26. His Death Led to Witch Trials
After Charles II died, there was a massive squabble about who his successor should be. The Bishop of Segovia and Inquisitor General, Balthasar de Mendoza, formally charged Froilan Diaz, Charles’ confessor, with bewitching the king. Diaz was acquitted, so Mendoza arrested everyone who declared that he was not guilty of witchcraft. A reign of terror ensued.