Everybody has heard of the Inquisition, the dreaded institution that pursued and tortured heretics, philandering priests and sexual deviants for a period of over 350 years, from the unification of Spain under Ferdinand and Isabella in the fifteenth century to the Napoleonic Wars. But who were its targets？ Why did it provoke such fear？ How and where did it operate？ Why was it founded, and why did it last for so long？

In lnqulisition, Toby Green brings this extraordinary period of history vividly to life by focusing on the hitherto untold stories of individuals from every section of society. ...

Everybody has heard of the Inquisition, the dreaded institution that pursued and tortured heretics, philandering priests and sexual deviants for a period of over 350 years, from the unification of Spain under Ferdinand and Isabella in the fifteenth century to the Napoleonic Wars. But who were its targets？ Why did it provoke such fear？ How and where did it operate？ Why was it founded, and why did it last for so long？

In lnqulisition, Toby Green brings this extraordinary period of history vividly to life by focusing on the hitherto untold stories of individuals from every section of society. We encounter witches in Mexico, bigamists in Brazil,seditious Freemasons, Hindus, Jews, Moslems and Protestants, fornicating priests and sodomizing sailors. It was a time when church-goers had to look suitably devout or they might be denounced, a curse during a game of cards could lead to an investigation, and stripping fat from a leg of lamb was enough to excite accusations of being a secret Jew. People from all walks of life lived in a permanent state of fear.

Though filled with tales of terror and the unspeakable ways in which human beings can treat one another, this is also a story of hope and the resilience of the human spirit, Inquisition tells this fascinating history in all its human richness and complexity, describing how countless people fought back against the institution - and their own fear - paving the way for a more inclusive society.

Acknowledgements xi

Glossary xiii

Chronology xv

Maps xx

PROLOGUE I

One- THE END OF TOLERANCE 17

TWO - SPREADING THE FIRES 45

Three- TORTURED JUSTICE 65

Four- ESCAPE 88

Five - THE ENEMY WITHIN 109

Six-- TERROR ENVELOPS THE WORLD 142

Seven - THE ISLAMIC THREAT 164

Eight- PURITY AT ALL COSTS 192

Nine- EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE 212

Ten - THE ADMINISTRATION OF FEAR 231

Eleven- THE THREAT OF KNOWLEDGE 256

Twelve - THE NEUROTIC SOCIETY 284

Thirteen - PARANOIA 315

Fourteen -- THE FAILURE OF FEAR AND

THE FEAR OF FAILURE 340

Notes 361

Bibliography 410

Index 439