Inquisitorial Madrid in the Golden Age of Spain

The Madrid of Lope de Vega, Calderon de la Barca and other figures of Spain's Golden Age is also the Madrid of the fearsome Inquisition directed against the influx of Portuguese Jews and against New Christians of Jewish background, often merchants whose work allowed them to circulate throughout Europe and North Africa. Eradication or true conversion were only solutions proposed by the Holy Office. Since those conversos who fled Spain left no record dealing with their daily lives ib Inquisitorial Madrid, the best source for obtaining such information and for recreating the atmosphere of the era id the Holy Office itself. Accordingly, the author examines the reports written to the king by the civil servants and/or church officials charged with creating three spectacular autos de fe carried out in the Plaza Mayor: one in 1632 and two in 1680.