Grand Inquisitor (Latin: Inquisitor Generalis, literally Inquisitor General or General Inquisitor) was the lead official of the Inquisition. The title usually refers to the chief inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition, even after the reunification of the inquisitions. Secretaries-general of the Roman Inquisition were often styled as Grand Inquisitor but the role and functions were different.
Grand Inquisitor | |
---|---|
Inquisitor Generalis | |
Appointer | Monarch |
Inaugural holder | Tomás de Torquemada |
Formation | 1483 |
Final holder | Jerónimo Castillón y Salas |
Abolished | 1820 |
The Portuguese Inquisition was headed by a Grand Inquisitor, or General Inquisitor, named by the Pope but selected by the king, always from within the royal family.
The most famous Inquisitor General was the Spanish Dominican Tomás de Torquemada, who spearheaded the Spanish Inquisition.
From | To | Grand Inquisitor[1] | Other positions held |
---|---|---|---|
1483 | 1498 | Tomás de Torquemada | Prior of the Dominican Convent of Santa Cruz, Segovia, 1477–1498 |
1499 | 1506 | Diego de Deza Tavera | Archbishop of Seville |
1506 | 1507 | Diego Ramírez de Guzmán | Bishop of Catania, Bishop of Lugo |
From | To | Grand Inquisitor | Other positions held |
---|---|---|---|
1507 | 1517 | Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros | Cardinal, Archbishop of Toledo |
From | To | Grand Inquisitor | Other positions held |
---|---|---|---|
1507 | 1513 | Juan Enguera | Bishop of Vich, Bishop of Lleida, Bishop of Tortosa |
1513 | 1516 | Luis Mercader Escolano | Bishop of Tortosa |
1516 | 1517 | Adrian of Utrecht | Cardinal priest of Ss. Giovanni e Paolo, Bishop of Tortosa, later Pope |