The Portuguese Inquisition began operating in Evora in 1536. This ecclesiastical court arrested, tried and, in extreme cases, sentenced to death thousands of individuals for their beliefs and behaviour in Portugal and across its global empire, stretching from Africa to Brazil and South and East Asia.
Drawing on extensive archival research, this book offers the first comprehensive history of the Portuguese Inquisition, from its inception to its dissolution in 1821. It illuminates the tribunal's institutional and judicial life, including periods of crisis and intense persecution. At the heart of this study remain the stories of the victims: New Christians, Protestants, sorcerers, witches, and many others who questioned dogmas or the established social order.
