The Spanish Inquisition in Mexico

While most histories of the Spanish conquest focus on military battles or the role of indigenous allies, this episode turns its gaze toward a different kind of power: the Holy Office of the Inquisition. We explore how the tribunal established itself in New Spain not just to punish heresy, but to enforce cultural conformity and social hierarchy among the colonizers themselves. Through the lens of autos-da-fé ceremonies and the surveillance of crypto-Jews, we examine the psychological terror wielded by the Church in colonial society. The narrative follows key figures like Francisco de Valverde and examines the specific legal mechanisms used to root out 'luso-brasileiros' and conversos who had fled Iberian persecution. By looking at the archives of the Mexican Inquisition, we uncover how fear became a tool for maintaining order in a distant, volatile viceroyalty, shaping the identity of New Spain long after the swords were sheathed.

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