An inquisition was a Catholic judicial procedure in which ecclesiastical judges could initiate, investigate and try cases in their jurisdiction.

Feb 4, 2026 · Inquisition, a judicial procedure and later an institution that was established by the papacy and, sometimes, by secular governments to combat heresy. The name was applied to commissions …

Nov 17, 2017 · Beginning in the 12th century and continuing for hundreds of years, the Inquisition is infamous for the severity of its tortures and its persecution of Jews and Muslims.

In the first centuries of the Common Era, there arose beside the accusatorial system of Roman justice an inquisitorial (Lat. inquirere, meaning "to inquire") procedure that allowed magistrates to investigate …

While an inquiry can be almost any search for truth, the related word inquisition suggests a long, thorough investigation that involves extensive and harsh questioning.

The Inquisition, as a tribunal dealing with religious heresy, had jurisdiction only over baptized Christians. During a large part of its history, however, freedom of religion did not exist in Spain or its territories, …

The inquisition expanded to other domains under the Spanish Crown, including Southern Italy and the Americas, while also targeting those accused of alumbradismo, Protestantism, witchcraft, …

Jan 26, 1996 · When medieval people used the word "inquisition," they were referring to a judicial technique, not an organization. There was , in fact, no such thing as "the Inquisition" in the sense of …

6 days ago · Spanish Inquisition, (1478–1834), judicial institution ostensibly established to combat heresy in Spain. In practice, the Spanish Inquisition served to consolidate power in the monarchy of …

Jun 8, 2018 · Although the Inquisition was established by Pope *Gregory ix, it owed its name to the procedure instituted by Pope *Innocent iii (1198–1216) for searching out persons accused of heresy.