From 1561, the supreme council of the Spanish Inquisition was located in Madrid. Known as the Suprema, the Council of the Supreme and General Inquisition coordinated the Inquisition’s regional tribunals and served as its highest administrative authority.
Madrid’s importance grew sharply in 1561, when Philip II established his court there. The city became the political centre of the Spanish monarchy, making it a practical base for a council that reported closely to the Crown. The Suprema was headed by the Inquisitor General, who was appointed by the monarch, and usually contained several crown-appointed councillors.
Madrid should not be confused with the locations of the local tribunals. Those courts operated in places such as Seville, Toledo, Valladolid, Valencia and Zaragoza, each covering a regional jurisdiction. Nor was the Suprema simply another local tribunal: it supervised the wider system, reviewed important cases and helped standardize inquisitorial procedure across Spain and its overseas possessions.