What was the Spanish Inquisition officially called?

The Spanish Inquisition was officially called the Holy Office.

Its full formal title was the Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition, or Tribunal del Santo Oficio de la Inquisición in Spanish. “Holy Office” became the familiar shortened form used for the institution and its tribunals.

The body was established in 1478 under Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, with papal authorization from Sixtus IV. It was distinct from the medieval Inquisition because it was closely supervised by the Spanish monarchy through the Council of the Supreme and General Inquisition.

The Holy Office investigated alleged heresy and other religious offenses, including Judaizing, Protestant beliefs, blasphemy, and unauthorized religious practices. It operated through regional tribunals in Spain and later in Spanish territories overseas. “Royal Inquisition” is a useful description of its political relationship with the crown, but it was not the institution’s official name.