“That New and Severe Tribunal”: Discourse on the Inquisition in Golden Age Spain

Abstract

The Spanish Inquisition is often portrayed as a uniquely severe tribunal, defined by its unusual methods, a view traditionally attributed to the “black legend” created by anti-Spanish —and especially Protestant— propaganda in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This article nuances that interpretation through an analysis of printed works produced in Spain under Philip II, III, and IV: inquisitorial treatises, defences of the Catholic Monarchy, and, above all, historical writings. These sources show that Spanish discourse itself played a decisive role in shaping the image of the Inquisition as a rigorous, exceptional institution, singularly effective in suppressing Protestantism. In doing so, the article re-examines the interpretative paradigm built around the idea of the “black legend,” demonstrating that the most enduring traits in the representation of the Spanish Inquisition stemmed not only from its detractors but also from its apologists.