El estado del personal inquisitorial de Mallorca a finales del siglo XVIII

Abstract

The analysis of the documentary sources existing in the National Historical Archive, from the Inquisition series, allows us to deepen how the internal structure of the court of the Holy Office of the kingdom of Mallorca was designed at the end of the 18th century, when its activity already indicated that it was in decline absolute and the only actions focused on the prosecution of prohibited books or the purging of responsibilities among religious accused of solicitations. Among the planned objectives we would highlight that of evaluating personnel costs and determining who was part of it, and with whom they were related. The main conclusion that emanates from this study is that in certain cases there was a true co-option in its transmission that was validated and allowed by the Supreme Council itself. Another of the conclusions that we have reached is to assess the connections that were made in the inquisitorial institution, especially among senior officials, thus configuring a true network of power that gradually spread throughout the territories of the Crown. Finally, we clarify the differences in personnel between the largest island, Mallorca, and the two smaller ones, such as Ibiza and, especially, Menorca. The latter after the first British occupation, the Holy Office had been completely dismantled.