Paper short abstract:

The contribution intends to analyse, firstly, the trial of Baordo Carafa, a nobleman accused of having had contact with a neo-gentleman. At the same time, the contribution highlights other examples of trials brought against neapolitan nobles and gentlemen accused of witchcraft and necromancy.

Paper long abstract:

The present work investigates the social and confessional climate in Naples during the second half of the 16th century and the first half of the 17th century. Among the numerous trials in the diocesan archives of Naples, an interesting correspondence concerns the trial of the nobleman Baordo Carafa. In this contribution, by analysing the different parts of the trial, we wish to reflect on the techniques through which the inquisition proceeded to analyse and then condemn the crime of necromancy. From a first reading, it seems that the accusation concerned - exactly as for heresy - the 'contact' between the necromancer's ideas and the young nobleman's soul. A further question mark concerns the presence of a sophisticated network of necromancers in the Kingdom of Naples. The diocesan inquisition repeatedly intervened against this dangerous presence. In fact, the necromantic and witchcraft practices that had taken root among the various social classes were followed by meticulous inquisitorial trials. Therefore, in this contribution, we also intend to proceed - for the 16th-17th centuries - with a general study of the various cases involving further trials conducted against Neapolitan nobles and gentlemen and preserved, to this day, in the Diocesan Archive in Naples.