Tribunal de la Inquisició
Item
Country
ES
Name of institution (English)
Archive of the Kingdom of Mallorca
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
cat
Contact information: postal address
Carrer Ramon Llull 3, 07001 Palma de Mallorca
Contact information: phone number
0034 971177340
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
arm@arxregne.caib.es
Reference number
ES.07040.ARM/9
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Tribunal of the Inquisition
Title (official language of the state)
Tribunal de la Inquisició
Language of title
cat
Creator / accumulator
Tribunal de la Inquisición de Mallorca
Date(s)
1489/1824
Language(s)
cat
lat
spa
Extent
362 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Tribunal de la Inquisició fonds comprises documentation produced by the Inquisition of Mallorca. It is known that, during the first years, as in other Iberian Inquisitions, this court mainly persecuted conversos (Jews converted to Christianism after the expulsion in 1492 and their descendants) accused of Jewish practices. In Mallorca, there were waves of conversion of Jews to Christianity prior to the expulsion, namely in 1291 and 1435. Thus, on the occasion of the expulsion, the community of conversos was already significant and well-known.
The most intense period of persecution of the Inquisition of Mallorca against conversos was from 1488 to 1535, when 95% of the prosecuted people were charged for Jewish-related practices. From 1676 to 1691, conversos became, again, the most targeted, leading to 37 people being burnt at the stake and 238 being reconciled.
In most cases, consultation of inquisitorial documents should be complemented with research on other district courts and the Consejo de Inquisicion (Inquisition Council) fonds, which contains documentation produced by the Suprema, the institution with jurisdiction over all inquisitorial courts in Spanish territories.
The most intense period of persecution of the Inquisition of Mallorca against conversos was from 1488 to 1535, when 95% of the prosecuted people were charged for Jewish-related practices. From 1676 to 1691, conversos became, again, the most targeted, leading to 37 people being burnt at the stake and 238 being reconciled.
In most cases, consultation of inquisitorial documents should be complemented with research on other district courts and the Consejo de Inquisicion (Inquisition Council) fonds, which contains documentation produced by the Suprema, the institution with jurisdiction over all inquisitorial courts in Spanish territories.
Archival history
When the Inquisition of Mallorca was abolished in 1813, an inventory of the archive was prepared. This inventory reflected the extensive types of documents held in this archive, which included not only trials but also documents related to the economic and internal government of the institution.
In 1820, however, the building where the Inquisition was installed was raided, and documents were burned and destroyed. The surviving archive, much diminished, was deposited in the Secretaria de la Subdelegació de Rendes (Secretariat of the Revenue Subdelegation). In 1834, the archive was transferred to the care of the Comissió Principal d'Arbitris d'Amortització (Commission of Amortization Arbitrators).
The fate of the Inquisition of Mallorca fonds was diverse. Besides the part that was burned in a fire in 1820, some documents were kept or collected by individual holders. The trials pending resolution related to matters of faith were transferred to the Bishopric of Mallorca. Other cases were mostly taken to the secular courts created in this period. Some documents were also sent to Madrid and are currently preserved in the National Historical Archive. The process of transfer was especially intense in the period between 1905 and 1963.
In 1820, however, the building where the Inquisition was installed was raided, and documents were burned and destroyed. The surviving archive, much diminished, was deposited in the Secretaria de la Subdelegació de Rendes (Secretariat of the Revenue Subdelegation). In 1834, the archive was transferred to the care of the Comissió Principal d'Arbitris d'Amortització (Commission of Amortization Arbitrators).
The fate of the Inquisition of Mallorca fonds was diverse. Besides the part that was burned in a fire in 1820, some documents were kept or collected by individual holders. The trials pending resolution related to matters of faith were transferred to the Bishopric of Mallorca. Other cases were mostly taken to the secular courts created in this period. Some documents were also sent to Madrid and are currently preserved in the National Historical Archive. The process of transfer was especially intense in the period between 1905 and 1963.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Inquisition Court of Mallorca was founded in 1488. It was one of the smallest districts in Spain, with 5,014 square kilometres of area. Until the 1670s, its activity remained quite unstable in part due to intense jurisdictional conflicts with other ecclesiastical and secular institutions.
In the first decades, the court was mostly focused on persecuting conversos, who often saw their goods and properties being confiscated. This was, in fact, one of the most important sources of income of the Inquisition of Mallorca, which was essential to maintain its large staff. From 1514 onward, the confiscations began to decrease, and the court entered a deep financial crisis until it was declared bankrupt in 1534. Until 1578, the Inquisition of Mallorca had no stable inquisitors, only a lieutenant, who was also a canon of the cathedral chapter.
Concerning the repressive activity of this Court, there were four different phases. The first, from 1488 to 1535, was characterized by intense inquisitorial activity against conversos (95% of the total). From 1536 to 1675, the most intense persecution was directed against Christians for charges related to behaviours considered to be immoral, following the orthodoxy that arose during the Counter-Reformation process. From 1676 to 1691, Jewish practices became, again, the most targeted. From 1691 onwards, the court experienced a gradual decline, from which it never recovered until it disappeared.
The Inquisition of Mallorca was abolished in 1813. It reappeared for a short period during the reign of Ferdinand VII (1784–1833) but was supressed definitely in 1834.
In the first decades, the court was mostly focused on persecuting conversos, who often saw their goods and properties being confiscated. This was, in fact, one of the most important sources of income of the Inquisition of Mallorca, which was essential to maintain its large staff. From 1514 onward, the confiscations began to decrease, and the court entered a deep financial crisis until it was declared bankrupt in 1534. Until 1578, the Inquisition of Mallorca had no stable inquisitors, only a lieutenant, who was also a canon of the cathedral chapter.
Concerning the repressive activity of this Court, there were four different phases. The first, from 1488 to 1535, was characterized by intense inquisitorial activity against conversos (95% of the total). From 1536 to 1675, the most intense persecution was directed against Christians for charges related to behaviours considered to be immoral, following the orthodoxy that arose during the Counter-Reformation process. From 1676 to 1691, Jewish practices became, again, the most targeted. From 1691 onwards, the court experienced a gradual decline, from which it never recovered until it disappeared.
The Inquisition of Mallorca was abolished in 1813. It reappeared for a short period during the reign of Ferdinand VII (1784–1833) but was supressed definitely in 1834.
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Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2023
Bibliography
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Arxiu del Regne de Mallorca | Collections (official language of the state) |