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 …

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 …

Along with its judges, the Inquisition had its armed retainers, extortionists, spies, and of course, torturers and executioners.

What was the Inquisition? The Inquisition, or Holy Inquisition, was the name given to a series of institutions and judicial procedures under the Catholic Church or clergymen serving secular rulers …

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.

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 …

The Inquisition is often categorized into distinct branches, notably the Spanish, Portuguese, and Roman inquisitions, with major targets including Protestant reformers, Jews, and Muslims who …

The Inquisition was a Roman Catholic tribunal for discovery and punishment of heresy, which was marked by the severity of questioning and punishment and lack of rights afforded to the accused.