A Timeline of the Inquisitions
- 1220:
- Dominican order founded.
- 1231:
- Pope Gregory IX authorizes Dominicans to examine Cathar and other Christian heretics in southern France and Italy, the so-called "medieval inquisitions."
- 1357:
- Nicolas Eymeric compiles his manual of instruction for inquisitors, the Directorium Inquisitorum.
- 1391:
- Massacres of Jews across Spain; thousands forced to convert to Christianity.
- 1460s:
- Alfonso de Espina writes The Fortress of the Faith against Jews, Muslims and other Enemies of the Christian Faith.
- 1478:
- Pope Sixtus IV authorizes the Spanish Inquisition at the request of Ferdinand and Isabella, the "Catholic Monarchs" of Spain. (1:3, 2:1-2)
- 1480:
- First Spanish Inquisition tribunal becomes active in Seville; targets converts from Judaism (conversos) suspected of remaining loyal to their ancestral religion.
- 1483:
- Tomás de Torquemada named first Inquisitor-General of the Spanish Inquisition; organized inquisitorial tribunals in Jaén, Córdoba and Ciudad Real.
- 1492:
- Jews expelled from Spain; last Muslim enclaves in Spain seized.
- 1496:
- Jews expelled from Portugal; those remaining forced to convert according to edict which followed.
- 1515:
- Pope Leo X institutes pre-press censorship; not enforced.
- 1517:
- Martin Luther nails his "Ninety-Five Theses" on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg; Reformation begins.
- 1536:
- Calvin publishes the first edition of his Institutes of the Christian Religion.
- 1540:
- First auto-da-fé conducted by the Portuguese Inquisition; Jesuit order founded.
- 1542:
- Bernardino Ochino, head of Franciscan Capuchin order, flees Italy, converts to Protestantism.
- Pope Paul III establishes the Roman Inquisition.
- Limited press censorship, banning of Ochino’s works.
- 1545:
- Opening session of the Council of Trent.
- 1553:
- Michael Servetus burned alive by Calvinist authorities in Geneva after fleeing persecution in Spain.
- 1559:
- Pope Paul IV’s Pauline Index.
- Trials of prominent Spanish Protestants in Valladolid and Seville; focus of Spanish Inquisition temporarily shifts to Protestantism.
- 1563:
- Last session of the Council of Trent.
- 1564:
- Tridentine Index published.
- 1570:
- Spanish Inquisition establishes tribunals in Mexico and Peru.
- 1571:
- Congregation of the Index established by Pope Pius V.
- 1588:
- Pope Sixtus V creates Congregation of the Holy Roman and Universal Inquisition.
- 1600s:
- Royal pressure to allow Jews to return to Portugal; Inquisition responds with increased anti-semitic and anti-converso persecutions. (see autos-da-fé)
- 1633:
- Trial of Galileo Galilei by Roman Inquisition.
- 1720s:
- Wave of anti-converso trials worldwide. (see autos-da-fé)
- 1807:
- Napoleon defeats Spain, Spanish Inquisition halted.
- 1815:
- Spanish Inquisition restored by Ferdinand VII; continued debates over its existence.
- 1834:
- Spanish Inquisition officially ended.
- 1843:
- Edgar Allen Poe publishes The Pit and the Pendulum.
- 1908:
- Roman Inquisition becomes Holy Office.
- 1965:
- Pope Paul VI reorganizes Holy Office, renames it Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.
- 1966:
- Index of Forbidden Books abolished.
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