Random Brutal Facts About Auto De Fe (15 items)

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  (#12) The Spectrum Of Potential Crimes Included Witchcraft And Bigamy

  Though what counted as "heresy" created a pretty broad umbrella, there was a relatively large spectrum of crimes that might result in an auto de fé. These were largely considered to be crimes against religion. For one, anyone who did not follow the practices of Roman Catholicism might be targeted. But allegations made against someone of things like witchcraft or bigamy could also land that person in front of a tribunal. 
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  (#6) Hundreds Of Thousands Of People Probably Went Through It

  It is difficult to estimate the exact number of people who had to suffer through an auto de fé. Enactment of autos de fé varied by location and time. Some autos de fé were larger and more frenzied than others. But historians generally agree that in the heyday of the auto de fé, hundreds of thousands of people had to go through the dangerous, harmful, and humiliating ritual - and only the lucky ones survived.
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  (#11) Despite Being A Test Of Catholic Faith, Many Victims Were Non-Catholics

  The "act of faith" was specifically a mechanism to keep Catholics in line. But many of the victims of the auto de fé weren't actually even Catholic - autos de fé punished anyone who was labeled a "heretic." This included former Jews, Muslims, Protestants, as well as people who regarded religion with skepticism. In short, anyone who did not follow the Catholic Church's mandates and expectations was at risk of being brought before a tribunal and suffering through an auto de fé.
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  (#3) Torture (Including Having Your Limbs And Head Cut Off) Was Common

  Torture was definitely a part of the Inquisition process. Though it was controversial, it was within the rights of Inquisitors to use torture as a way to extract a confession during a trial. But the accused's suffering did not end when the trial did. The auto de fé - the final stage of an Inquisition trial - presented yet another opportunity for torture. If an accused person wasn't burned alive or sentenced to life in prison, a range of other punishments was possible. Some people were whipped and tortured in other brutal ways.

  One of the most disturbing sentences happened in 1766, when the 19-year-old François-Jean de la Barre was sentenced to have his tongue and arm cut off before being burnt alive. Though his sentence was ultimately commuted to beheading and burning, it was still an outrage to people like Voltaire, who used the event to criticize the Catholic Church.
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  (#8) The Actual Public Ritual Could Last Hours

  Though autos de fé often varied in size and scale, the most elaborate auto de fé spectacles were huge, public affairs. In Latin America, for example, these large-scale events took place over the course of several hours. Events would start the night before the spectacle, when a procession that included church officials and a choir marched through the streets. A second procession including civic officials and aristocrats happened the following morning. After the procession, spectators would utter an oath of loyalty, hear a sermon, and then watch the sentencing. 
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  (#14) The Accused Had To Wear Special Clothing To Mark And Humiliate Them

  As part of the spectacle of the auto de fé, prisoners had to appear in special clothing. Known as the "sanbenito," the garments were a coded yellow tunic that would reveal a prisoner's crimes and fate. They were decorated with symbols and colors. People who were condemned to die wore the Samarra tunic, which had pictures of flames sewn on it. The condemned had to walk through the streets in this garment with a rope around their neck and while carrying a candle. Often, they also wore large pointed hats.

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