You will receive the quest to obtain specializations when you first get to Skyhold. You will first need to complete the “Specializations for the Inquisitor” operation on the command headquarters table. Upon completion, and no time is required to complete it, three mentors will appear in your fortress (according to the number of specializations that are available to each class). If upon arrival in Skyhold you did not have a quest added and there is no corresponding operation on the command table, then you should visit some location and return back to Skyhold. Then you should talk to each mentor and take from him an assignment to teach a particular specialization. You can complete all three quests from each teacher, but you can finally choose only one specialization. You can get an idea about each of the specializations from a conversation with your mentor, as well as by looking at the skill tree of your party members, because each of them has their own.

The Knight's Path

Taken from Lord Chance de Lyon. We collect majestic heraldic symbols in the Sacred Plain, defeating enemies here:

Veridium can be found in the same location. You can also ask Cullen to carry out a resource collection operation in the Sacred Plain at the command headquarters. A book with descriptions of the knight's techniques is either near Blackwall or bought from a seller in Val-Royeaux. Then we collect the standard on the application table next to the quartermaster and talk with Lord Chance de Lyon to finally choose a specialization.

The Ripper's Path

Taken from Tram Destroyer. We collect potions textbooks in Crestwood by defeating opponents in these locations:

Creeping Vine can be found in Sacred Plain, Emerald Graves, and Emprise du Lyon. You can also ask Leliana to carry out a resource collection operation in the Sacred Plain at the command headquarters. A book with descriptions of the ripper's techniques can be found either near the Iron Bull or bought from a seller in Val-Royeaux. Then we fulfill the last condition on the application table next to the quartermaster and talk with Tram Destroyer to finally choose a specialization.

Path of the Templar

Taken from Seurat. We collect broken templar vessels from demons in the Inner Lands.

Embryum can be found in the Hinterlands, Crestwood, and Emerald Graves. You can also ask Leliana to carry out an operation to collect resources in the Emerald Graves at the command headquarters. A book with descriptions of the templar's techniques can be found either near Cassandra or bought from a seller in Val-Royeaux. Then we prepare the potion on the application table next to the quartermaster and talk with Ser to finally choose a specialization.

Path of the Storm

This specialization is taught by Khim. We collect essence retention devices from demons in the indicated locations on the Storm Coast:

Spirit Essence is often dropped from ghosts. We look for a book with descriptions of storm techniques either in Sera’s room, or we buy it from a seller in Val-Royeaux. Then we collect a bottle of smoke on the application table next to the quartermaster and talk with Khim to finally choose a specialization.

Path of the Killer

The assassin's specialization is taught by the Heiress. Assassin's Guild Master's Badges are dropped by enemies in Crestwood in these locations:

A book with descriptions of killer techniques can be found either near Cole or bought from a seller in Val-Royeaux. The roots of death should be sought in the Western Reach or in the Whistling Wastes. You can also perform an operation at the command headquarters table by asking Leliana to collect herbs in the Whistling Wastes. After this, we collect the knife on the application table next to the quartermaster and talk with the Heiress to finally choose a specialization.

The mechanic's path

The task is taken from Three-Eyes. The needles of the needleback leaders are actually collected from their corpses in the Western Reach:

Obsidian can be found in the Hinterlands, Crestwood, Sacred Plain, and Emerald Graves. You can also send Cullen to collect resources in Crestwood by performing the appropriate operation on the command headquarters table. We look for a book with descriptions of mechanic techniques either near Varric, or buy it from a seller in Val-Royeaux. After this, we collect the tools on the application table next to the quartermaster and talk with Three-Eyes to finally choose a specialization.

Path of the Necromancer

This specialization is taught by Viuus Anaxas. We are looking for Nevarran skulls on the Storm Coast in the following areas:

Bloodstone is found in Emprise du Lyon or Emerald Graves. You can also send Cullen to collect resources in Emprise du Lyon by performing the corresponding operation on the command headquarters table. We look for a book with descriptions of the necromancer’s techniques either near Dorian, or buy it from a seller in Val-Royeaux. After that, we make a decorated skull on the application table next to the quartermaster and talk with Viuus Anaxas to finally choose a specialization.

Path of the Sorcerer Knight

The task is taken from commander Helen. Wisp Essence is dropped by ghosts in the Brown Mire in these areas:

We collect lapis lazuli in the Western Reach, the Sacred Plain and the Whistling Wastes. You can also send Cullen to collect resources in the Whistling Wastes by performing the appropriate operation on the command headquarters table. We look for a book with descriptions of the techniques of a sorcerer knight either near Vivien, or buy it from a seller in Val-Royeaux. After this, we make the hilt of the spiritual blade on the request table next to the quartermaster and talk with commander Elen to finally choose a specialization.

Path of the Rupture Magician

Quest issues your mentor. Venatori Tomes are obtained from Venatori corpses in the Sacred Plain in these locations:

Fine Velvet also drops from Venatori in the Sacred Plain. A book describing the magic of ruptures can be found either near Solas, or by purchasing it from a seller in Val-Royeaux. After that, create a book about gaps on the request table next to the quartermaster and talk to your mentor to finally choose a specialization.

The Middle Ages was an era of long bloody wars, mass executions and deadly epidemics. The increasing savagery of the people of that time became the root cause of all those nightmares and horrors that enveloped Europe.

The Holy Inquisition, already from the beginning of the 12th century, thus becomes an indicator of human cruelty and the desire to rule at any cost. Its main task was the search and extermination of heretics and apostates, in the person of scientists, oppositionists and ordinary peasants. People were tortured, rotted in prisons and sent to the undying fire of the Holy Inquisition.

Etymology

Inquisition(from Lat. . Inquisitio, "search", "investigation") - a separate judicial institution of the Catholic Church, the main responsibilities of which were the identification and eradication of heresy and blasphemy.

General name for a number of institutions Roman Catholic Church, whose task was to fight heresy.

History of origin

Beginning in the 12th century, the Catholic Church faced an unprecedented growth of alternative religious directions V Western Europe. In order to calm and overcome opposition movements, the papacy placed new functions on the shoulders of bishops, according to which they were obliged to identify, judge and transfer heretics to secular authorities for punishment.

In the 12th century Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbossa instructed dad Lucius III develop a scheme for searching and solving religious crimes. The pope, using the directive, obliged all newly arrived bishops to select informers from among the local residents, who were to notify the new hierarch of all crimes against the church in the area entrusted to him. The bishop collected all the facts of atrocities and sent them to special church courts.

Newly created ecclesiastical court of the Catholic Church was formed in 1215 by Pope Innocent III and got the name - "Inquisition".

In 1229 by Pope Gregory IX a special church tribunal, who was engaged in searching for, preventing and punishing the spread of heresies.

The essence and means of the Inquisition

The essence of the Inquisition was to determine the defendant’s involvement in heresy.

The Holy Inquisition searched for heretics and witches who were accused of having connections with evil spirits. An interesting fact is that in addition to the Inquisition of the Church, secular authorities were also involved in the persecution of witches.

Great importance was attached to sincere recognition. The Catholic Church tried to prevent extrajudicial killings by holding special inquisition courts. In addition to regular interrogations, Inquisition officials also used more sophisticated methods of obtaining information, such as torture. If the suspect survived during the “in-depth interrogation”, confessing and repenting of his crime, then the materials of his case were transferred to the court.

Typically, the sentences passed by the Inquisitorial court were reduced to death (burning at the stake) and were carried out by secular authorities.

Historical stages

The history of the Inquisition can be divided into 3 chronological periods:

• Dominican(persecution of heretics until the 12th century);
• Dominican(starting with the Council of Toulouse in 1229);
• spanish inquisition.

First period was characterized by episodic persecution of individual gentiles, and their trial constituted only a small part of the responsibilities of bishops.

During second period Special authorized inquisitorial tribunals began to be created, which were in the hands of Dominican monks.

Third period was marked by the transformation of the inquisitorial system into an apparatus for the centralization of monarchical power in Spain with the claims of its monarchs to complete political and religious supremacy in Europe. Distinctive feature This period begins the struggle with the Moors and Jews. Later, with the help of the Jesuit Order, a new fighting force of the 16th century Catholic reaction against Protestantism was created.

Spanish Inquisition

The Inquisition in Spain dates back to the 13th century. and is the most cruel and bloody persecution of the Catholic Church in the entire history of the Catholic Church. It reached its apogee already in the 15th century, thanks to the bull of Pope Sixtus IV, which defined the principles of observance of church doctrines, religious conversion to Christianity as the true faith of all Jews (to the Marranos) and Muslims (to the Morriscos) and the detection of heresies, followed by their exposure.

Regular persecution of infidels began with the reform of the inquisitorial system by Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, subsequently unifying Aragon and Castile into one monarchy.

In 1480, a special inquisitorial tribunal was created for the first time in the city of Seville., the purpose of which was to persecute people who secretly performed Jewish rituals.

In 1483, with the approval of Pope SixtusIVbecomes the High Inquisitor the spiritual mentor of Queen Isabella of Castile - who made his name synonymous with bloodthirstiness and fanatical cruelty that destroyed and maimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

Torquemada's main vocation was the complete religious and political unification of Spain. A whole network of special inquisitorial institutions was created, which included the Central Inquisition Council and four local tribunals, the number of which was soon increased to 10.

In addition, the Spanish government willingly entrusted the inquisitors with the role of censors, who carefully checked and banned all, in their opinion, immoral and heretical books, and their authors were persecuted and tortured.

Not only heretics, but also active political figures became objects of persecution. Very often, even wealthy citizens found themselves in the role of victims, having completely “correct” Christian beliefs.

In addition to the already familiar torture, the so-called acts of faith (auto-da-fé), the meaning of which was the public burning of dissident citizens objectionable to Torquemada and the Spanish crown. Subsequently, these processes were put on stream, destroying rich and status people, while confiscating all their property in favor of the state treasury and inquisitorial bodies.

The exact number of victims of the Spanish Inquisition carried out by Torquemada in the period from 1481 to 1498 is not fully understood, but according to calculations carried out in early XIX century, the number of victims could reach 100,000 people. Almost 9 thousand men and women were burned at the stake, 6.5 thousand were strangled and more than 90 thousand were subjected to torture and forced confiscation.

However, there is also newer data, according to which the “Grand Inquisitor” Torquemada was guilty of burning only 2 thousand people, which means the numbers of victims of the Spanish Inquisition are significantly exaggerated. But that's only part of the truth full picture and we are unlikely to ever know the exact number of victims.

Orthodox Inquisition in the Russian Empire

The position of the Orthodox Church regarding heretics was radically different from the principles that guided the Western (Catholic) Inquisition.

Inquisition in Russia ( Russian Empire) was introduced in 1721, when Tsar PeterI created the Holy Synod, with written in it Spiritual Regulations. One of the points of this law was the appointment of a special position - “Proto-Inquisitor”, which was filled by Hieromonk Paphnutius. According to the new norms, each diocese had its own “provincial inquisitor”, to whom the usual “inquisitors” from cities and counties were subordinate.

Inquisitors Orthodox Church, as a rule, were fiscals, and the object of their attention was the clergy and what was associated with their activities.

The duties of the inquisitor included:

• monitoring the implementation by clergy of the rules of the Spiritual Regulations;
• prohibition of simony (buying or selling church positions, rank);
• verification of suitability for the position held (archimandrite or abbot);
• fulfillment of the Holy Rules by the clergy.

In addition to their main functions, inquisitors monitored the collection of taxes from schismatics. If a spiritual mentor appeared among the Old Believers, he was immediately brought to the Synod, preventing the spread of Old Believer beliefs. In addition, the inquisitors were obliged to monitor the implementation of state laws, both among the clergy and among the peasants.

Spiritual Inquisition in Russia did not last long and was destroyed by Catherine I.

End of the Inquisition

Beginning with the Age of Enlightenment, the Inquisition began to lose its position.

An ardent opponent of the Inquisition movement was Sebastian José de Carvalho e Melo (Pombal), who was the first minister of King José I of Portugal. At his instigation, already in 1771, the Inquisition was deprived of the right of censorship and the auto-da-fe (act of faith, burning at the stake) was completely eliminated. and in 1774 the use of torture against prisoners was completely prohibited.

In 1808, the French Emperor Napoleon I Bonaparte completely abolished the Inquisition in the territories of Spain, Italy and Portugal he captured. Later, Pope Pius VII finally banned the use of torture.

After the Portuguese revolution of 1820, the Inquisition was finally abolished throughout the entire state, and since 1821 the Spanish colonies of Latin America also abandoned it.

In 1834, by decree of Queen Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Sicily, the Inquisition in Spain was finally abolished.

Due to the impossibility of further reviving the medieval inquisitorial movements, already in 1835 Pope Gregory XVI officially abolished all local inquisitorial tribunals, leaving only the Holy Office, whose duties included only excommunication (anathema) and the publication of the Index of Prohibited Books.

In 1966, Pope Paul VI officially abolished the Inquisition, creating in its place the Congeneración des Creeds and abolishing the Index.

On March 12, 2000, Pope John Paul II performed a rite of repentance for the sins of the sons of the church and their crimes during the Inquisition.

Books and films about the Inquisition

The events that took place during the era of the Holy Inquisition were reflected in literature. Among the most famous books about the Inquisition are:

• the story “The Well and the Pendulum” (author Edgar Allan Poe, 1842);
• novel “The Beauty of Leiden” (author Henry Rider Haggard, 1901);
• historical novel “Beautiful Margaret” (author Henry Rider Haggard, 1907);
• historical novel “Dogs of the Lord” (author Rafael Sabatini, 1928);
• novel “The Name of the Rose” (author Umberto Eco, 1980);
• novel “Memories of a Monastery” (author Jose Saramago, 1982).

Among the most significant films, reflecting the events of the time of the bloody Inquisition, it is worth noting:

• “The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928);
• "Galileo Galilei" (1968);
• "Giordano Bruno" (1978);
• "The Inquisitor: Well and Pendulum" (1990);
• "Warrior of God" (1999);
• "Joan of Arc" (1999);
• "In the Time of the Witches" (2005);
• "The Executioner" (2005);
• "The Last Judgment" (2006);
• "Black Death" (2010).

Inquisition(from lat. inquisitio- investigation, search), in the Catholic Church there is a special church court for heretics, which existed in the 13th-19th centuries. Back in 1184, Pope Lucius III and Emperor Frederick 1 Barbarossa established strict order search by bishops for heretics, investigation of their cases by episcopal courts. Secular authorities were obliged to carry out the death sentences they passed. The Inquisition as an institution was first discussed at the 4th Lateran Council (1215), convened by Pope Innocent III, which established a special process for the persecution of heretics (per inquisitionem), for which defamatory rumors were declared sufficient grounds. From 1231 to 1235, Pope Gregory IX, through a series of decrees, transferred the functions of persecuting heresies, previously performed by bishops, to special commissioners - inquisitors (initially appointed from among the Dominicans, and then the Franciscans). In a number of European states (Germany, France, etc.) inquisitorial tribunals were established, which were entrusted with investigating cases of heretics, pronouncing and executing sentences. This is how the establishment of the Inquisition was formalized. Members of the inquisitorial tribunals had personal immunity and immunity from the jurisdiction of local secular and ecclesiastical authorities and were directly dependent on the pope. Due to the secret and arbitrary proceedings, those accused by the Inquisition were deprived of all guarantees. The widespread use of cruel torture, the encouragement and reward of informers, the material interest of the Inquisition itself and the papacy, which received huge funds through the confiscation of the property of those convicted, made the Inquisition the scourge of Catholic countries. Those sentenced to death were usually handed over to the secular authorities to be burned at the stake (see Auto-da-fe). In the 16th century I. became one of the main weapons of the Counter-Reformation. In 1542, the Supreme Inquisition Tribunal was established in Rome. Many outstanding scientists and thinkers (G. Bruno, G. Vanini, etc.) became victims of the Inquisition. The Inquisition was especially rampant in Spain (where from the end of the 15th century it was closely connected with royal power). In just 18 years of activity of the main Spanish inquisitor Torquemada (15th century), more than 10 thousand people were burned alive.

The tortures of the Inquisition were very varied. The cruelty and ingenuity of the inquisitors amazes the imagination. Some medieval instruments of torture have survived to this day, but most often even museum exhibits have been restored according to descriptions. We present to your attention a description of some famous instruments of torture.

The "interrogation chair" was used in Central Europe. In Nuremberg and Fegensburg, until 1846, preliminary investigations using it were regularly carried out. The naked prisoner was seated on a chair in such a position that at the slightest movement, spikes pierced his skin. Executioners often intensified the agony of the victim by lighting a fire under the seat. The iron chair quickly heated up, causing severe burns. During interrogation, the victim's limbs could be pierced using forceps or other instruments of torture. Similar chairs had various shapes and sizes, but all of them were equipped with spikes and means of immobilizing the victim.

rack-bed

This is one of the most common instruments of torture found in historical descriptions. The rack was used throughout Europe. Usually this tool was a large table with or without legs, on which the convict was forced to lie down, and his legs and arms were fixed with wooden blocks. Thus immobilized, the victim was "stretched", causing him unbearable pain, often until the muscles were torn. The rotating drum for tensioning the chains was not used in all versions of the rack, but only in the most ingenious “modernized” models. The executioner could cut into the victim's muscles to speed up the final rupture of the tissue. The victim's body stretched more than 30 cm before exploding. Sometimes the victim was tied tightly to a rack to make it easier to use other methods of torture, such as pincers for pinching nipples and other sensitive parts of the body, cauterization with a hot iron, etc.

This is by far the most common torture and was initially often used in legal proceedings as it was considered a mild form of torture. The defendant's hands were tied behind his back, and the other end of the rope was thrown over the winch ring. The victim was either left in this position or the rope was pulled strongly and continuously. Often, additional weights were tied to the victim's notes, and the body was torn with tongs, such as a "witch spider", to make the torture less gentle. The judges thought that witches knew many ways of witchcraft, which allowed them to calmly endure torture, so it was not always possible to obtain a confession. We can refer to a series of trials in Munich at the beginning of the 17th century involving eleven people. Six of them were constantly tortured with an iron boot, one of the women had her chest dismembered, the next five were wheeled, and one was impaled. They, in turn, reported on another twenty-one people, who were immediately interrogated in Tetenwang. Among the new accused was one very respectable family. The father died in prison, the mother, after being tested on the rack eleven times, confessed to everything she was accused of. The daughter, Agnes, twenty-one years old, stoically endured the ordeal on the rack with additional weight, but did not admit her guilt, and only said that she forgave her executioners and accusers. It was only after several days of continuous ordeal in the torture chamber that she was told of her mother's full confession. After attempting suicide, she confessed to all the terrible crimes, including cohabiting with the Devil from the age of eight, devouring the hearts of thirty people, participating in the Sabbath, causing a storm and denying the Lord. Mother and daughter were sentenced to be burned at the stake.

The use of the term "stork" is attributed to the Roman Court of the Holy Inquisition in the period from the second half of the 16th century. until about 1650. The same name was given to this instrument of torture by L.A. Muratori in his book “Italian Chronicles” (1749). The origin of the even stranger name "The Janitor's Daughter" is unknown, but it is given by analogy with the name of an identical device in the Tower of London. Whatever the origin of the name, this weapon is a magnificent example of the vast variety of coercive systems that were used during the Inquisition.

The victim's position was carefully thought out. Within a few minutes, this body position led to severe muscle spasms in the abdomen and anus. Then the spasm began to spread to the chest, neck, arms and legs, becoming more and more painful, especially at the site of the initial occurrence of the spasm. After some time, the one attached to the “Stork” passed from a simple experience of torment to a state of complete madness. Often, while the victim was tormented in this terrible position, he was additionally tortured with a hot iron and other means. The iron bonds cut into the victim's flesh and caused gangrene and sometimes death.

The "chair of the Inquisition", known as the "witch's chair", was highly valued as good remedy against silent women accused of witchcraft. This common instrument was especially widely used by the Austrian Inquisition. The chairs were of various sizes and shapes, all equipped with spikes, with handcuffs, blocks for restraining the victim and, most often, with iron seats that could be heated if necessary. We found evidence of the use of this weapon for slow killing. In 1693, in the Austrian city of Gutenberg, judge Wolf von Lampertisch led the trial of Maria Vukinetz, 57 years old, on charges of witchcraft. She was placed on the witch's chair for eleven days and nights, while the executioners burned her legs with a red-hot iron (insleplaster). Maria Vukinetz died under torture, going crazy from pain, but not confessing to the crime.

According to its inventor, Ippolito Marsili, the introduction of the Vigil marked a turning point in the history of torture. Modern system obtaining a confession does not involve causing bodily harm. There are no broken vertebrae, twisted ankles, or shattered joints; the only substance that suffers is the victim's nerves. The idea of ​​the torture was to keep the victim awake for as long as possible, a kind of insomnia torture. But the Vigil, which was not initially viewed as cruel torture, took various, sometimes extremely cruel, forms.

The victim was raised to the top of the pyramid and then gradually lowered. The top of the pyramid was supposed to penetrate the area of ​​the anus, testicles or coccyx, and if a woman was tortured, then the vagina. The pain was so severe that the accused often lost consciousness. If this happened, the procedure was delayed until the victim woke up. In Germany, “vigil torture” was called “cradle guarding.”

This torture is very similar to the “vigil torture.” The difference is that the main element of the device is a pointed wedge-shaped corner made of metal or hardwood. The interrogated person was suspended over a sharp corner, so that this corner rested on the crotch. A variation of the use of the “donkey” is to tie a weight to the legs of the interrogated person, tied and fixed at a sharp angle.

A simplified form of the “Spanish Donkey” can be considered a stretched rigid rope or a metal cable called a “Mare”, more often this type of weapon is used on women. The rope stretched between the legs is lifted as high as possible and the genitals are rubbed until they bleed. The rope type of torture is quite effective as it is applied to the most sensitive parts of the body.

brazier

In the past, there was no Amnesty International association, no one intervened in the affairs of justice and did not protect those who fell into its clutches. The executioners were free to choose any, from their point of view, suitable means for obtaining confessions. They often also used a brazier. The victim was tied to the bars and then "roasted" until they received genuine repentance and confession, which led to the discovery of new criminals. And the cycle continued.

In order to the best way To perform this torture procedure, the accused was placed on one of the types of racks or on a special large table with a rising middle part. After the victim's arms and legs were tied to the edges of the table, the executioner began work in one of several ways. One of these methods involved forcing the victim to swallow a large amount of water using a funnel, then hitting the distended and arched abdomen. Another form involved placing a cloth tube down the victim's throat through which water was slowly poured, causing the victim to swell and suffocate. If this was not enough, the tube was pulled out, causing internal damage, and then inserted again, and the process was repeated. Sometimes cold water torture was used. In this case, the accused lay naked on a table under a stream of ice water for hours. It is interesting to note that this type of torture was considered light, and confessions obtained in this way were accepted by the court as voluntary and given by the defendant without the use of torture.

The idea of ​​mechanizing torture was born in Germany and nothing can be done about the fact that the Maid of Nuremberg has such origins. She got her name because of her resemblance to a Bavarian girl, and also because her prototype was created and first used in the dungeon of the secret court in Nuremberg. The accused was placed in a sarcophagus, where the body of the unfortunate man was pierced with sharp spikes, located so that none of the vital organs were affected, and the agony lasted for quite a long time. The first case of legal proceedings using the "Maiden" dates back to 1515. It was described in detail by Gustav Freytag in his book "bilder aus der deutschen vergangenheit". Punishment befell the perpetrator of the forgery, who suffered inside the sarcophagus for three days.

Wheeling

A person sentenced to be wheeled was broken with an iron crowbar or wheel, all the large bones of his body were then tied to a large wheel, and the wheel was placed on a pole. The condemned person found himself face up, looking at the sky, and died this way from shock and dehydration, often for quite a long time. The suffering of the dying man was aggravated by the birds pecking at him. Sometimes, instead of a wheel, they simply used a wooden frame or a cross made of logs.

Vertically mounted wheels were also used for wheeling.

Wheeling is a very popular system of both torture and execution. It was used only when accused of witchcraft. Typically the procedure was divided into two phases, both of which were quite painful. The first consisted of breaking most of the bones and joints with the help of a small wheel called a crushing wheel, equipped on the outside with many spikes. The second was designed in case of execution. It was assumed that the victim, broken and mutilated in this way, would literally, like a rope, slide between the spokes of a wheel onto a long pole, where he would remain to await death. A popular version of this execution combined wheeling and burning at the stake - in this case, death occurred quickly. The procedure was described in the materials of one of the trials in Tyrol. In 1614, a tramp named Wolfgang Zellweiser from Gastein, found guilty of intercourse with the devil and sending a storm, was sentenced by the court of Leinz to both be thrown on the wheel and burned at the stake.

Limb press or “Knee crusher”

A variety of devices for crushing and breaking joints, both knee and elbow. Numerous steel teeth, penetrating inside the body, inflicted terrible puncture wounds, causing the victim to bleed.

The “Spanish boot” was a kind of manifestation of “engineering genius”, since the judicial authorities during the Middle Ages took care that the best masters They created more and more advanced devices that made it possible to weaken the prisoner’s will and to achieve a confession faster and easier. The metal “Spanish Boot,” equipped with a system of screws, gradually compressed the victim’s lower leg until the bones were broken.

The Iron Shoe is a close relative of the Spanish Boot. In this case, the executioner “worked” not with the lower leg, but with the foot of the interrogated person. Using the device too hard usually resulted in broken tarsus, metatarsus, and toe bones.

This medieval device, it should be noted, was highly valued, especially in northern Germany. Its function was quite simple: the victim's chin was placed on a wooden or iron support, and the cap of the device was screwed onto the victim's head. First, the teeth and jaws were crushed, then, as the pressure increased, brain tissue began to flow out of the skull. Over time, this instrument lost its significance as a murder weapon and became widespread as an instrument of torture. Despite the fact that both the cover of the device and the lower support are lined with a soft material that does not leave any marks on the victim, the device brings the prisoner into a state of “readiness to cooperate” after just a few turns of the screw.

The pillory has been a widespread method of punishment at all times and under any social system. The convicted person was placed in the pillory for a certain time, from several hours to several days. Bad weather during the punishment period aggravated the victim’s situation and increased the torment, which was probably considered as “divine retribution.” The pillory, on the one hand, could be considered a relatively mild method of punishment, in which the guilty were simply exposed in a public place to public ridicule. On the other hand, those chained to the pillory were completely defenseless before the “court of the people”: anyone could insult them with a word or action, spit at them or throw a stone - quiet treatment, the cause of which could be popular indignation or personal enmity, sometimes led to injury or even the death of the convicted person.

This instrument was created as a pillory in the shape of a chair, and was sarcastically named "The Throne". The victim was placed upside down, and her legs were strengthened with wooden blocks. This type of torture was popular among judges who wanted to follow the letter of the law. In fact, the laws governing torture only allowed the Throne to be used once during interrogation. But most judges circumvented this rule by simply calling the next session a continuation of the same first one. Using "Tron" allowed it to be declared as one session, even if it lasted 10 days. Since the use of the Tron did not leave permanent marks on the victim's body, it was very suitable for long-term use. It should be noted that at the same time as this torture, prisoners were also tortured with water and a hot iron.

It could be wooden or iron, for one or two women. It was an instrument of mild torture, with rather psychological and symbolic meaning. There is no documented evidence that the use of this device resulted in physical injury. It was applied mainly to those guilty of slander or insult to personality; the victim’s arms and neck were secured in small holes, so that the punished woman found herself in a prayer position. One can imagine the victim's suffering from poor circulation and pain in the elbows when the device was worn for a long period of time, sometimes for several days.

A brutal instrument used to restrain a criminal in a cross-like position. It is credible that the Cross was invented in Austria in the 16th and 17th centuries. This follows from the book “Justice in Old Times” from the collection of the Museum of Justice in Rottenburg ob der Tauber (Germany). A very similar model, which was located in the tower of a castle in Salzburg (Austria), is mentioned in one of the most detailed descriptions.

The suicide bomber was seated on a chair with his hands tied behind his back, and an iron collar rigidly fixed the position of his head. During the execution process, the executioner tightened the screw, and the iron wedge slowly entered the skull of the condemned man, leading to his death.

A neck trap is a ring with nails on the inside and a trap-like device on the outside. Any prisoner who tried to hide in the crowd could be easily stopped using this device. After being caught by the neck, he could no longer free himself, and he was forced to follow the overseer without fear that he would resist.

This instrument really resembled a double-sided steel fork with four sharp spikes piercing the body under the chin and in the sternum area. It was tightly fastened with a leather belt to the criminal's neck. This type of fork was used in trials for heresy and witchcraft. Penetrating deeply into the flesh, it caused pain with any attempt to move the head and allowed the victim to speak only in an unintelligible, barely audible voice. Sometimes the Latin inscription “I renounce” could be read on the fork.

The instrument was used to stop the victim's shrill screams, which bothered the inquisitors and interfered with their conversation with each other. An iron tube inside the ring was pushed tightly into the victim's throat, and the collar was locked with a bolt at the back of the head. The hole allowed air to pass through, but if desired, it could be plugged with a finger and cause suffocation. This device was often used in relation to those condemned to be burned at the stake, especially at the large public ceremony called Auto-da-Fé, when heretics were burned by the dozen. The iron gag made it possible to avoid a situation where convicts drown out spiritual music with their screams. Giordano Bruno, guilty of being too progressive, was burned in Rome in the Campo dei Fiori in 1600 with an iron gag in his mouth. The gag was equipped with two spikes, one of which, piercing the tongue, came out under the chin, and the second crushed the roof of the mouth.

There is nothing to say about her, except that she caused death even worse than death at the stake. The weapon was operated by two men who sawed the condemned man suspended upside down with his legs tied to two supports. The very position itself, which caused blood flow to the brain, forced the victim to experience unheard-of torment for a long time. This instrument was used as punishment for various crimes, but was especially readily used against homosexuals and witches. It seems to us that this remedy was widely used by French judges in relation to witches who became pregnant by the “devil of nightmares” or even by Satan himself.

Women who had sinned by abortion or adultery had a chance to become acquainted with this subject. Having heated its sharp teeth white-hot, the executioner tore the victim's chest into pieces. In some areas of France and Germany, until the 19th century, this instrument was called the “Tarantula” or “Spanish Spider”.

This device was inserted into the mouth, anus or vagina, and when the screw was tightened, the segments of the “pear” opened as much as possible. As a result of this torture, internal organs were seriously damaged, often leading to death. When opened, the sharp ends of the segments dug into the wall of the rectum, pharynx or cervix. This torture was intended for homosexuals, blasphemers and women who had abortions or sinned with the Devil.

Cells

Even if the space between the bars was sufficient to push the victim into it, there was no chance for it to get out, since the cage was hung very high. Often the size of the hole at the bottom of the cage was such that the victim could easily fall out of it and break. The anticipation of such an end aggravated the suffering. Sometimes the sinner in this cage, suspended from a long pole, was lowered under water. In the heat, the sinner could be hung in it in the sun for as many days as he could endure without a drop of water to drink. There are known cases when prisoners, deprived of food and drink, died in such cells from hunger and their dried remains terrified their fellow sufferers.

For any action, sooner or later there is a reaction. That is why the once valiant army of the Inquisition began to fight the unknown power of witches.

What motivated them? Since in any action, even the most destructive, there is always a piece of constructiveness, then there was meaning in this cruel and all-consuming witch hunt. But which one!? Why did the inquisitors find many minions for themselves? Why was it so important for them to find and destroy all the beauties? Why did witches cause so much fear and anger in the church?

I will try to answer all questions. But first, let’s plunge into those times when the church was furious, calling everyone heretics left and right, and gathering crowds of appointed “volunteers” for “conversations with passion.” Why was she angry?

There were several reasons for this. Known to everyone - the struggle for power and enrichment with both money and knowledge. The Church put its crosses on the blood of those who did not submit to the Gentiles, seizing territories, libraries, treasuries and the minds of people. She made every effort to make friends with the ruling elite, crushing it under herself. Crusades, intrigue, anathema and the recognition of the disobedient as possessed and heretics were the usual methods of the church of that time.

Another reason is not obvious to everyone. Although there is a desire of the church to please the ruling system and help maintain order and obedience of the people, because in this case the church will only benefit. Order and obedience really had to be maintained, because times were not easy - fires, droughts, epidemics, sudden deaths of important officials. And THESE people were to blame! THEY overstepped the prohibitions! Brash, arrogant, rebellious, fanatical, embittered and dangerous, THEY aroused fear and respect among ordinary people. This undermined the power of the church and those who were at one with it.

Therefore, the church, out of hopelessness and despair, had to take extreme measures - release its army of inquisitors to fight this infection, which was corrupting order and disturbing with its provocations. Who are these dirty provocateurs? Oh, these were insidious creatures - Witches and Sorcerers - they are fiends of hell, minions of the devil, dirty heretics who tried to undermine the rightness and truth of the church. They poisoned, sent illnesses and sorrows to the venerable nobles and their lands. They defamed the names of the church and ruling circles. They must be purified through suffering and fire, only in this way could their souls be saved.

The inquisitors spared no one, did not let anyone off the hook, and only thanks to them, the church became even more enriched with knowledge, money and further strengthened its power, based on blood, fear and prayers to the true God.

This article began with the phrase: “For every action, sooner or later there is a reaction.”Why did such an unruly force as the Witches appear? And to what action did they act as a reaction?

If we look at religious texts and delve into mythology, we will see the following: all nations agree that there once was a different, good time. It is called differently: life in Paradise, Golden Age, Satya Yuga, etc. What is important is not this, but the fact that the time recorded and passed on to other generations was beautiful. And then dark times came with the struggle for power, with fratricide, with the measurability of the righteousness and holiness of this or that God. The time has come, saturated with betrayal, lies, envy and loss of meaning.

When people began to oppress each other, and order began to turn into chaos, one of the Faces of the Great Moon gave the world magic. Not everyone, but only those in whom the spark still burned, who could hear Her call, were lucky enough to know this art. They - Witches and Sorcerers - were raised and called upon by the Moon to preserve and maintain order, for retribution and liberation. That's why kings bowed their heads before them, that's why simple people they asked them for help, which is why the church was angry and wanted to eradicate THEM.

This struggle between order and chaos, the struggle to establish one’s truth continues today. Reborn Witch Souls can now be found often. Some have found themselves in psychology, others are great at promoting or are advancing in fashion, politics, religion and trade. Someone continues their path and brings order, harmony and justice to the world, practicing magical craft - their true business. But there are also those who were broken by the fires of forgotten years; they, without even realizing the reasons, are very afraid of everything magical and mystical, because it hurts and is scary somewhere inside...

Reborn Inquisitors, clergy and others like them are also found among people. Someone again became a religious fanatic, foaming at the mouth to prove the true truth of his faith. Someone is back in power, someone is doing the same thing - exposing everyone and everything, poisoning lives and robbing the population, taking away the crumbs, and someone himself is somehow interested in mysticism and magic, knows that it exists, but how - he's afraid...

And it also happens that participants in previous battles who were on opposite sides of the fire meet again. And passions flare up again. Different feelings flare up between them - fear, attraction, interest, pain, resentment, hatred, love, the desire to trample, the desire to be together, the desire to forgive and be free... And again, someone will have to go into the fire, and someone will set it on fire . But will the reincarnated inquisitors and witches switch places? Or maybe they will choose forgiveness, sort out the brushwood, put out the burning torch, and peace will come to their souls?

The Goddess of Fate gives us the opportunity to receive different experiences, to understand the feelings and motives of our victims and offenders, to untie the old knots. But are we so wise to do this and not start new ones?...

I am for magic, justice, truth and order. Every real Magician for that. However, everyone has their own path and their own choice. So you do what will allow both you and those whose fate is tied to yours to free yourself and live happily now.

Reborn many times

Article one. CRIMES WHICH SHE UNDERTAKED INVESTIGATION

I. Although the popes, in establishing the Inquisition, intended only a search and

punishment for the crime of heresy (moreover, apostasy from the faith

was considered as a special case), however, from the very beginning, the inquisitors

because it was the only means that could lead to

the discovery of real heretics. A bad reputation in this regard has served

sufficient precedent to justify an inquiry and usually gave rise to

to denunciations; Far from being evidence of a wrongdoing, it established only a simple

suspicion. This suspicion resulted from actions or words indicating

harmful beliefs and erroneous opinions about Catholic dogmas; it

was allowed only when criminal behavior and conversations were

fully proven. Crimes that have nothing to do with belief are not

could make their perpetrators suspected of heresy, and the investigation of these

crimes belonged by right to secular judges.

However, among these

there were crimes that dads thought they couldn’t be involved in

guilty without the penetration of harmful teachings; therefore, although secular judges

persecuted their perpetrators according to ordinary laws, inquisitors

was obliged to consider these accused as suspected of

heresies and act against them to ascertain whether they have committed these

crimes due to a person's inherent inclination towards evil or because they

these acts were not considered criminal. The latter circumstance allowed

to think that they were mistaken in dogma. To this category of offenses

belongs to a family of blasphemies known as heretical. They

were spoken against God and his saints, which indicated that the perpetrators

erroneous idea of ​​the omnipotence of God or some other

property of a deity. And this gave rise to suspicion of heresy, at least these

blasphemy and were uttered in a passion, during an argument or in

drunkenness, because the inquisitors could look at them as

proof that the habitual beliefs of the blasphemers were repugnant

faith (Eymeric. Guide for inquisitors. Part II. Question 1.).

II. The second type of offenses that gave rise to suspicion of heresy were

witchcraft and divination. Aymeric admits that these offenses are entirely

belong to the competence of the secular court when the perpetrators try to open

future by simple, natural means, such as through

reading lines on the palms of the hands or something like that;

but he adds

on the basis of the apostolic rules that every fortuneteller and every person,

whoever indulges in witchcraft becomes suspected of heresy and must be

punished by the Inquisition as a heretic when he commits to prophecy the future baptism of the deceased, baptizes the child again, uses holy water from sacraments of baptism, holy ointment

sacraments of confirmation

, oil from catechism

him or the abuse of sacraments, religious secrets and rituals.

III. The same suspicion weighed on the persons who approached in their

superstitious activities towards demons or those who used any other

a procedure of this kind for the purposes in question (Ibid. Issue 52.). By

As enlightenment increases in Europe, we see the disappearance of stupid

credulity in these and similar superstitious means used for

guessing the future. But due to the fact that in the Middle Ages this kind

the crimes were very common, considered important for the policy of the Roman Curia

subject them to its jurisdiction.

IV. The third type of offense that entailed suspicion of heresy was

summoning demons. This crime can be committed under the same

circumstances, as well as blasphemy, because people call upon evil spirits in

anger, passion, violence, rage or boredom, and this due to frequent

consumption becomes a habit, of course, criminal, but without any

the slightest relation to heresy. In the 13th and subsequent centuries false opinions

(which arose in an era when there was no sound criticism) did very

common crime of summoning demons from whom they hoped to receive

mercy. Nicholas Eymeric seems conscientious in all his writings

writer, and when he tells the facts, which for him are

extraordinary, you can rely on him. He tells us that when he was

he took out his inquisitor and then burned after reading two books on evocation

demons, one called the Key of Solomon and the other - the Treasure of Necromancy.

Both of them talked about the power of demons (and it was depicted

very broad), about the cult that should be rendered to them, and about prayers, with

with whom to contact them to receive their patronage. Those who believed the teaching

these books were used to when they wanted to mutually bind themselves regarding

swearing something, swearing on the words of the Key of Solomon, as they do

Christians, swearing on the Gospel.

trials for the crime of summoning demons and that many of the accused went

that they rendered worship to Satan with all the signs, rituals and

words with which Catholics accompany their appeal to God himself, because

that they considered Satan to be a deity hostile to God and invested with power,

equal or even greater than the power of God (Eymeric. Guide for

inquisitors. Part II. Question 43.). Others only believed that evil spirits

equal to the good angels and Christian saints, and therefore they were given veneration

Among the evil spirits they distinguished their head, Lucifer, whom they considered

the most powerful. There was also a third class of people devoted to this

same cult; they resorted to spells to summon shadows, like

Saul, who resorted to the help of a sorceress to summon the shadow of Samuel (Ibid.)

Thanks to the progress of enlightenment, the human mind can no longer fear

the return of such extravagances.

V. There was a fourth type of crime that gave rise to

suspicion of heresy: this was the case when excommunicated

stayed a year or longer without applying for the lifting of excommunication, without fulfilling the

this penance imposed on him. The popes assured that not a single one is perfect in

faith, a Catholic cannot live under the weight of church punishment with such

indifference, and, combining this kind of neglect with suspicion of heresy,

requests to lift the excommunication (Ibid. Issue 47.)."

VI. Schism was the fifth reason for suspicion of heresy. She can

exist without this suspicion or accompany it.

To the first category

belong to schismatics who recognize all the tenets of faith, but deny duty

obedience to the bishop of Rome as the visible head of the Church and vicar of Jesus

Christ on earth. The second consists of those who think like these schismatics

and, moreover, refuses to believe in any one of the established

dogmas. Such are the Greeks who believe in the procession of the Holy Spirit not from the Father and

Son, but only from one Father. The Inquisition must deal harshly with

first, because they are suspected of confessing bad feelings

to the head of the Church and are definitely hostile to the purity of dogma (Eymeric.

Guide for Inquisitors. Part II. Question 48.).

VII. The Inquisition was also to act against the concealers, accomplices and adherents of heretics as insulting Catholic Church

And

inciting heresies; this made them suspicious in terms of confession

condemned and contrary to dogma opinions, unless they show motives,

justifying their behavior, and thus will not destroy what weighs on them

suspicion (Ibid. Questions 50 - 53.). The seventh category of suspects consisted of

who opposed the Inquisition or prevented the inquisitors from executing them

responsibilities. The investigation of this misdeed was granted by the popes

to the Inquisition tribunal because they assumed that one could not be good

Catholic and at the same time put obstacles to the recognition of the truth regarding religious beliefs

the heretic to remain within his domain (Ibid. Part III. Issue 33 and

VIII. The eighth category included lords who, upon request

officials of the Inquisition, swearing to expel heretics from their

possessions, then refused to fulfill this: such resistance made these

lords suspected of heresy and, to some extent, accomplices of it.

The reader has already seen several conciliar and papal decrees, which

gave orders for this measure. The ninth rank consisted of rulers

kingdoms, provinces and cities that did not protect the churches from heretics,

when the inquisitors demanded it. This behavior was a sufficient reason

for suspicion of heresy (Ibid. Issue 32.).

IX. The tenth category of suspicious residents consisted of those who did not

agreed to repeal the statutes and regulations in force in cities when they

were opposed to the measures taken by the inquisitors; such people should have

be considered as obstructing the actions of the Holy Inquisition and,

therefore, suspected of heresy (Ibid. Questions 34 and 36.).

X. The eleventh occasion for such suspicion arose when

lawyers, notaries and other representatives of the law patronized the business

heretics, helping them with their advice and other means to escape from the hands of

inquisitors; when they hid papers, process documents or business

acts from which one can learn the errors of heretics, their place of residence and their

position or which could in some other way serve to

detection of heresies. This behavior placed them in the category of accomplices and

defenders of heretics (Ibid. Part III. Question 33.).

XI. The twelfth category of suspects included persons who gave

church burial for heretics publicly recognized as such, according to their

own confession or by virtue of a final verdict; If

the canonical prohibition was known, it was the cause of suspicion

those who violate it are in heresy (Ibid. Issue 40.).

XII. The one who, during the trial of a doctrinal matter,

refused to take an oath regarding any point when it

they demanded him, he also became suspected of errors in faith. This

stubbornness made him look at him as guilty of resisting the regime

Holy Inquisition (Ibid. Questions 41 and 118.).

XIII. The dead should be placed in the fourteenth category of suspects,

who were denounced as heretics. Such an order could be

based on many papal decretals, which, with the aim of making heresy even more

more hatefully ordered that an investigation be carried out into the defamed

dead, their corpses were pulled out of the ground and burned by the hand of the executioner. Their property

was also confiscated, and their memory was dishonored (Ibid. Issue 63, p.

Peña's comment).

XIV. The same suspicion fell on works containing heretical

doctrine or that can lead to it, and on their authors.

Aymeric leads

various court sentences condemning books, issued by himself or

sometimes the bishop of the diocese in which he performed his duties. Between

Among other things, he cites the works of Raymond Ludliy, the famous

Franciscan friar of Mallorca; Raymond Tarraghi, Dominican friar,

recent convert from Judaism, which spoke of necromancy and

summoning demons; Arnaud de Villeneuve, Catalan physician;

Gonzalo from Quenza

and Nicholas of Calabria; Virgilian heretics, these writings

who appeared to him several times in person, as reported in his trial;

finally, the books of Bartholomew of Genoa about the coming of the Antichrist (Eymeric.

Guide for Inquisitors. Part II. Question 9,26,27,28).

XV. In addition, those who,

not belonging to any of the previous categories, nevertheless deserved

the same qualifications by their actions, their conversations or their

writings (Ibid.).

XVI. Finally, Jews and Moors were also considered subject to the holy

the Inquisition, when they persuaded Catholics with their words or writings

accept their faith. In fact, they were not subject to the laws of the Church,

because they did not receive baptism; but the popes came to the conclusion that they

became, so to speak, under canonical jurisdiction by the very act of their

crimes. The sovereigns, without a doubt, approved of such a policy, because

the popes could not exercise their spiritual authority over such vassals except

with their consent.

XVII. Aymeric does not count among the special crimes which the Inquisition

had the right to persecute magic and witchcraft because, according to him

system, they belonged to the evocation of demons and to divination through

necromancy, pyromancy and other similar operations that involved

pact with the devil. This offense became less common every day,

as the gullibility of the public decreases, that gullibility is the only

the mainstay of this profession, whose adherents try to extract money from the duped

XVIII. Although the perpetrators of the crimes just named

subjected the general legalization to the jurisdiction of the inquisitors, but there were

circumstances when such persons remained independent from it. Yes, dad

his legates, his nuncios, his officials and there were close associates

removed from its jurisdiction. At least they were denounced as formal

heretics, the inquisitor had the right to receive only secret information and

send her to dad. The same exception existed in relation to bishops;

the kings did not use this right (Ibid. Part V. Questions 25,26,27 and 31.).

XIX. Due to the fact that bishops were ordinary inquisitors according to

divine right, it seemed fair that they should not be deprived of their rights

receive information and denunciations directed against the apostolic

inquisitors regarding faith; meanwhile the popes made their delegates

independent from ordinary jurisdiction, decreeing that only one apostolic

the inquisitor has the right to persecute another (Ibid. Issue 30.).

XX. The inquisitor and the bishop acted by common consent; in the same time

each of them had the right to prosecute the accused individually. Orders about

imprisonment could only be carried out simultaneously;

the same was valid

in relation to torture and to the final sentence, for which complicity

both persons were necessary. When they didn't agree, then

turned to dad. If everyone made their decision separately, they

communicated it to each other in order to come to an agreement on the final

measures that should have been taken (Ibid. Part III. Issue 47 and

XXI. Inquisitors could demand the assistance of secular authorities to

incur punishment in the form of excommunication from the Church and persecution according to

suspicion of heresy; however, in order not to get into trouble, the inquisitors knew how

surround yourself with a sufficient number of alguasils and armed men to

protecting themselves, their secretaries and officials (Ibid. Part III. Questions 56 and 57.).

XXII. The bishop was obliged to provide his prison for imprisonment

brought to court; in addition to this, the inquisitors had a special prison in order to

ensure the safety of the accused (Ibid. Issue 58.).

XXIII. If the process presented doubts or difficulties in application

canons, decretals, bulls, apostolic breves and civil laws,

the inquisitor could call a meeting of the Legal Advisers to inquire about their

opinion. When this happened, he provided them with the documents of the process, sometimes in the form

circumstances that might reveal them; sometimes they showed genuine

documents, taking legal advisers under oath to secrecy. This

custom subsequently created the institution of advisers to the Holy Inquisition, the position

which was reduced to zero, because the inquisitors were themselves canonists and

considered themselves educated enough to get along without outsiders

intervention (Eymeric. Guide for inquisitors. Questions from 77 to 81.).

XXIV. The first inquisitors did not receive any specific salary.

The Holy Inquisition was created by piety and zeal for the faith. Performed

The duties of the inquisitors were monks and almost all took a vow of poverty.

The priests who sometimes participated in their labors dug canons or

clergy enjoying the income from the parish, and therefore did not think

about the allocation of their salaries. But this state of affairs had to

measured when Inquisitors began traveling in Escorts

secretaries, alguasils and armed retinue. Then all their expenses were

entrusted by the popes to the bishops under the pretext that the inquisitors were working

over the destruction of heresies and the persecution of heretics in their dioceses. This

the bishops did not like the event of the Roman Curia; it seemed to them that

more unfair, which deprived them of some of their authority.

We also contacted

lords with the intention of inducing them to accept these costs, based

on the fact that they were under an obligation not to tolerate in their possessions

not a single heretic. However, this reason was not enough to prevent

general grumbling and discontent. Finally the time has come when expenses

the Inquisition was provided with funds from the sale of property or from income

estates confiscated from heretics. Fine money was also used for this,

imposed on heretics in certain cases where there was no decree on

confiscation of property. These resources constituted the only fund on which

the Inquisition could base its expenses, and it never had any lasting

subsidies, nor the amount specified for this item, as is according to

Animals