Institution

Medieval Inquisition

1230s–15th century · 15th century · Also known as Papal Inquisition

The Medieval Inquisition was a series of papal tribunals established from the 1230s to combat heresy, above all the Cathars and Waldensians of southern France and northern Italy. Staffed mainly by Dominican and Franciscan friars, it questioned suspects, recorded testimony and handed the unrepentant to secular authorities for punishment. Its work in Languedoc after the Albigensian Crusade helped destroy Catharism.

Medieval Inquisition
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APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Medieval Inquisition. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/medieval-inquisition
MLA
“Medieval Inquisition.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/medieval-inquisition. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Medieval Inquisition.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/medieval-inquisition.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Medieval Inquisition’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/medieval-inquisition (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻