Death Tolls of the Inquisition Christians Don't Want You to Know

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Death Tolls of the Inquisition Christians Don't Want You to Know

Throughout history, various branches of the Inquisition and widespread witch hunts claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people. Modern scholarly estimates are far lower than the inflated figures of popular myth. For example, the Spanish Inquisition (1478–1834) likely executed around 3,000–5,000 people (source), compared to older claims in the tens or hundreds of thousands.

The Portuguese Inquisition (1536–1821) carried out approximately 1,200–2,000 executions (source). The Roman Inquisition (1542–1800s) is credited with about 1,250 executions (source). The earlier Medieval Inquisition (13th–15th centuries) had imprecise records, but historians estimate several thousand executions, contrasted against the hundreds of thousands killed during associated heretic crusades (source).

Meanwhile, witch hunts in Europe during the 15th–18th centuries led to an estimated 40,000–60,000 executions (source), largely in German-speaking regions. In colonial North America, by contrast, only a few dozen executions occurred — about 25 people during the 1692 Salem trials, and a handful in other incidents (source).

The Medieval Inquisition (1184–15th Century)

The Medieval Inquisition began in 1184 and expanded under Pope Gregory IX. Surviving court records suggest relatively modest numbers of formal executions: for instance, Bernard Gui’s register shows only 40 executions out of 700 convictions (source).

However, when combined with events like the Albigensian Crusade (1209–1229), the total death toll rises sharply. The sack of Béziers alone saw an estimated 20,000 people massacred. Some contemporary chronicles claim up to one million Cathars were slaughtered during these efforts (source), although modern historians caution that these figures are highly inflated.

In short, the official Medieval Inquisition executions are estimated at several thousand, but the broader religious violence drove the death toll far higher.

The Spanish Inquisition (1478–1834)

The Spanish Inquisition, infamous in popular imagination, executed about 3,000 to 5,000 people according to modern research (source).

Historian Henry Kamen confirms a maximum of three thousand official executions. Propagandistic estimates, such as Juan Antonio Llorente’s 19th-century claim of 32,000 executions, have been largely debunked (source).

Though terrifying, the actual execution numbers were modest compared to broader European religious violence. Nonetheless, countless others died in prisons or through indirect persecution, a toll harder to quantify.

The Portuguese Inquisition (1536–1821)

The Portuguese Inquisition operated in Portugal, Brazil, and Goa. Out of about 31,450 cases, around 1,175 people were executed, with another 663 burned in effigy (source).

By the end, scholars estimate 1,200 to 2,000 total executions, a relatively small figure compared to the Spanish tribunals. The Portuguese inquisitors generally showed more skepticism toward witchcraft accusations than their northern counterparts.

The Roman Inquisition (1542–19th Century)

The Roman Inquisition, under papal authority, was even less lethal. Out of 62,000 cases, only about 1,250 death sentences were handed down (source).

Unlike the Protestant world, where witch hunts raged violently, the Roman Inquisition preferred imprisonment or penance over execution. Notable exceptions like the burning of Giordano Bruno were rare.

Witch Hunts in Europe (15th–18th Centuries)

The witch hunts across Europe were far bloodier than the Inquisitions themselves. An estimated 40,000 to 60,000 people were executed for witchcraft (source), with German-speaking areas being the epicenter.

Women made up about 75–85% of those executed (source). The Catholic Inquisition, ironically, was often skeptical of witchcraft charges, whereas Protestant territories embraced them with deadly enthusiasm.

Witch Hunts in Colonial America (17th Century)

In colonial North America, the witch hysteria was far less deadly. The Salem witch trials (1692–1693) led to 20 executions and at least 5 jail deaths (source).

Earlier witch panics in Connecticut resulted in 11 executions. In total, around 35 people were killed during America's witch trial episodes (source).

Why Death Toll Estimates Vary

Several factors cause huge discrepancies in estimates:

Incomplete records: Many trials and killings were never documented.

Expanded definitions: Some historians include war casualties alongside tribunal deaths.

Religious propaganda: Both Catholic and Protestant writers exaggerated or minimized death tolls to serve political narratives.

Destruction of archives: Many original Inquisition records were lost, making precise counts impossible.

Different geographic/time scopes: Some totals include colonies and secular courts; others only ecclesiastical proceedings.

Modern scholars like Henry Kamen and William Rubinstein favor lower, document-based estimates, while popular imagination still clings to inflated figures fueled by centuries of myth and polemic.

Comparison of Death Toll Estimates

Medieval Inquisition (1184–15th Century)

Low Estimate: ~3,000–5,000 executions

High Estimate: ~1,000,000 deaths (including crusades)

Spanish Inquisition (1478–1834)

Low Estimate: ~3,000 executions

High Estimate: ~5,000 executions

Portuguese Inquisition (1536–1821)

Low Estimate: ~1,175 executions

High Estimate: ~1,900 executions

Roman Inquisition (1542–c.1860s)

Estimate: ~1,250 executions