Put on the Witch’s Hood over the Clerical Habit: the Trial of the “Sorcerer” Clergy by the Lisbon Inquisition (18th Century)
Inquisition, Clergy, Early Modern Law, 18th Century
Portuguese modernity was marked by the phenomenon of the Inquisition, a religious tribunal responsible for persecuting heresies and extending its authority throughout the Lusitanian empire. Throughout the 18th century, numerous individuals appeared before the Holy Office in Lisbon, accused of a variety of crimes. Among them were members of the clergy who faced the tribunal under accusations of involvement in acts of witchcraft. In total, we analyze ten proceedings involving both priests and nuns. In this study, we seek to examine these cases in detail, aiming to understand how these religious figures were judged by the Tribunal of the Holy Office and to explore the dynamics established within the records between the accused clergy and the tribunal’s agents.