The Portuguese Inquisition: Faith, Power and Persecution in the Empire

In the wake of the Iberian Union and the crisis of Alcácer Quibir, the Portuguese Inquisition tightened its grip on the empire. Established in 1536, this tribunal targeted New Christians—Jews forcibly converted to Catholicism—and later extended its reach to Goa, Brazil, and beyond. This episode explores the Inquisition's origins under King João III, its brutal auto-da-fé ceremonies, and the notorious inquisitor-general Cardinal Henrique. We delve into the case of Diogo de Valadares, a New Christian merchant who fled to the Netherlands after torture, and the persecution of Hindu and Muslim converts in the Estado da Índia. The Inquisition also censored books, including the works of Camões, and shaped Portuguese culture for centuries. We examine how the Inquisition's legacy of intolerance contrasted with Portugal's global empire, and how its records provide historians with a unique window into everyday life and resistance. A sobering look at the intersection of faith, power, and fear in the Age of Exploration. #PortugueseInquisition #NewChristians #AutoDaFe #EstadoDaIndia #GoaInquisition #CardinalHenrique #JoaoIII #DiogoDeValadares #Censorship #LuisDeCamoes #IberianUnion #ReligiousPersecution #PortugalHistory #FexingoHistory #ColonialEmpire #Inquisition #History #CatholicChurch Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo