Work

Slaves facing the Inquisition in the Crown of Aragón (1570-1660): crimes, repressive dynamics and defence strategies

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This article analyses the encounters between enslaved individuals and the courts of the Inquisition in Barcelona and Valencia between 1570 and 1660. Through a systematic analysis of the case reports and the inquisitorial processes of the aforementioned courts on the aforementioned dates, we have established the ethno-cultural and demographic characteristics of the slaves prosecuted, their criminal patterns and the differences between them and those of the free population, as well as the strategies implemented by the enslaved individuals to defend themselves against the Holy Office. Likewise, we have delved into the nature and rationale of some of the religious offences committed by these people, such as blasphemy or apostasy, trying to understand how they were understood by them and by the institutions of power according to their particular interests.

Source: Culture & History Digital Journal

DOI: 10.3989/chdj.2026.732

Author: Pablo Molejón

Institution: University of Oxford

Language: English

Topic: Sephardic Jews and Inquisition Studies

Subfield: History

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Institut d'Estudis Catalans, European Research Council