Three Myths About the Spanish Inquisition

This chapter outlines the three myths about the Spanish Inquisition: the Inquisition tortured recklessly, the Inquisition used torture to punish, and the Inquisition extracted confessions of guilt. It shows that the primary goal of inquisitorial torture was interrogational, and not confessional as is often falsely believed. Drawing on hundreds of cases of inquisitorial torture, the chapter also illustrates that interrogational torture did provide the Inquisition with reliable information under very restricted conditions. The chapter reveals that interrogational torture was an imperfect source of information. Unlike many of their modern counterparts, inquisitors did not regard torture as easy, quick, or cheap. The chapter notes the five advantages that the Spanish Inquisition archives hold over contemporary and historical sources.