Mexican Legal documents
Item
Country
US
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
1545 Massachusetts Avenue, Langdell Hall, Cambridge MA 02138 USA
Contact information: phone number
0001 (617) 495-4550
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
specialc@law.harvard.edu
Reference number
MA 02138
HOLLIS 3058477
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Call number
Title (official language of the state)
Mexican Legal documents
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Casa de Moneda
Tribunal del Santo Oficio de la Inquisición de la Nueva España
Date(s)
1577/1805
Language(s)
spa
Extent
2 boxes
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This collection comprises legal documents related to Mexican colonial history. It includes proceedings of the Mexican Inquisition and items related to the affairs of the Casa de Moneda (Mint) of Mexico and the Catholic Church.
The Inquisition-related documents are particularly interesting for the history of the conversos in New Spain. For instance, it is the case of inquests of "limpieza de sangre" (purity of blood) to prove a person had no Jewish ascendency, which was a requirement for accessing certain offices in the Iberian empires, in particular Inquisition offices. Some examples are the following:
Box 1, folder 2: Inquest on the filiation and "limpieza de sangre" of Doctor Don Antonio de Cervantes. April 29, 1619.
Box 1, folder 3: Inquest on the genealogy and "limpieza de sangre" of Doña Francisca Veles de Temiño, wife of Geronimo Lopez Paramo. February 15, 1624.
The Inquisition-related documents are particularly interesting for the history of the conversos in New Spain. For instance, it is the case of inquests of "limpieza de sangre" (purity of blood) to prove a person had no Jewish ascendency, which was a requirement for accessing certain offices in the Iberian empires, in particular Inquisition offices. Some examples are the following:
Box 1, folder 2: Inquest on the filiation and "limpieza de sangre" of Doctor Don Antonio de Cervantes. April 29, 1619.
Box 1, folder 3: Inquest on the genealogy and "limpieza de sangre" of Doña Francisca Veles de Temiño, wife of Geronimo Lopez Paramo. February 15, 1624.
Administrative / Biographical history
The history of the Inquisition in Mexico originates in the Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in Spain. After the Spanish colonisation of the Americas, the Inquisition's jurisdiction extended to Spanish America. The initial presence of Inquisitorial authority was felt after the arrival of the first missionaries, who, from 1521 on, were granted some inquisitorial authority to support the conversion of local populations. In this period, the destruction of Mexico's indigenous cultures became obvious. Later, it was decided to establish a new Inquisition court in Mexico. This new institution was established by royal decree of January 25, 1569, issued by King Felipe II (1527-1598), under the designation of Tribunal del Santo Oficio de la Inquisición en la Nueva España (Court of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in New Spain).
The tribunal's mission was to banish all ideas, opinions, and doctrines contrary to the Catholic orthodoxy in the newly conquered territories. The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in New Spain came to an end during the last years of the Viceroyalty. This dissolution was part of the Cadiz liberal movement, which, on February 22, 1813, decided to abolish the Inquisition in Spain and the American territories. However, the Inquisition of Mexico held its last session only in 1820.
The tribunal's mission was to banish all ideas, opinions, and doctrines contrary to the Catholic orthodoxy in the newly conquered territories. The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in New Spain came to an end during the last years of the Viceroyalty. This dissolution was part of the Cadiz liberal movement, which, on February 22, 1813, decided to abolish the Inquisition in Spain and the American territories. However, the Inquisition of Mexico held its last session only in 1820.
Access points: locations
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
Access, restrictions
13 archival units are available online:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2023
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Inquisición | Existence and location of copies |
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard Law School Library, Historical & Special Collections | Collections (official language of the state) |