A Inquisição no espelho: a representação do Santo Ofício português pelos inquisidores (1605-1643)

Abstract

Abstract: This dissertation aims to understand how the Portuguese Holy Office repre-sented itself before society, in the first half of the 17th century - more specifically between the general pardon of 1605 and the battle against the Jesuits of the University of Évora, in 1641-3. That is, what is the point of view that the institution produced about itself and how did it present itself and defend itself before those who criticized it. When we realized that the Holy Office imagined itself not only as a judge of heresy, but as a defender of the Catholic Church itself, we sought to analyze the speeches that the institution produced to justify its action regarding the prerogatives over the judgment of heresy, the importance its existence for the disciplining of Portuguese society, and the privileges that the Court should obtain even if the matter did not touch on matters of faith and customs. Therefore, we investigated several topics with the intention of presenting, through the analysis of sources, the main speeches and positions of the characters mentioned in this study, that is, the communication that took place between the new Christians, inquisitors, Jesuits and the Crown. Finally, the analysis that addresses this dissertation will seek to answer the following issues: What are the topics and themes used in the defense of the Court? How were the discursive images of defense and justification of the Inquisition produced?