Comisarios y familiares del Santo Oficio en el obispado de Buenos Aires: procedimientos, prácticas jurisdiccionales y vínculos locales (siglo XVIII)

Abstract

Abstract

This contribution is about the inquisitorial jurisdiction in the diocese of Buenos Aires –located among the southernmost regions of the Hispanic domains, coinciding with the homonymous governorate and subject to the viceroyalty of Peru– during the first half of the 18th century. Especially, the focus is placed on the city-port which was the bishop’s seat, and on Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz. Although, in some cases, the city of Corrientes will also be mentioned. The period chosen for the analysis is explained by the progressive relevance that the region of the Rio de la Plata was acquiring since the dynastic change in the Hispanic monarchy at the beginning of the century. In fact, the focus on the mentioned localities does not abandon the overall observation on a regional scale. On the basis of documentary sources of various origins and types, we reconstruct certain relationships and conflicts that took place in these areas as a result of the inquisitorial agencies. The purpose of this paper is to outline some lines of research on the potential of the available sources in relation to the jurisdiction of the Inquisition in a diocese that has not received much attention in this regard.