The Jesuits and the Lisbon Inquisition in Angola, 1681–1760

This text examines Jesuit involvement in inquisitorial activity in the Portuguese colony of Angola from the reopening of the Portuguese Inquisition in 1681 until the expulsion of the Society of Jesus from the colony in 1760. The Jesuits supported inquisitorial action in West Central Africa beginning in the late sixteenth century. Despite this long history, researchers have largely ignored the collaboration of the Jesuits with the Portuguese Holy Office in this part of the African continent. I demonstrate that investigating the relationship between the Society of Jesus and the Lisbon Inquisition in West Central Africa adds a unique perspective to our understanding of the globe-spanning activity and collaboration between both institutions. Through an analysis of the inquisitorial documentation produced by the Jesuits, this article not only explores the order’s involvement in inquisitorial activity but also the interaction of different spheres of Portuguese Angolan society with the Jesuits and the Inquisition