Tribunal de la Inquisición
Item
Country
PE
Name of institution (English)
General Archive of the Nation
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
spa
Contact information: postal address
Jr. Camaná 125 con Pasaje Piura s/n, Cercado de Lima
Contact information: phone number
0051426 7221
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
agds@agn.gob.pe
Title (English)
Inquisition Tribunal
Title (official language of the state)
Tribunal de la Inquisición
Language of title
spa
Creator / accumulator
Tribunal de la Inquisición de Lima
Date(s)
1574/1815
Language(s)
spa
Extent
10,894 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This fonds comprises documentation produced by the Inquisitorial Court of Lima. From 1569 to 1820, the Inquisition of Lima prosecuted about 1,474 people, 32 of whom were condemned to death. Among them 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"), who were crucial for extending the territorial implementation of the court.
The documentation is organised into four main series: 1) judicial files (1671-1817); 2) "autos" (judicial documents part of any judicial trials) (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).
The fonds mainly 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 matters. It also includes royal decrees, provisions related to the court's functioning, and some notarial deeds.
In the National Historical Archive of Chile, researchers have access to the information they might require 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. Those archives also contain 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.
The documentation is organised into four main series: 1) judicial files (1671-1817); 2) "autos" (judicial documents part of any judicial trials) (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).
The fonds mainly 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 matters. It also includes royal decrees, provisions related to the court's functioning, and some notarial deeds.
In the National Historical Archive of Chile, researchers have access to the information they might require 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. Those archives also contain 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.
Archival history
The Lima Inquisition began to operate in 1570 in a building currently located in front of the Church of La Merced, in the Plaza Bolívar in Lima. Part of the Inquisition of Lima fonds was brought to Santiago after the Government of Chile purchased it on January 9, 1890. For the reasons that might explain why the documents of Lima came to Chile, see Vassallo (2010).
Sources:
Administrative / Biographical history
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, 48 of whom 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 first suppression of the Tribunal of Lima dates back to July 30, 1813. Restored in 1814, it maintained a nominal existence until 1820, when it was definitively suppressed.
The first suppression of the Tribunal of Lima dates back to July 30, 1813. Restored in 1814, it maintained a nominal existence until 1820, when it was definitively suppressed.
Sources:
Access points: locations
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2023
Bibliography
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivo General de la Nación | Collections (official language of the state) |