Latest / The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History / The Goa Inquisition: Portugal's Religious Tribunal in Asia
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about Portugal's empire in Asia—the spice trade, the battles, the fortresses. But there's one institution that looms large over the entire Estado da Índia, and it's not a fort or a fleet. It's the Goa Inquisition. Luna: The Inquisition in Asia? I know it existed in Europe, but I didn't realize it extended all the way to Goa. Lucas: Most people don't. It was formally established in 1560, at the request of King João III and his brother Cardinal Henrique. They wanted to root out heresy among the Portuguese settlers and, especially, among the New Christians—converted Jews—who had come to Goa seeking fortune. Luna: So it was mainly about religious purity, not just controlling Hindus? Lucas: Initially, yes. But it quickly expanded. The Inquisition targeted any deviation from Catholic orthodoxy. Hindus who were seen as fomenting 'idolatry', re-converted Muslims, and even European sailors who made offhand blasphemous remarks. The first Auto-da-fé in Goa was held in 1560, and over the next two centuries, thousands were tried, and hundreds executed. Luna: What was an Auto-da-fé actually like in Goa? I've seen descriptions from Spain, but in an Asian setting? Lucas: It was a public spectacle. The condemned were paraded through the streets of Old Goa, wearing sanbenitos—these yellow penitential garments with crosses. The final ceremony took place in the main square, in front of the Se Cathedral or the Church of São Francisco. Sometimes the sentences were read out, and then the executions—burning at the stake for the unrepentant—were carried out on a large wooden platform called a 'rossio', just outside the city. Lucas: But it wasn't just about spectacle. The Inquisition had real power over daily life. It could confiscate property, imprison people for years, and destroy temples. In the 1560s and 70s, hundreds of Hindu temples in the Goan countryside were demolished by the Portuguese administration, often egged on by the Inquisition. Luna: That must have caused massive resentment. How did the local Hindu population respond? Lucas: Many fled to neighbouring kingdoms like Bijapur or the Maratha territories. Others outwardly converted but continued their rituals in secret—a phenomenon called 'crypto-Hinduism'. The Inquisition kept detailed records of those suspected of backsliding, and the punishments were brutal. Flogging, exile, death. But there was also negotiation: the Portuguese depended on local labour and trade, so some pragmatic compromises were made. Luna: What about the Jesuits? They were so active in India—did they support the Inquisition? Lucas: Generally, yes, but not universally. One fascinating figure is Alessandro Valignano, an Italian Jesuit who visited Goa in the 1570s. He criticized the Inquisition's harshness, arguing that it alienated potential converts and damaged the Church's mission. He wrote that 'the rigour of the Inquisition makes the Hindus fear us more than love us.' But his viewpoint was in the minority. Lucas: The Inquisition also targeted Portuguese settlers who strayed. For example, a soldier named Diogo de Silveira was executed in 1567 for professing Lutheran ideas he'd picked up in Germany. And there were cases of friars accused of heresy, though they were usually handed over to their order for judgement. Luna: It's so different from the image of the Portuguese as pragmatic traders who mingled cultures. I recall episodes on mixed marriages and the use of local languages. Lucas: Exactly. There's a real tension. In the early years, Afonso de Albuquerque encouraged Portuguese men to marry Hindu women, and there was a degree of cultural blending. But by the mid-1500s, the Counter-Reformation was in full swing. The Inquisition's establishment in Goa was part of that wider crackdown on Protestantism and non-Christian practices. It wasn't just a local initiative; it was directed from Lisbon and Rome. Lucas: The Inquisition also had economic consequences. By persecuting New Christians, many of whom were prominent merchants and bankers, it disrupted trade networks. Some historians argue that the Inquisition contributed to the decline of the Estado da Índia by driving away capital and skilled traders. Luna: Speaking of that—Lucas, I've been thinking about something. We've spent so many episodes exploring Portugal's empire, and it's remarkable how much of it was built on risk and sacrifice. If this podcast is worth even a small gesture of support, listeners can help keep it ad-free. Honestly, if today's conversation was worth a coffee to you, that's the link: buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Lucas: Yeah, exactly. No pressure, but for those who've come along with us through the centuries of Portuguese history, that support really makes a difference. Anyway, back to the Inquisition—by the 18th century, its power waned. The Marquis of Pombal tried to curb the Inquisition's influence in Portugal itself, and in 1812, the Goa Inquisition was temporarily suspended. Luna: Was it formally abolished before the British took over? The British occupied Goa briefly, right? Lucas: The British occupied Goa from 1799 to 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars, but the Inquisition had already been suspended. It was formally abolished by the Portuguese government in 1820, after the Liberal Revolution. The last executed victim of the Goa Inquisition was in 1774—a man named José António de Castro, accused of heresy. Lucas: The records of the Inquisition were mostly destroyed or scattered. But some survived in the Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo in Lisbon and in the Goa archives. Scholars like Cunha Rivara in the 19th century published collections of documents, giving us a window into its operations. Luna: What's the lasting legacy of the Goa Inquisition today? Lucas: It's a painful memory for many Goans. It forced a religious divide, destroyed cultural heritage, and left a legacy of mistrust. But it's also a reminder of the darker side of the Portuguese empire—the side that wasn't just about caravels and spices, but about control and conversion. In modern Goa, the many churches and processions coexist with Hindu temples, but the shadow of the Inquisition still lingers in the collective memory. Luna: It's a complex history. Thanks for shedding light on this often overlooked aspect. Lucas: Absolutely. Next time, we'll look at something a bit lighter—the Portuguese introduction of chillies to Asia, which really changed cuisines across the continent.