A Familiar of the Inquisition
One of the most surprising and least known aspects of the biography of Pierres Vedel is his connection with the Holy Office of the Inquisition. This information comes from proceedings initiated in 1608 by some of his descendants to verify various aspects of the Navarrese architect’s life and social standing. Among the statements recorded in the file is a particularly significant reference:
“...while living in and building the said church of Santa Olalla, the late master Pierres Vedel was appointed a Familiar of the Holy Office of the Inquisition of Valencia in that place, and after some years the same office and privilege were confirmed to him by the said Holy Office...”
This testimony constitutes the principal documentary evidence that Pierres Vedel held the position of Familiar of the Inquisition during his stay in Santa Eulalia del Campo, where he resided while directing the construction of the parish church.
The figure of the Familiar of the Holy Office has often been misunderstood in popular historiography. Far from being an inquisitor in the strict sense, a Familiar was a lay collaborator of the institution, integrated into a complex network of assistants that enabled the Inquisition to extend its presence across vast territories. Their duties included supporting inquisitorial tribunals, accompanying inquisitors when required, assisting in the arrest and custody of the accused, and reporting conduct that might be considered suspicious of heresy.
Unlike other officials of the Holy Office, Familiars received no salary for the performance of their duties. In return, they enjoyed a range of legal and social privileges that made the appointment a source of prestige within local communities. Vedel’s nomination therefore provides valuable information not only about his personal career but also about the social standing he attained in the province of Teruel.
The Inquisition in the Territory of Teruel
To understand the significance of this appointment, it is necessary to recall the territorial organization of the Holy Office during the sixteenth century.
The Inquisition took its name from the judicial procedure known as inquisitio, characterized by the direct initiative of the authorities in investigating offences without the need for a prior accusation by private individuals. Originally conceived as an instrument to combat doctrinal deviations and heresies, the institution gradually spread across various European territories from the thirteenth century onwards.
Within the Crown of Aragon, four major inquisitorial tribunals operated: Zaragoza and Valencia, established in 1482; Barcelona, founded in 1484; and Mallorca, created in 1488. These were later joined by the tribunals of Sicily and Sardinia, which were also incorporated into the inquisitorial system promoted by King Ferdinand II of Aragon.
Although most of the Kingdom of Aragon depended on the tribunal of Zaragoza, the dioceses of Teruel and Albarracín fell under the jurisdiction of the tribunal of Valencia. This circumstance explains why the documentation relating to Vedel specifically refers to the Valencian Inquisition rather than the Aragonese tribunal.
Documentary sources even reveal the number of Familiars serving in certain localities. According to the list of Familiars of the Valencian Inquisition for the year 1567, published by Gonzalo Cerrillo Cruz from documents preserved in the National Historical Archive, the town of Santa Eulalia had six Familiars. In all likelihood, one of these positions was occupied by Pierres Vedel during the years he resided there.
Vedel and the Requirements for Becoming a Familiar
Appointment as a Familiar was not automatic. By the mid-sixteenth century, particularly following the Concordia of Valencia of 1554, relatively precise regulations governed access to the position.
The first requirement was the existence of a vacancy. Since the number of Familiars was limited according to the demographic importance of each locality, new appointments could only be made when a position became available. In the case of Santa Eulalia, where six Familiars were authorized, a vacancy must have arisen between 1560 and 1566, the period during which Vedel lived in the town.
Candidates were also required to possess certain personal qualifications. They were expected to be adult men, generally over twenty-five years of age, married, and residents of the locality where they would perform their duties. They also had to demonstrate good conduct, an impeccable social reputation, and limpieza de sangre (“purity of blood”).
Pierres Vedel clearly fulfilled all these requirements. He was a master builder of recognized prestige, married to Clara Vizcarret, and fully integrated into the local community. The surviving documentation also demonstrates his close involvement in the religious life of the period and his active participation in the sacramental practices required by the Church.
Nor did his profession present any obstacle. Although certain occupations considered humble or socially inappropriate were gradually excluded from eligibility, architecture and the supervision of construction works were entirely compatible with the office. Indeed, at the time of his appointment, Vedel had already participated in some of the most important architectural projects in the Kingdom of Aragon.
His French origin likewise posed no problem. The explicit prohibition against appointing foreign-born Familiars was not enacted until 1575, several years after the architect’s death. Consequently, there was no legal impediment to his appointment during his residence in Santa Eulalia.
Taken together, all these circumstances explain why Vedel’s candidacy was considered entirely acceptable by the inquisitorial authorities of Valencia.
