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{{Short description|1376 book by Nicholas Eymerich}}{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}{{Infobox book |
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| name = Directorium Inquisitorum |
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| image = Eymerich, Nicolás – Directorium inquisitorum, 1607 – BEIC 14142106.jpg |
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| caption = 1607 edition printed in Venice |
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| author = [[Nicholas Eymerich]] |
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| title_orig = Directorium Inquisitorum |
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| orig_lang_code = la |
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| country = [[Spain]] |
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| language = [[Latin]] |
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The '''''Directorium Inquisitorum''''' is [[Nicholas Eymerich]]'s most prominent and enduring work, written in Latin and consisting of approximately 800 pages, which he had composed as early as 1376. Eymerich had written an earlier treatise on [[magic (paranormal)|sorcery]], perhaps as early as 1359, which he extensively reworked into the ''Directorium Inqusitorum''. In compiling the book, Eymerich used many of the magic texts he had previously confiscated from accused sorcerers. It can also be considered as an assessment of a century and a half of official [[Inquisition]] in the "[[albigensian]]" country. |
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==Subject matter== |
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Eymeric's most prominent and enduring work was the Directorium Inquisitorum, which he had composed as early as 1376. The Directorium Inquisitorum defined witchcraft, and described means for discovering witches. In compiling the book, Eymeric used many of the magic texts he had previously confiscated from accused sorcerors. |
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The Dominican friar Nicholas Eymerich was appointed Inquisitor General of Aragon in 1357. As he directed much of his efforts to the apparent errors of members of the clergy, he often found his investigations blocked by the court, curia, or papacy. King [[Peter IV of Aragon]] had him removed from office at the general chapter held at Perpignan in 1360.<ref name=Kirsch>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05735c.htm Kirsch, Johann Peter. "Nicolas Eymeric." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 27 February 2016</ref> |
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In lieu of being elected the Vicar General of the Dominicans in Aragon in 1362 however, Eymerich was again Inquisitor General. For a time King [[Peter IV of Aragon]] prevented Eymerich from serving as inquisitor. Finally in 1376 he drove him from the kingdom and Eymerich fled to the papal court of [[Pope Gregory XI]] in [[Avignon]]. There he wrote the ''Directorium Inquisitorum''. It was further amplified by Spanish canonist Francis Peña in 1578. According to Karen Sullivan, they viewed the accused "as a soul deciding for itself whether it is to be united with God or forever alienated from him".<ref name=Sullivan>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rNtsVAgxG4EC&dq=nicholas+eymerich&pg=PA169|title=The Inner Lives of Medieval Inquisitors|first=Karen|last=Sullivan|date=April 15, 2011|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=9780226781679|via=Google Books}}</ref> |
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He describes various forbidden magical practices including the baptism of images, fumigating the head of a dead person, casting salt on fire, burning bodies of animals and birds, conjuring spirits, invoking unfamiliar names, mixing names of angels and demons. He considered sorcery involving demons to be heresy, and divided it into two categories: dulia or "false veneration" which involved mentioning devils in litany and asking for their intercession before God. And the more serious latria, "false worship", which included making sacrifices, praying, and lighting candles or incence to devils. Eymeric was among the first to condemn all forms of demonic conjuration. The common belief of the time was that even a saint might make a demonic pact, as exemplified by the story of Saint Theophilus, who made a pact with the devil to gain an ecclesiastical position. |
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Eymerich appears to have been familiar with [[Bernard Gui]]'s earlier ''Liber sententiarum'' and other inquisitorial treatises.<ref name=Given/> The ''Directorium Inquisitorum'' includes definitions of various types of heresies, discussion of questions of jurisdiction, and proper trial procedure.<ref name=Seitz>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zWSx4FVsYxUC&dq=directorium+inquisitorum&pg=PA200|title=Witchcraft and Inquisition in Early Modern Venice|first=Jonathan|last=Seitz|date=August 8, 2011|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781139501606|via=Google Books}}</ref> The book was used as a manual for inquisitors, and gave practical advice on how to conduct inquiries.<ref name=Given>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1vefN9Fmu3YC&dq=directorium+inquisitorum&pg=PA47|title=Inquisition and Medieval Society: Power, Discipline, and Resistance in Languedoc|first1=James Buchanan|last1=Given|first2=James B.|last2=Given|date=December 26, 2001|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=0801487595|via=Google Books}}</ref> It also described various means an accused heretic might use to dissemble, such as equivocation or the pretense of insanity.<ref name=Martin>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7KU8DNdWYzcC&dq=directorium+inquisitorum&pg=PA13|title=Venice's Hidden Enemies|isbn=9780520912335|last1=Martin|first1=John|date=27 July 1993|publisher=University of California Press }}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In addition to describing common magical practices, |
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Witchcraft, which was a marginal issue for early inquisitors, assumed more importance in the later edition.<ref name=Sullivan/> On the subject of magic, it discusses various types and techniques of divination and draws a distinction between practices deemed heretical and non-heretical.<ref name=Seitz/> |
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He quotes [[Pope Innocent V]] in saying that in order to receive aid from a demon, a person must enter into some form of [[deal with the Devil|pact]] with the demon. Eymerich then extrapolates on this postulate to demonstrate that any agreement with a demon is a heresy. Eymerich was among the first to condemn all forms of demonic conjuration as heresy. Previously, the common belief had been that even a saint might make a demonic pact as exemplified by the story of [[Theophilus of Adana|Saint Theophilus]], who made a pact with the devil to gain an ecclesiastical position. |
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| ⚫ | In addition to describing common magical practices, Eymerich also described means of extracting a confession which included primitive [[psychological manipulation]] as well as outright [[torture]]. Regarding torture, Eymerich said, ''"Quaestiones sunt fallaces et inefficaces"'' meaning, "Torture is deceptive and ineffectual." However, Eymerich was the first inquisitor to get around the [[Roman Catholic Church|Church]]'s prohibition against torturing a subject twice. He interpreted the directive very liberally, permitting a separate instance of torture for a separate charge of heresy. |
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==Legacy== |
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The ''Directorium Inquisitorum'' was to become the definitive handbook of procedure for the [[Spanish Inquisition]] until into the seventeenth century. It saw numerous printings, including a run at [[Barcelona]] in 1503 and one in [[Rome]] in 1578. The ''Directorium Inquisitorum'' was one of the primary forerunners of the better known ''[[Malleus Maleficarum]]''. |
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==References== |
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===Notes=== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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===Sources=== |
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* Brian A. Pavlac, [http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/witch/witchlist.html#Aymerich List of Important Events for the Witch Hunts] Retrieved 21 January 2006 |
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==External links== |
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* [https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/witchcraft045 Text of the ''Directorium Inquisitorum'' (1578) in Latin] |
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* [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_YFZHoAk8v2QC The book ''Directorium Inquisitorum'' (1587 edition) in Latin] |
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[[Category:Witch hunter manuals]] |
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[[Category:Witchcraft treatises]] |
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[[Category:Spanish Inquisition]] |
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[[Category:14th-century books in Latin]] |
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[[Category:1376 books]] |
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Latest revision as of 14:41, 31 October 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2024) |
 1607 edition printed in Venice | |
| Author | Nicholas Eymerich |
|---|---|
| Original title | Directorium Inquisitorum |
| Language | Latin |
| Publication place | Spain |
The Directorium Inquisitorum is Nicholas Eymerich's most prominent and enduring work, written in Latin and consisting of approximately 800 pages, which he had composed as early as 1376. Eymerich had written an earlier treatise on sorcery, perhaps as early as 1359, which he extensively reworked into the Directorium Inqusitorum. In compiling the book, Eymerich used many of the magic texts he had previously confiscated from accused sorcerers. It can also be considered as an assessment of a century and a half of official Inquisition in the "albigensian" country.
Subject matter
[edit]The Dominican friar Nicholas Eymerich was appointed Inquisitor General of Aragon in 1357. As he directed much of his efforts to the apparent errors of members of the clergy, he often found his investigations blocked by the court, curia, or papacy. King Peter IV of Aragon had him removed from office at the general chapter held at Perpignan in 1360.[1]
In lieu of being elected the Vicar General of the Dominicans in Aragon in 1362 however, Eymerich was again Inquisitor General. For a time King Peter IV of Aragon prevented Eymerich from serving as inquisitor. Finally in 1376 he drove him from the kingdom and Eymerich fled to the papal court of Pope Gregory XI in Avignon. There he wrote the Directorium Inquisitorum. It was further amplified by Spanish canonist Francis Peña in 1578. According to Karen Sullivan, they viewed the accused "as a soul deciding for itself whether it is to be united with God or forever alienated from him".[2]
Eymerich appears to have been familiar with Bernard Gui's earlier Liber sententiarum and other inquisitorial treatises.[3] The Directorium Inquisitorum includes definitions of various types of heresies, discussion of questions of jurisdiction, and proper trial procedure.[4] The book was used as a manual for inquisitors, and gave practical advice on how to conduct inquiries.[3] It also described various means an accused heretic might use to dissemble, such as equivocation or the pretense of insanity.[5]
Witchcraft, which was a marginal issue for early inquisitors, assumed more importance in the later edition.[2] On the subject of magic, it discusses various types and techniques of divination and draws a distinction between practices deemed heretical and non-heretical.[4]
He quotes Pope Innocent V in saying that in order to receive aid from a demon, a person must enter into some form of pact with the demon. Eymerich then extrapolates on this postulate to demonstrate that any agreement with a demon is a heresy. Eymerich was among the first to condemn all forms of demonic conjuration as heresy. Previously, the common belief had been that even a saint might make a demonic pact as exemplified by the story of Saint Theophilus, who made a pact with the devil to gain an ecclesiastical position.
In addition to describing common magical practices, Eymerich also described means of extracting a confession which included primitive psychological manipulation as well as outright torture. Regarding torture, Eymerich said, "Quaestiones sunt fallaces et inefficaces" meaning, "Torture is deceptive and ineffectual." However, Eymerich was the first inquisitor to get around the Church's prohibition against torturing a subject twice. He interpreted the directive very liberally, permitting a separate instance of torture for a separate charge of heresy.
Legacy
[edit]The Directorium Inquisitorum was to become the definitive handbook of procedure for the Spanish Inquisition until into the seventeenth century. It saw numerous printings, including a run at Barcelona in 1503 and one in Rome in 1578. The Directorium Inquisitorum was one of the primary forerunners of the better known Malleus Maleficarum.
References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Kirsch, Johann Peter. "Nicolas Eymeric." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 27 February 2016
- ^ a b Sullivan, Karen (April 15, 2011). The Inner Lives of Medieval Inquisitors. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226781679 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Given, James Buchanan; Given, James B. (December 26, 2001). Inquisition and Medieval Society: Power, Discipline, and Resistance in Languedoc. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801487595 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Seitz, Jonathan (August 8, 2011). Witchcraft and Inquisition in Early Modern Venice. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781139501606 – via Google Books.
- ^ Martin, John (27 July 1993). Venice's Hidden Enemies. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520912335.
Sources
[edit]- Brian A. Pavlac, List of Important Events for the Witch Hunts Retrieved 21 January 2006