Alonso Salazar de Frias

Alonso Salazar de Frias was a Spanish inquisitor known for his role in reviewing witchcraft trials in northern Spain in 1610. His investigation found insufficient evidence for convictions, leading to reforms in how the Spanish Inquisition handled such cases.1

The Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478 to combat heresy in Spain. It served to consolidate royal power through often brutal methods. The Inquisition typically offered lighter penances for confessions, which were then used to identify other "heretics". Accused individuals often lacked defense, were unaware of charges, and confessions could be coerced. Sentences were announced at public spectacles called autos-da-f\u00e9. The institution was formally abolished in 1834.231