Latest / The Rise of Colonialism: How Europe Divided the World — Fexingo History / The Portuguese Inquisition in Goa: Faith, Fear, and Empire
Transcript
- Lucas: So after we talked about the cartaz system and the Portuguese oceanic empire, I thought we'd look at something that really shows how Portugal tried to control not just trade, but also belief — the Goa Inquisition. Luna: The Inquisition in India? I didn't know it extended that far. Lucas: Oh absolutely. It was established in 1560, just a few decades after the conquest of Goa. And it lasted until 1812, with a brief break in the late 1700s. So over two and a half centuries, this tribunal was judging people in Portuguese India. Lucas: Now, the Portuguese had already set up the Inquisition in Portugal in 1536, and then in their colonies — but Goa was the only one in Asia. It was part of the Padroado system, where the Portuguese crown controlled the Church in its territories. Luna: Who were they targeting? Lucas: Initially, it was aimed at Christians who had converted from Hinduism or Islam but were suspected of secretly practicing their old faith — the so-called 'crypto-Hindus' or 'crypto-Muslims.' But it also went after Jews, New Christians, and even European Christians accused of heresy. Lucas: The first inquisitor to arrive was Aleixo Dias Falcão, who came in 1560 with a mandate to root out heresy. And he didn't waste time. The first auto-da-fé — that's the public penance ceremony — was held in 1563 in Old Goa. Over the years, hundreds of people were tried, and many were executed. Luna: How many executions are we talking? Lucas: Estimates vary, but probably around 60 or 70 people were burned at the stake over the whole period. But many more were tortured, imprisoned, or had their property confiscated. The real number of victims is much higher if you include those who fled or had their lives ruined. Lucas: One of the most shocking things was the destruction of Hindu temples. The Inquisition, working with the colonial authorities, ordered the demolition of hundreds of temples in Goa and surrounding areas. The famous Mangeshi Temple, for example, was moved from its original site to a location outside Portuguese territory, in what is now Karnataka. Luna: Wait — they moved a whole temple? Lucas: Well, they moved the deity and the congregation. The temple structure was destroyed, but the priests fled with the idol. The Mangeshi Temple we see today near Ponda was rebuilt in the 16th century by Hindus who escaped the Inquisition. It's a powerful symbol of resistance. Lucas: The Inquisition also targeted Hindu rituals and festivals. It banned things like the celebration of Diwali and Holi in public. And it forced Goan Christians to adopt Portuguese names, dress, and customs. The goal was total cultural assimilation. Luna: So it was more than just religious persecution — it was cultural erasure. Lucas: Exactly. And it had huge economic consequences too. Many of the wealthiest Hindus in Goa were merchants and traders. When they fled, they took their capital and networks with them, which hurt the Goan economy. Some went to the court of the Adil Shah of Bijapur, others to the Maratha kingdom. Lucas: Interestingly, the Inquisition also targeted European Christians who strayed. There's a famous case of an Italian Jesuit named — well, actually, there are several cases of missionaries who adopted local customs and were punished. The Church wanted a strict, uniform Catholicism. Luna: How did the local population react? Lucas: Resistance was mostly passive — flight, hiding practices, maintaining oral traditions. But there were occasional revolts. In 1583, there was the so-called 'Conspiracy of the Pintos,' where a group of Goan Christians plotted to assassinate the Portuguese viceroy. They were discovered and executed. Lucas: The Inquisition's power began to wane in the 18th century, especially under the Marquis of Pombal, who was a reforming prime minister in Portugal. He saw the Inquisition as an obstacle to modernisation and trade. In 1774, he actually banned the Inquisition in India, but it was briefly reinstated later. It finally ended in 1812. Luna: But the damage was done by then, I imagine. Lucas: Absolutely. The legacy is complex. On one hand, Goa today has a unique Indo-Portuguese culture — architecture, cuisine, music. But that fusion was built on a foundation of violence and coercion. And the Hindu population of Goa shrank dramatically — from a majority to a minority in the coastal areas. Luna: It must have created deep trauma that lasted generations. Lucas: Yeah. And it's still a sensitive topic in Goa today. There's a real tension between celebrating the Portuguese heritage and acknowledging the brutality. The Inquisition is not something you'll see in tourist brochures, but it's a vital part of the story. Lucas: You know, if today was actually useful to you, the way these stay ad-free is listener support — buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Just a way to keep these conversations going without any commercial breaks. Luna: It really does help. We put a lot of research into each episode, and knowing people value that makes a difference. Lucas: So back to the Inquisition — one thing I find fascinating is the role of informants. The Inquisition relied heavily on denunciations. Neighbors, family members, even servants could report someone. And the accused had no right to know who accused them. Luna: That must have created a climate of fear and suspicion. Lucas: Exactly. And it wasn't just about religious orthodoxy. The Inquisition also policed morals — adultery, bigamy, sodomy. It was a tool of social control. And the records are incredibly detailed. We have thousands of trial transcripts that give us a window into everyday life in colonial Goa. Lucas: For example, there's a case from 1585 of a woman named Maria da Silva who was accused of practicing Hindu rituals in secret. She had been baptized but was caught washing a Hindu idol. She was tortured, forced to confess, and then made to do penance publicly. Luna: That's heartbreaking. Lucas: It is. And it shows how the Inquisition reached into people's homes. The tribunal had spies and informants everywhere. Even the smallest slip — a comment, a gesture, a ritual — could lead to arrest. Lucas: One thing that's often overlooked is that the Inquisition also prosecuted Europeans for 'bad behavior.' There are cases of Portuguese soldiers who were punished for blasphemy or for having relationships with Hindu women. But the vast majority of victims were native Christians. Luna: It really seems like the Inquisition was more about controlling the local population than about purity of faith. Lucas: That's a pretty common view among historians. It was a way to enforce colonial hierarchy. The Portuguese were a tiny minority ruling over a large, diverse population. The Inquisition was a tool to maintain order and obedience. Lucas: And it's important to remember that this was happening while other European powers were expanding in Asia. The Dutch and English, for example, were more focused on trade and less on conversion. So the Portuguese approach was distinctively aggressive. Luna: It makes you wonder what Goa would be like without the Inquisition. Lucas: That's a great question. Probably a much larger Hindu population, a different cultural landscape, and maybe less of that Portuguese influence. But we can't undo history. We can only try to understand it. Lucas: And speaking of understanding — the archives of the Goa Inquisition are actually incredibly valuable for historians. They document not just persecution, but also everyday life — what people ate, how they dressed, their family relations. It's a goldmine. Luna: So it's like a dark but rich historical record. Lucas: Exactly. And that's what makes it so important to study — even though it's uncomfortable. These episodes of history force us to confront how power works.