The World of Radiant, Explained (Vol 2) — The Inquisition And The History That Inspired It
Among Radiant’s three most influential powers, the Inquisition maintains an iron grip on many of Pharenos’s political, societal and global affairs. As their crusade against the last surviving remnants of the great war ended and the discovery of the Nemesis created further divisions between humans and the Infected, their presence in the Age of Sorcery has continued to shape policy and perception of magic. But when their authority and reputation begin to weaken following a string of failures involving a certain horned sorcerer, a global summit is held to deal with their growing list of priorities.
Long before this institution took shape, in an era before the Infected, Nemesis and even Miracles existed, there was only Fantasia and people. At a turbulent time when conflicts arose and power struggles over tools and technology were eventually deemed too dangerous for any one person, a lone farmer would one day make his mark on the stage of history and set humanity down a different path. This is the story of the first Miracle Worker, the organization he founded from the ashes of war, and the real-life history and members of the Inquisition.
Radiant Memories is a collection of stories looking back at the Radiant universe and its 10 year anniversary. For more details, see below.
At Ease
Before we begin, I thought I’d give a brief overview of what this will and will not be covering, as well as outline how “spoilery” this article will be. To keep this article somewhat organized and narrow my focus, I gave myself a few rules and restrictions:
- I’ll only be covering the Inquisitors introduced during Season 1 and 2 of the anime (volumes 1–10 of the manga).
- I will not be covering the Bome/Domitors arc for two reasons: a.) the sheer quantity of new characters would double this article’s length and b.) most of them have not had significant screen time to warrant a full entry at the time of writing.
- I’m omitting unique characters/classes. This is partly to minimize spoilers (and my workload), but the primary reason is most of these individuals and subgroups have enough backstory, lore and their own narrative arcs to be standalone articles!
This will be a somewhat spoiler-free article, with two caveats. Because this includes some real-world history and discussion, there is always a possibility that some of these elements can make their way into the story at some point in the future, if they haven’t already. While this will not be a beat-for-beat story breakdown of each character featured, if you’re sensitive to any potential spoilers, it is something to be aware of.
In addition, two of the Inquisitors at the very bottom of this list have a shared history, and to properly discuss the real-world influences, I had to include some details regarding their relationship post season 2/volume 11. While I don’t believe knowing this info should impact your enjoyment of the main narrative, I have included a separate spoiler tag below as a courtesy. With that in mind, reader discretion is advised.
Origin & History
Background: Taking root within the Catholic Church, the Inquisition was first established during the 12th century to combat potential threats to its foundation and those who deviated from the church’s doctrine. As hunters of “heretics, apostates and other blasphemers of the church,” the Inquisition’s influence would spread across Europe and the Americas until the end of the Spanish Inquisition in 1834.
For almost 700 years, Inquisitors would march into local towns and pronounce themselves, offering a grace period for heretics to confess. For the accused, whether by coercion or false accusations, torture and eventually executions would be carried out once the courts rendered a verdict. As other institutions began to pop up, their witch hunts would escalate, resulting in mass arrests, imprisonment, and further punishments and death. Though the exact number of deaths throughout this period varies depending on the region, local laws and exact definition of “Inquisition activity” being referred to (executions, physical torture, exile, etc.), from what can be gathered, thousands would suffer under the height of their reign.
In Radiant: While still taking religious cues, the Inquisition is a military company. Founded at the end of the great mage war and just around the time that the first Nemesis Egg landed in Pharenos, this organization was originally designed to be humanity’s self-defense against magic and wielders who had become corrupted or too powerful to be left to their own devices. As time went on and the Infected became more prevalent in society and the need for Nemesis Hunters grew, the Inquisition’s open hostility towards the Sorcerers would continue even after the threat of war had passed and the ancient tools had faded into obscurity.
Having integrated themselves in all manner of government and official forms of power throughout Pharenos, Inquisitors are often assigned to certain areas as local patrol officers either working with the public officials or substituting as the area’s local government. Because of this, many Inquisitors operate autonomously, enforcing their own rules and regulations depending on the person in charge.
Rankings and Hierarchy
Background: As noted in Robin Vose’s Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Inquisitors operated under their own “centralized leadership to local judge-inquisitors, advisors, jailers and armed associates who carried out the bulk of a tribunal’s day-to-day activities.” Though there was often financial gain and the allure of status and power, as well as spirituality or devotion to the church as the most cited reasons for joining, being an Inquisitor also brought its own hardships as neighbors and other conflicts of interest would ostracize them from the community given the institution’s controversial, if not unethical, practices in their daily activities.
Most of the Inquisition’s structure would take shape during the Medieval ages, with the internal offices become more defined overtime, particularly during the Spanish Inquisition. Each tribunal would appoint “two or more qualified legal and/or theological experts” to play the role of judges when the accused was brought in. Though the Inquisitors themselves were often handpicked by the pope, usually a friar or bishop, a typical heresy case can contain the following individuals:
- Theologians, university and/or legal experts to assist in more complex cases
- One or more laymen responsible for the capture/detention of the accused, doubling as bodyguards for the Inquisitors
- A Constable or Peace Officer (beginning with Spain’s Consejo de la Suprema y General Inquisición)
- Public Prosecutors
- Notaries and Secretaries
- Other unpaid officials serving whatever role is needed ranging from investigative work to armed forces and backup
At the very top is the Inquisitor General or Grand Inquisitor who would oversee all tribunals and serve as the primary chief for that region, though the exact terminology, roles and duties would differ depending on the Inquisition in question and the exact timeline.
In Radiant: Taking further cues from historical and modern military organizations, the Inquisition of Radiant is composed of 10 ranks ranging from the entry level soldier to the veteran Field Marshals at the top of the hierarchy. The full list is as follows:
- Marshal
- General
- Colonel
- Commander
- Captain
- Lieutenant
- Major
- Warrant Officer
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Soldier
Though the exact specifics of each rank’s roles and responsibilities will vary based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, region, direct superiors, the laws and governmental authorities of where they are stationed, and providing backup support to large or covert military operations at a moment’s notice to name a few, above all else, a member of the Inquisition is expected to:
- Serve and protect the common people.
- Act as humanity’s shield against heretics, witchcraft and other forms of dark and occultic magic.
- Uphold the teachings and principles of the Patrem Inquisitor, the father of all Inquisitors and the first Miracle.
Or to paraphrase a certain high-ranking General which we will get to further down, “carry out and perform your duties in way that befits your station and does not bring harm to the Inquisition’s image and reputation, lest you bring dishonor by succumbing to the temptation of forbidden magic.” Despite the military discipline and emphasis on order and conduct, it should be noted that the Inquisition has a bad habit of not always following the rules they impose on others.
Notable Figures
The Patrem Inquisitor
Background: To the best of my knowledge, there doesn’t appear to be a direct 1-to-1 counterpart for this role and character. The Inquisition was a product of the Catholic Church, and the organization itself would grow and change as the ideology and meaning changed through the centuries and regions. Given that the church’s highest authority would usually consist of members like bishops, clergymen and the Pope, it can be reasonably deduced that “whoever was in charge at the time” held the biggest influence over the Inquisition of the period, or at the very least assumed leadership or organizational sway in some form or another.
As professor Dr. Daniela Müller notes in The Inquisition: An Overview:
The institution of the Inquisition, the extraordinary authority appointed by the Catholic Church, knew various forms, which developed under different historical circumstances. They should not be placed side by side without making some distinctions.
With that said, there is some similarity shared between these institutions. The term Inquisition refers to the latin phrase inquirere or investigation. The word itself has existed since Antiquity, predating its religious and brutal connotations that would come to redefine it starting in the Middle Ages.
In Radiant: Despite being the most prominent figure referenced within the Inquisition, not much is truly known about the Patrem Inquisitor, including — as of this writing in the main series — his name, history and the circumstances that led him to create the Inquisition. What little details have surfaced was that he lived during a time of great calamity where the very foundation of the world became threatened by the allure of ancient magic tools significantly more advanced than the sorcery of the current era.
As the story goes, a quiet farmer would one day enter the great magic war armed only with his pitchfork. On that day, his weapon was blessed by a power said to have hailed from “a higher will” — or so the Inquisitors who hold the beliefs passed down within the order regarding the creation of Pharenos. Blessed by the light of the first Miracle, he would eventually turn the tables against the First Sorcerers and found the organization that would become the present-day Inquisition. Today, his pitchfork rests deep within the Arcadian Mountains in the Sanctum of Faith — a sacred place where a select few that have been deemed worthy obtain their own Miracles.
Fun Fact: The upcoming Radiant spin off, Fabula Fantasia, details the story before the Inquisition, including the Patrem Inquisitor before he was known under that title. In early 2023, series creator Tony Valante shared the first images of the protagonist Bard. In a recent feature with écranlarge, an early synopsis of the prequel was teased:
If magic becomes the solution to all problems, how do we decide and act as an individual? What if you had to destroy the magic and the very idea of [the] hero to get out of it?
Konrad de Marbourg
Based off: Konrad von Marburg/Conrad of Marburg (1180–1233); “Inspired by” Manuel Valls (1962)
Rank: Captain
Alias: The Rampart/The Wall (*Self-proclaimed*)
Background: A German priest and Inquisitor made infamous for his cruelty, Konrad von Marburg’s early career within the church would garner the attention of Pope Innocent III. Sensing the man’s zeal and ability to draw people in, the Pope enlisted Konrad in 1214 to take part in the Albigensian Crusade where the preacher turned crusader would begin his blood-soaked campaign against the masses.
As his fame and influence grew during his time at the court of Louis IV, Konrad would continue to suppress heresy in an official capacity following his employment by Pope Gregory IX. For the next several years, his methods would grow more sadistic, often taking any accusation at face value, detaining the accused without process, and torturing his prisoners — regardless of innocence or guilt — to either confess or give conspirators up before having them executed, usually by burning them at the stake or flogging.
In 1231, Konrad officially became chief Inquisitor of Germany and was given almost full autonomy in the use of his authority before being assassinated two years later. Though Pope Gregory wanted his assailants executed, by this point, public opinion had turned against the Inquisition after Konrad’s tyrannical reign had come to an end. According to the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, the exact number of Konrad’s victims has never been conclusively determined.
In Radiant: Despite his overgrown build — and mustache — the self-titled “Wall of Rumble Town” carries many of the same characteristics as his German counterpart. Starting his career as a prison guard, Konrad de Marbourg’s resentment of the Infected as well as the growing Immigrant population would eventually plant the seeds for him to usurp his superior’s position, eliminating all his obstacles along the way through a combination of violence and deception.
Through these falsified reports and the growing body count, having personally ended several Sorcerers with his own hands — by his account — it didn’t take long for the Inquisition to take notice of Konrad’s activities and promote him to captain, turning a blind eye to his questionable ethics and sadistic personality. In the years following the fall of District 12, his crusade against heretics extended to foreigners as he continued to plot behind the scenes to further vilify them as the root cause of Rumble Town’s deteriorating infrastructure while quietly accumulating power and wealth.
But the façade would be exposed, and Konrad’s greed would be his own undoing through the retelling of another famous German tale. Like his namesake, Konrad’s fall from grace becomes the turning point for the Inquisition as his corruption is exposed and both the public and the remaining Inquisitors are forced to asked, “which side?”
Fun fact: Contrary to popular belief, Radiant’s Konrad de Marbourg is based off two people. Aside from the Inquisitor of the same name, his rhetoric and speech mannerisms were loosely inspired by former prime minister of France, Manuel Valls, likely referencing some of his previous statements and questionable positions regarding immigration, terrorism and human rights. With the increase in extremism, domestic terrorism and far right propaganda globally, it seems history is repeating itself in more ways than one…
Von Teppes
*Likely Based off: Vlad the Impaler (1431–1476)
Rank: Commander
Alias: N/A
Miracle: Unknown
Activation: Unknown
*Note: Before I started working on this, I was under the assumption that all the Inquisitors in Radiant had at least one connection with a real-life Inquisitor, whether directly by name or a loose amalgamation of two or more people. As I was researching this, I hit my first roadblock with the first of the Thaumaturges (Miracle Workers) in the form of Von Teppes who had almost no background information I could reference — for reasons that will become apparent in the next section.
With little text or character context to go off in the source material or the author’s own notes, that just leaves the name which bears a close resemblance to another famous Țepeș in writing and pronunciation, at least based on the findings of the Twitter account @Radiant_Facts, a fan account that has been documenting the myths, stories and real-life inspirations behind some of the series’ greatest mysteries since 2020. Though this should be taken with a grain of salt, the biggest clue aside from the name that leads me to believe this connection to be credible is their preferred method of dispatching their enemies.
Background: For those unfamiliar, Vlad III Draculea or Vlad Tepes was the former ruler of Wallachia. Before becoming “Vlad the Impaler,” he spent his youth under the Ottoman Empire as insurance for his father, Vlad II, when he defected to their side before being ousted from his Wallachian throne and assassinated in 1447. Vlad III’s older brother, Mircea II, would also meet his end that same year after being blinded and buried alive.
The following year, the son of the dragon would begin his ascension to power through the first of many military campaigns. In the eight years that followed, Vlad would earn the nickname of “Impaler” for the brutal method of torturing and disposing his enemies by impaling them through wooden stakes, ensuring death would not come quickly while sending a message to his foes. On July 22, 1456, Vlad III would face and behead Vladislav II, the man who was previously appointed to the Wallachian throne after his father’s execution.
Though Vlad the Impaler is largely known today as the direct inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, as well as something of a folk hero in Romania, his penchant for violence and cruelty extended long after assuming the throne. In all told, it has been estimated that about 80,000 people were killed by Vlad, with his trademark impaling utilized to further deter outsiders.
In Radiant: A member of General Torque’s Thaumaturges, Von Teppes would take part in the Domitor incident of Rumble Town following reports of Konrad’s crimes. Given his limited appearance in the story, not much info is provided regarding his background, his induction into the Thaumaturges, or his Miracle (which has never been properly revealed as of this writing), but like Konrad, his ego and warped personality is made apparent when he refutes Captain Dragunov’s report about the former’s corruption and enters the battlefield.
His weapon of choice is the mace, in which he nearly beheads his target during the incident on the clock tower. While the real Vlad is more commonly associated with the Kilij or spear given his moniker of Impaler, the mace was a weapon commonly deployed in his army along with other armaments of war. In addition, it has entered the realm of popular culture through other interpretations of the character. Aside from one notable model figure, Vlad Tepes would appear in the video game Assassin’s Creed Revelations wielding a mace as his primary weapon — though his sword is also featured as an unlockable item. In NBC’s Dracula (2013), the weapon is featured in the Order of the Dragon’s armory when the plan to kill Vlad Tepes/Dracula is set in motion.
Despite the lack of evidence that Vlad himself regularly used one in battle, he is prominently holding a commander’s mace in a portrait during his later years. For both Vlad and Von Teppes, perhaps the image and symbolism of the mace was more evocative of an Impaler or executor than its functionality. After all, what better way to strike fear in the hearts of your enemies than a weapon capable of penetrating armor as well as flesh? Unfortunately for Von Teppes, that same weapon awakens a beast unbound by fear or death…
Fun fact: While researching this, I consulted The Art of Radiant to find more information. To my surprise, Von Teppes is the only Thaumaturge NOT to have his own character profile in the book! No early sketches, design details, interesting origin stories, not even a reference beyond his only color image — and that’s the group photo that the cover image at the top of this article is based off! I guess this will remain a mystery for a bit longer…
Torque
Based off: Tomás de Torquemada (1420–1498)
Rank: General
Alias: The Savage/The Beast
Miracle: Fantasia Disruption
Activation: “Patrem Inquisitor, Institutor of The Miracle, May Your Light Strike Through the Darkness.”
Background: Arguably the most infamous Inquisitor in recorded history as well as the first Grand Inquisitor of Spain, Tomás de Torquemada’s deep-seated intolerance of religions outside the Catholic Church — notably, Judaism and Muslim followers — left behind a legacy that led 2000 people to be burned at the stake and the expulsion of 40,000 Jews from Spain, with the remaining left behind forced to convert or face harsher punishment.
Using his connections and influence as confessor and advisor to King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I, Torquemada changed and shaped their domestic policies as his distrust and discrimination towards Islamic and Jewish converts (Moriscos and Marranos, respectively) increased. By the time he was appointed Grand Inquisitor, he turned his attention towards restructuring the Spanish Inquisition by establishing the 28 articles of faith. This guidebook would not only serve as the foundation for Inquisitor conduct and carrying out investigations, but a competency check that covered heresy and other crimes against the church as time went on.
It was then where Torquemada set his true plans into motion in his crusade against the non-converts and future deterrents against those he deemed heretical. Under his leadership, he authorized the use of torture to obtain evidence, including a technique similar to waterboarding and the burning of the flesh in what would be called “an act of faith.” Even after expelling or eliminating the non-converts from Spain, his cruelty would also extend to the new converts, or conversos, that had adopted Christianity. As noted by All That’s Interesting:
With his newfound power, Tomás de Torquemada became a furious leader, forcing those who had converted to Catholicism for reasons he had deemed unfit — such as fear of retaliation had they not — to wear garments that marked them as condemned. The garments bore images of hell’s flames, demons, dragons or snakes, and served as an alternative to imprisonment.
As his health began to decline, Torquemada retired in 1494, but not before ensuring some new rules in his final Grand Assembly so that the Inquisition would continue in Spain, as well as addressing some longstanding complaints regarding internal corruption and abuse of power. On September 16, 1498, Torquemada passed away at the monastery of St. Thomas Aquinas.
In Radiant: One of the most powerful General Inquisitors as well as the founder of the Congregation of Thaumaturges, Torque’s stoicism and discipline is further matched by his subjugation methods and vicious nature towards the Infected and those “that would pose a threat to the world.” His authoritative leadership is well-documented within the Inquisition, garnering respect and fear by those under his command to even world leaders who’ve heard the stories about “The Beast.”
Torque’s ultimate goal is the complete eradication of magic, including the remaining artifacts of a bygone era. To that end, he enlists the aid of several individuals from various ranks and positions, entrusting them with the knowledge and secret history of the primordial age of magic, as well as granting them power through an ancient ritual equal to that of the first Miracle. With his newly formed Miracle Workers, they take on confidential missions of great importance, dealing in magical threats deemed too great for ordinary infantry.
His own Miracle further reflects this goal, acting as the ultimate anti-magic weapon against sorcery. When activated, it allows Torque to break magic down to the molecular level, permanently nullifying or damaging whatever is cut by his sword beyond repair. The inscription on his sword reads “Post Tenebras Lux” — After the darkness, the light. But as the story progresses and the true extent of his savagery is revealed, to what end will that darkness unravel?
Fun Fact: Even after death, Torquemada’s story would continue to be passed down as someone took it upon themselves to pay his grave a visit:
In 1832, his tomb was ransacked, just two years before the official end of the Inquisition. His bones were stolen and ritually burned, made to appear as if an “auto-da-fe,” or “act of faith” took place.
Liselotte
*Likely Based off: Élisabeth Charlotte d’Orléans (1676–1744)
Rank: Captain
Alias: N/A
Miracle: Remote Swords
Activation: “Patrem Inquisitor, Institutor of The Miracle, May Your Retribution Fall Upon the Unworthy.”
*Note: Unsurprisingly, I hit another roadblock, this time for a very different reason. If you know anything about the history of the Catholic church and the often complex and controversial views regarding the topics of gender roles, sex, and leadership within the organization, you’ll know that history has not been particularly kind towards women, especially during the medieval ages and the time of the Inquisition.
Needless to say, it’s safe to assume that female Inquisitors were not common, especially given the church’s previous historical stances. In fact, most of my research that didn’t involve the Inquisition’s cruelty referred me back to female Inquisitors in pop culture! With that in mind, I turned to @Radiant_Facts again who has an interesting theory on the identity of Liselotte’s likely inspiration. After looking into her background, I believe there may be a kernel of truth, but again, take this as theory.
Background: Élisabeth Charlotte was the daughter of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans and Elizabeth Charlotte, Madame Palatine — also known as also known as Liselotte von der Pfalz — making her nobility by birthright. As their last child born into aristocratic society, the second “Liselotte” was often described as outspoken in her words and tomboyish in nature, sharing her mother’s no-nonsense attitude and direct forwardness — much to her father’s dismay.
Despite her noble upbringing, Liselotte referred to herself as “a wild child,” preferring outdoor activities and general rough housing to aristocratic life. But as Liselotte’s older sisters were married into other royal families, the topic of her own marriage became of great import to her and her mother, the latter of which wanted to ensure her daughter both married lavishly as her sisters did and that she wasn’t simply married off to the next available bachelor.
After several potential candidates were shut down due to various reasons — religious differences, age, status, and general distaste to name a few — Liselotte would finally wed, but under a different set of circumstances. At the end of the Nine Years’ War between France and the Grand Alliance, the Treaty of Ryswick included a provision that the Duchy of Lorraine and their associated territories be returned to their rightful owner. As part of that agreement, Élisabeth Charlotte would take the hand of Leopold, Duke of Lorraine, and thus officially cement the peace treaty.
While the marriage itself was largely seen as a political play, with Liselotte’s mother commenting later that her daughter had been effectively made into a “victim of war,” to everyone’s surprise, their union would be a happy one, even after Leopold took on a mistress 10 years into their marriage. In their lifetime, Liselotte would bear fourteen children, though only five lived to adulthood. In 1744, she would pass away from a stroke.
Today, Liselotte’s legacy is largely tied as a patron of the arts, with Charles Perrault’s Les Contes de ma mère l’Oye (Mother Goose Tales), a French collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes being dedicated to her. That isn’t to say her life wasn’t filled with controversy, particularly when it came to her religion. During her marriage to Leopold, it’s been noted that she was quite prejudiced against non-Catholics, going so far as to convince her husband to further discriminate against them through legislation. This included — you guessed it — burning people at the stake, with some 280 people said to have been executed as a result.
In Radiant: A veteran Inquisitor who worked under Captain Dart Dragunov and Konrad (briefly), Liselotte’s straightforwardness and disregard for “etiquette” is made apparent from her introduction. When the truth about Konrad’s misdeeds reaches the Thaumaturges, it hardly comes as a shock to her, being the first scrutinize him as “a misogynist, fascist, idiot and liar,” to paraphrase. But when it comes to her duties within the Inquisition, her opinion regarding the Infected doesn’t stray far from his or Torque’s perspective when given a choice to follow orders or face reality.
A decision that later comes to a head when paired up with the newly promoted Dragunov after meeting with the Baron Merchants to discuss the future of Cyfandir and their larger business proposal regarding a certain “resource.” While Dragunov is silently disgusted at such a proposal being backed by the Inquisition, Liselotte merely doubles down, believing it to be an act of mercy under the false assumption of humanity’s — i.e. the non-Infected’s — benevolence towards those they deem to be less than human.
Her Miracle deploys two light blades, allowing her to control and manipulate them from a distance. While effective at long-distances due to their aggressive offense, it has limited defenses, especially in close-quarter situations.
Fun fact: The vintage cigarette holder Liselotte uses is likely a stylistic choice evocative of films and actresses during the 1950–60s. It could also be a reference to actress Liselotte Pulver (thanks again to @Radiant_Facts!).
Santori
Based off: Giulio Antonio Santorio (1532–1602)
Rank: Colonel
Alias: The Summit/The Peak
Miracle: Light Projection
Activation: “Patrem Inquisitor, Institutor of the Miracle, May Your Grandeur Rule Over the Unholy Ones.”
Background: A member of the Roman Catholic Church that served as Archbishop of Santa Severina until his passing, Giulio Antonio Santorio oversaw the increase of campaigns against heresy in Italy before taking his place as Cardinal in 1570. Prior to finding his calling within the church, he was a practicing lawyer until resigning not long after to take up priesthood. For the remainder of his life, he worked his way up the church as well as taking part in the Italian Inquisition, but not without some roadblocks in between. Most notably, he was accused of treason and taking part in a plot to assassinate Pope Pius IV, which would later be overturned by Pope Pius V who had made him his guide and eventually Archbishop.
Under his leadership within the Inquisition, Santorio led the charge against the remaining protestant holdouts for reform, as well as personally taking part in proceedings against Cardinal Giovanni Morone, philosophers Giordano Bruno and Tommaso Campanella — who would receive the death penalty — and King Henry IV of France. In addition, he opened proceedings to other crimes, including apostasy charges against former slaves returning from North Africa who had converted to Islam.
Following his own consecration to bishop, Santorio would go on to serve as principal consecrator and co-consecrator for the bishops that would proceed him. In terms of apostolic succession or historical episcopate, many modern bishops including Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI have lineage tracing back to Santorio.
In Radiant: A well-traveled explorer who has seemingly ventured to the very ends of Pharenos and all that it has to offer, Santori is thrill seeker of combat in addition to Colonel. To that end, he frequently tests his strength against towering opponents or forces of nature, building his military career on fighting as well as extravagant accomplishments that mirror the length of his imposing beard!
Because of that fearless reputation as “The Peak,” Santori finds himself quite bored without a strong challenge to quench his violent impulses. While duty bound to his services in the Inquisition and combating heresy/sorcery, that role takes a back seat when presented with the opportunity to hunt down the horned sorcerer personally, at one point telling his subordinates to leave him be because they were intruding on his “fun.”
Santori is extremely prideful to arrogant when it comes to his position in the Congregation of Thaumaturges, frequently looking down upon the Infected to dehumanizing them as nothing more than wild beasts to be tamed by the “chosen ones.” His Miracle further personifies this trait, allowing him to extend his body to gargantuan sizes through light particles. When stationary, he can project his entire body, but this decreases to one body part while on the move. With assistance from the other Thaumaturges, he can further increase the output of his Miracle as seen in Rumble Town. Though powerful and provides both offense and defense, the projection itself still takes damage as it is a solid construct.
Fun fact: Santorio was an avid writer. Among his works include a handbook of rites for priests that would become the primary source for the Roman Ritual, historical and regulatory pieces within the church, as well as his personal diary and autobiography Vita del card (“Life of the Card”) which would be published between 1889–1990. And as seen in almost all of his depictions, yes, he had a beard!
***Minor spoilers post Season 2/Volume 11***
Vérone
Based off: Saint Peter of Verona (1205–1252)
Rank: Cadet (attending the Stem Academy)
Alias: Prince of Convictis
Miracle: Petrification
Activation: “Patrem Inquisitor, Institutor of the Miracle, May Your Voice Petrify the Impure.”
Background: Of all the Inquisitors on this list, the history and legacy of Saint Peter of Verona is by far the most fascinating in terms of historical record and biblical retellings. The son of two followers of Catharism — a belief system that holds the universe is composed of a good and evil god — Peter would convert to Catholicism at a young age where he would begin his education before arriving at the University of Bologna. Though some members of his family disapproved of his admittance into the university given their religious differences, his involvement with the church only grew with the meeting of St. Dominic. The two hit it off as the latter would personally accept Peter into the Order of the Friars Preachers, otherwise known as the Dominican Order, not long after.
Taking on the role of a preacher, Peter dedicated himself to combating heresy through sermons, garnering quite the following, including a few former Cathars. Beyond preaching, his story would enter the realm of legend as a Miracle Worker who was said to have had close communications with the Saints among other figures. While Peter continued to draw large crowds under his role as preacher, his appointment to inquisitor by Pope Gregory IX would also bring enemies into his jurisdiction leading to his final stand.
As the story goes, Peter was ambushed in a secluded area by Carino of Balsamo, a paid assassin sent by a group of Milanese Cathar conspirators. If you’ve seen any of the religious imagery depicting St. Peter, you likely already know what happens next — a fatal blow to the head with an axe would end his life at the age of 47. But as he lay dying, he began reciting the Apostles’ Creed, dipped his fingers with his own blood and wrote the following: Credo in Deum (“I believe in God”). Following his death, St. Peter was formally named the patron of inquisitors. Carino would later repent and confess to the crime, joining the Catholic church himself.
In Radiant: Prince Vérone is the biological child of Vulkéus, king of Convictis and Ullmina Bagliore — more on that later. The byproduct of a difficult relationship between his parents following his mother’s acceptance into the Inquisition, Vérone would also seek refuge in the same institution after his father formally disowned him.
Though he is still receiving his education at the Stem Academy in Bome, he managed to attract the attention of General Torque to receive a formal invitation into the Thaumaturges, becoming the youngest person to receive a Miracle without having been formally inducted into the Inquisition proper. Like his fellow Miracle Workers, Vérone would take part in the Cyfandir War as the Inquisition prepared to invade the capital and assert their authority against the Sorcerer Knights.
Using his youth as a natural disguise, Vérone makes quick work of his opponents, catching them off guard before they have a chance to counterattack. His Miracle summons a large halo around him that petrifies anything within its range. Combined with the chime of his bell, it shatters anything converted to stone. This even works on Fantasia!
Fun fact: Vérone is autistic. Along with his strict formality when addressing people of authority, he tends to repeat himself in conversation.
His Miracle also has an interesting connection to St. Peter. While preaching to his followers on a particularly warm day, St. Peter’s critics tested him to prove his faith. According to legend, the lord answered his prayer and summoned a cloud to provide shade to his followers.
Ullmina Bagliore
*Likely Based off: Mother of Saint Peter or an amalgamation of his family; Virgin Martyrs Catherine, Agnes and Cecilia
Rank: Commander (Promoted to Colonel after the Sorcerer Knights Arc)
Alias: N/A
Miracle: Reanimation
Activation: “Patrem Inquisitor, Institutor of The Miracle, May Your Light Guide the Lost.”
*Note: The last Inquisitor I had to do a bit of guess work, although this one wasn’t nearly as hard! Given the familial connection, the most obvious connection we can deduce comes from St. Peter and his Cathar family members, with both the historical records and Radiant lore seemingly influenced by certain elements if you’re coming from the previous section.
While researching St. Peter, I came across another story that I believe may shed some additional light as possible source of inspiration for Ullmina’s character. I will present both for the sake of completeness, but again, take this as theory.
Background: Most of St. Peter’s stories regarding his parents and extended family center around their religious views, so not much information exists regarding who they were, notably, his mother. The most commonly recurring element in Peter’s early education is that his parents sent him to Catholic school because there were no other options available and were otherwise seemingly uninterested in his newfound passion. The rest of Peter’s family were less charitable, with his cousin and uncle arguing with him when he recited the Apostle’s Creed.
Despite both of their protests, Peter’s father was thoroughly convinced their family upbringing would be sufficient to keep the church’s influence from rubbing off on his son. In fact, he was so sure of himself, he ignored advice from family to pull Peter from Catholic school, going so far as to send him to study in Bologna to continue his education and see “the truth of the world” for himself. The rest of course, is history, as Peter would go on to become a preacher, Miracle Worker and Inquisitor before his untimely demise by the Cathari.
One of his earliest miracles happened during his stay at Bologna when Peter was accused of keeping several women in his company when a passenger walked by his quarters and heard voices. The three female companions would later be identified as the virgin martyrs Catherine, Agnes and Cecilia who would come to Peter in his visions and converse with him. Either embarrassed about the situation or convinced telling his story would complicate matters, he did not fight the charges and accepted the punishment. During his penance, he prayed to complain about the false accusation:
“Lord, You know that I am innocent of this: Why do you allow them to believe it?”
A sorrowful voice replied from the crucifix: “And I, Peter, what have I done that they should do this to Me?”
Peter complained no more. The truth was eventually discovered, and Peter resumed his studies and was ordained to the priesthood.
In Radiant: Although female Inquisitors exist in Radiant, the direct path to membership is largely closed off due to the current system in place or “tradition,” as some refer to it. Within the Kingdoms of Estria, most aspiring female Inquisitors obtain membership through vocational means such as bodyguard work or security detail. Ullmina Bagliore was one such candidate who served under King Vulkéus’ royal guard, as well as one of several mistresses he is heavily implied to have kept by his side.
This relationship resulted in the birth of Vérone. Before departing for the Inquisition, Ullmina pressured the king to award Vérone the title of prince to ensure his future, to which she succeeded. But upon realizing she was resigning from the royal guard, he immediately denounced them, vowing never to acknowledge him as an heir — or his son.
Unlike the other Inquisitors and Thamaturges introduced throughout the story up to Cyfandir, Ullmina has a very strong obsession with the Infected and their Sorcery, frequently describing their supposed methodologies and witchcraft in excruciating detail to the point of masochism in the company of her colleagues. Despite her fixation on the occultic and otherworldly nature of the Sorcerers, she does not hold them to quite the level of animosity compared to most Inquisitors. Rather, she finds them “fascinating,” believing it to be their duty to “guide their lost souls to the light” by purging them of their dark impulses and offer a form of salvation — even at personal cost.
Ullmina’s miracle can resurrect the dead briefly using her rays of light. Although it offers her no defense as it leaves her entirely exposed and takes a heavy toll on the user the longer it is used, it works over a large radius, overwhelming enemies through sheer numbers when deployed under the right circumstances. It can also absorb “impurities” when attached to living objects, though it should be noted it is extremely dangerous as it directly exposes the user to the contaminant.
Much as the Sorcerers depend on one another for support, the Thaumaturges also provide backup to amplify their powers or pull them back in the worst-case scenario. Perhaps this is why Vérone’s voice is the main deterrent that keeps his mother from sinking into total darkness…
Fun fact: The text Ullmina is referencing above comes from the Malleus Maleficarum (Hammer of Witches), a real-life book and introductory guide to hunting witches written by German inquisitor Heinrich Kramer. It is also the book Dragunov is reading at the beginning of Radiant.
Post Tenebras Lux (Final Thoughts)
When I started writing this article, I expected it to be a short draft with very little for me to touch up. For a genre often immortalized as the big mainstream style of storytelling tailor made for all audiences, this piece ended up giving me a clearer understanding of the real-world history behind one of the biggest aspects in Radiant. With a 700-year dark history to work with, it amazes me to no end what the people behind the manga and anime were able to pull from while working under that framework to tell a mature, light-hearted and evocative story about arguably one of the violent periods on record.
Needless to say, the actual history of the Inquisition is anything but fantasy. Most of the figures above never crossed paths in real life. Their real-life atrocities cost an untold number of lives estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands, and that’s only accounting for deaths that were officially recorded. And of course, it did include real human suffering, often by torture more inhumane than any medium that comes to mind. In today’s ever divided world, whether it be rhetoric, beliefs or personal agendas, sometimes the fantasy is much closer to reality than we care to admit.
Perhaps that’s why even knowing the true backstory, our craving for knowledge has only grown, our understanding of our history has only deepened, and our passion for stories, whether they be heroic tales of courage or the most savage villainy, is the reason why we continue to look towards fiction for inspiration. Now that I’ve gotten that long exposition out of the way, I suppose I should tell you how the real Inquisition ended.
Following Torquemada’s death, the Spanish Inquisition’s influence slightly waned as it lingered on through the 1800s. In 1834, it would officially be disbanded for good by the queen regent, María Cristina de Borbón. Though it took three attempts to finally abolish it in Spain once and for all, it goes to show that change is a virtue not just of the resilient individual or the collective many, but the consistent practice to uphold morality in the face of systematic injustice.
After all, it’s in our nature to search the past to find the future. Or as the old saying goes, “after the darkness, the light.”
En Deçà (Resources)
Inquisition (Overview/Hieracrchy/etc.)
2. Inquisition — Definition, History and & Facts | Britannica
4. Introduction to inquisition familiars and officials | University of Notre Dame
5. The Inquisition: An Overview | Special Faculty of Theology (Radboud University Nijmegen)
6. Spanish Inquisition — Key Facts | Britannica
7. How Did the Spanish Inquisition End? | The Collector
Konrad von Marburg
8. Konrad von Marburg | Wikipedia
9. Conrad of Marburg — Encyclopedia | Theodora
10. Konrad von Marburg — Inquisitor, Witch Trials, Medieval | Britannica
11. Catholic Encyclopedia: Conrad of Marburg | New Advent
Vlad the Impaler
12. @Radiant_Facts | Twitter (1)
13. Vlad the Impaler — Biography, Dracula, Death & Facts | Britannica
14. Vlad the Impaler’s thirst for blood was an inspiration for Count Dracula | National Geographic
15. Vlad the Impaler: The real Dracula was absolutely vicious
16. Kilij — The Sword of Vlad the Impaler | Heritage Arms Society Inc
17. Vlad the Impaler’s Military Campaigns in 5 Steps | The Collector
18. The Army of Vlad Dracula or Vlad the Impaler | Outfit4Events
Tomás de Torquemada
19. @Radiant_Facts | Twitter (2)
20. Tomás de Torquemada | Wikipedia
21. Tomás de Torquemada — First Grand Inquisitor of Spain | Britannica
22. Catholic Encyclopedia: Tomás de Torquemada | New Advent
23. Converso — Sephardic Jews, Inquisition, Expulsion | Britannica
24. The Unfathomable Cruelty of Tomás de Torquemada | All That’s Interesting
Duchess Elisabeth “Liselotte” Charlotte of Orléans
25. @Radiant_Facts | Twitter (3)
26. Women in the Catholic Church | Wikipedia
27. Barred from priesthood, some Catholic women find other roles | The Associated Press
28. Behind Closed Doors: Women and the Inquisition | History Today
29. Élisabeth Charlotte d’Orléans | Wikipedia
30. Élisabeth-Charlotte du Palatinat, Duchesse d’Orléans | Party like 1660
32. Histoires ou contes du temps passé | Wikipedia
33. Cigarette holder | Wikipedia
Guilio Antonio Santorio
34. Giulio Antonio Santorio | Wikipedia
35. The Roman Inquisition and the Crypto-Jews of Spanish Naples, 1569–1582 | Northwestern University Institutional Repository (Direct PDF, pg. 58)
36. Giulio Antonio Santorio — Encyclopedia, Science News & Research Reviews | Academic Accelator
37. Giulio Antonio Santorio | Enzyklopädie
38. Out of Phase: The Identity of Fra Marino | Harper McAlpine Black
Saint Peter of Verona
39. @Radiant_Facts | Twitter (4)
40. Peter of Verona | Wikipedia
41. St. Peter of Verona | Nashville Dominicans
42. St. Peter Martyr — Biography, Death & Facts | Britannica
43. St. Peter of Verona — Saints and Angels | Catholic Online
44. St. Peter Martyr | Dominican Friars Foundation
45. Vérone — Wiki Radiant | Fandom (Original Source: Japan Expo 2023)
46. Canon neurodivergent characters | Reddit (Japan Expo 2023–2)
48. Saint Peter of Verona | The Order of Preachers, Independent
Malleus Maleficarum
49. Malleus Maleficarum | Wikipedia
50. @Radiant_Facts | Twitter (5)
Additional Resources
57. The Art of Radiant (2023) | Tony Valente
58. The AniTAY Podcast (if they made it past the title of the article this time!)
59. All text and character quotes pulled from either the official English version of the Radiant manga/anime.
All screenshots and media captured from my computer and phone using the original source, unless otherwise noted. Special thanks to @Radiant_Facts and their incredible work which proved to be invaluable while researching this piece!
Dark Aether is a writer/contributor for TAY and AniTAY. You can check his main writings on Medium, archives at TAY2, or follow him on Twitter @TheGrimAether. Not Dead Yet.
Requiem Aeternam (More Radiant)
