the description
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Kevin Soares, 2023
