Federico Sartori, historian and author of the book “Al sur de las bonfires”, explores the history of the Inquisition in Córdoba during the 16th and 17th centuries. In a recent interview, Sartori details how his work seeks to answer questions about inquisitorial justice in the city from its founding in 1573 to the end of the 17th century.
“The Inquisition had an active participation in different events, an active presence to all those people who did not respond to the Christian heterodoxy of the time,” says Sartori. The author describes how Córdoba society was composed of native peoples, Spaniards, Creoles and enslaved Africans, creating a complex social context.
The historian also mentions the arrival of Portuguese to Latin America, who fled from the Inquisition in their country, only to become victims of it in Córdoba. “In Córdoba there were commissioners, something like notaries of the Inquisition, who were in charge of enforcing the inquisitorial laws,” he explains. Many men and women were accused of being converts, witches, doomsayers or sodomites, and many were sent to Lima, where they faced severe penalties, including death by burning at the stake.
Regarding the relationship between the colonial past and current Córdoba, Sartori maintains that “we are part of those who were,” highlighting the importance of recognizing the cultural and social mix that characterizes the city. “The enslaved population in Córdoba reached 30% of the population,” he indicates, referring to the significant presence of Africans in the region.
The debate about the Afro-descendant presence in Argentina is also addressed by Sartori. “There is a little bit of truth in everything you said,” he notes, acknowledging the complexity of the story. It highlights that, after the wars of the 19th century and the great European immigration, the ethnic composition of the country has changed, but the cultural heritage of people of African descent is still present.
Finally, Sartori invites the public to the presentation of his book at the Córdoba Book Fair. “I present ”Al sur de las bonfires” on Thursday, October 10 at 6 p.m. at the Córdoba Library,” he concludes. The presentation will feature the participation of the editor of Editorial Buenavista, Daniela Makaulay, and will address stories of converts, witches and those persecuted by the Inquisition in Córdoba.
Entrevista by Giuliana Piantoni