“All landless, and scattered all over the world”: the inquisitorial persecution of Jews and new Christians in Portuguese India (XVI and XVII centuries)

Abstract

The establishment of the Inquisition Tribunal in Spain (XV century) and Portugal (XVI century) stimulated the migration of Jews and new Christians, some of whom chose India as one of their destinations. However, the Goa Inquisition Tribunal was created in 1560 to maintain the Catholic orthodoxy in the Portuguese domains of the Orient, conquered since the arrival of Vasco da Gama in India in 1498.  The aim of the article is to demonstrate the persecution of new Christians, through analysis of letters written by inquisitors. The new-Christians were the main victims of the Inquisition in the Iberian Peninsula and in Goa (XVI century), but they denounced the arbitrariness of the Holy Office to kings and popes. Charles Dellon (a former prisoner) denounced the arbitrariness of the Goa Inquisition, and  the publication of his accounts gives rise to debate regarding religious tolerance in Europe.