A representative of a bloody office

The Inquisition, established in the 13th century, took its toll on the Iberian Peninsula for about 350 years. In addition to the persecution of heretics, however, it was also an important instrument of power. From 1478, the Catholic kings of Castile and Aragon received permission from the Pope to exercise the Inquisition themselves and appoint its leader. One of them was Fernando NiƱo de Guevara, born in 1541 in Toledo, who was appointed Chief Inquisitor in 1599. He held the position for only three years, after which the Pope demanded that he be replaced because, despite his prohibition, de Guevara joined the Jesuit order. During his short reign, 240 people were declared heretics and burned at the stake, while 96 people who could not be found were burned in effigy, in addition, 1,628 people were found guilty and given lighter, non-death sentences.

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