Latest / The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History / The Portuguese Inquisition in Goa: Fear and Faith in the Estado da India
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about the Portuguese empire in Asia — the spice trade, the carreira da India, the fortresses at Goa and Malacca. But today I want to dive into something darker that really shaped Portuguese India: the Goa Inquisition. Luna: The Inquisition in Goa — I've heard about it, but I don't know much. When did it start? Lucas: It was established in 1560, just a few decades after the Portuguese conquered Goa from the Sultanate of Bijapur. And it lasted, on and off, until 1812. But its roots go back to a system called the Padroado — the royal patronage of the Church. The Portuguese crown had the right to appoint bishops and missionaries in its overseas territories, and it used that power to enforce religious conformity. Lucas: The Inquisition was brought to Goa because the Portuguese authorities were worried about crypto-Judaism among converted Sephardic Jews, the cristãos-novos, who had fled Iberia and settled in Portuguese India. They were suspected of secretly practicing their old faith. Luna: So the Inquisition was initially aimed at Jewish converts, not Hindus or Muslims? Lucas: That was the original focus, but it quickly expanded. Within a few decades, the Inquisition was targeting anyone suspected of heresy — including Hindus, Muslims, and even 'New Christians' who had converted from Judaism. The tribunal had the power to arrest, torture, and execute people, and its methods were terrifying. Lucas: One of the key instruments was the Edict of Faith, which was read out in churches once a year. It compelled all Christians to denounce anyone they suspected of heresy — neighbors, family members, even priests — under threat of excommunication. And people were encouraged to inform on each other anonymously. Luna: That sounds like a recipe for paranoia and false accusations. Lucas: Exactly. And it was. The Inquisition held public autos-da-fé — 'acts of faith' — where condemned heretics were paraded through the streets of Old Goa, often wearing a sanbenito, a yellow garment painted with flames. The worst offenders were burned at the stake. These were big spectacles, attended by the viceroy and the archbishop. Lucas: The first Inquisitor-General was a Dominican friar named Dom Gaspar de Leão Pereira, who later became the Archbishop of Goa. He was a zealous enforcer. And the tribunal operated from the Inquisition Palace in Old Goa, which still stands — though it's now in ruins. Luna: Did any viceroys try to stop it? Lucas: Some did. Dom Constantino de Bragança, who was viceroy in the 1560s, actually clashed with the Inquisition over its harshness. He tried to protect some Hindu merchants who had been arrested, but he was overruled by the Church. The Inquisition had its own jurisdiction, independent of the civil authorities. Lucas: And that independence made it very powerful. The Inquisition could confiscate the property of the accused, so it had a financial incentive to keep going. It also controlled the censorship of books — you couldn't import or print anything without its approval. Luna: So the Inquisition wasn't just about religious purity — it was also about control. Lucas: Absolutely. It was a tool of social and political control. The Portuguese wanted to create a unified Catholic society in Goa, and anyone who resisted — whether by practicing Hinduism, Islam, or Judaism — was a threat. But the irony is that the Inquisition actually drove many merchants and skilled workers away, which hurt Goa's economy. Lucas: The decline of the Goa Inquisition began in the 18th century, under the Marquis of Pombal, the powerful reformist minister of King José I. Pombal was a rationalist who saw the Inquisition as an obstacle to commerce and royal authority. In 1774, he abolished the Inquisition in Goa, though it was briefly revived later. Luna: But the damage was already done, wasn't it? Lucas: Yes. By the time the Inquisition was finally suppressed in 1812, it had destroyed much of Goa's multicultural character. The Hindu and Muslim populations had been decimated, and the remaining cristãos-novos had either been absorbed or fled. The long-term impact is still visible today — in the architecture, with many Hindu temples destroyed, and in the collective memory of the Goan people. Lucas: There's a famous story about a Hindu merchant named Rama Kamal who was arrested in 1687. He was accused of performing Hindu rituals in his home. Despite his protests that he was a loyal subject of the Portuguese crown, he was tortured and eventually burned at the stake. His property was confiscated by the Inquisition. Luna: That's heartbreaking. And it shows how the Inquisition could destroy even wealthy, influential people. Lucas: Exactly. No one was safe. And the Inquisition also targeted the descendants of converted Jews for generations, because they were suspected of 'tainted blood' — the concept of limpeza de sangue. It was a racial and religious persecution combined. Luna: I didn't realize the Inquisition in Goa was so systematic. It's a dark chapter that doesn't get as much attention as its Spanish counterpart. Lucas: It's often overshadowed, but it was just as brutal. The Goa Inquisition lasted longer than the Spanish one, and it targeted a much more diverse population. In many ways, it was a laboratory for colonial religious control — methods that were later used in Brazil and Africa. Lucas: If you ever visit Old Goa, you can see the ruins of the Inquisition Palace and the Sé Cathedral, where the autos-da-fé were held. It's a sobering reminder of how faith and power can combine to terrible effect. Luna: I'd like to visit one day. It's important to remember these stories. Lucas: Absolutely. And that's a good place to leave it for today. Next time, we'll talk about how the Portuguese empire began to unravel in the 19th century. Thanks for listening.