Afonso V of Portugal and the Establishment…

Afonso V of Portugal and the Establishment of the Santa Hermandad (1476)

In 1476, King Afonso V of Portugal established a national police force known as the Santa Hermandad ("Holy Brotherhood"), tasked with maintaining order and enforcing religious conformity. This organization reflected the broader Iberian trend toward centralizing royal authority and suppressing religious dissent.

Origins and Purpose of the Santa Hermandad

• The concept of the Hermandad (Brotherhood) originated in medieval Castile, where it referred to local militias formed by towns to enforce law and protect against banditry.
• Afonso V adapted this model to Portugal, transforming it into a national law enforcement body under direct royal control.
• The Santa Hermandad was responsible for:
  • Ensuring public order in rural and urban areas.
  • Suppressing banditry and rebellion, particularly in times of war and political unrest.
  • Enforcing religious conformity, aligning with the Catholic Church’s growing influence in Portugal.

Enforcement of Religious Conformity

• By the 15th century, the Iberian kingdoms were increasingly concerned with religious uniformity, viewing it as essential to national unity and stability.
• Jews and Muslims, who had historically lived under relative tolerance in Portugal, faced growing restrictions.
• The Santa Hermandad played a role in:
  • Monitoring religious minorities and those suspected of heresy.
  • Punishing those who deviated from Christian doctrine, though Portugal did not yet have a formal Inquisition like Spain (which established its Tribunal of the Holy Office in 1478).

Legacy and Influence

• The Santa Hermandad was an early model of a centralized police force, setting a precedent for later institutions of law enforcement in Portugal.
• Though it was eventually replaced by other royal and ecclesiastical institutions, its religious enforcement functions influenced later policies, including Portugal’s eventual establishment of the Inquisition in 1536under King John III.
• The Castilian Santa Hermandad, formalized under Isabella I and Ferdinand II in 1476, became a major tool for securing royal power and suppressing opposition.

Afonso V’s establishment of the Santa Hermandad in Portugal reflected his desire to strengthen royal authority, enforce Catholic orthodoxy, and bring greater security to his kingdom during a period of political and military upheaval.