[EN] The Negro, as a free man or as slave, was an additional component in Spanish society during the 16th century. As member of this society he was subjected to the control of the political and religious institutions and if he was a slave, he was simply at the disposal of his master's will. The Inquisition also persecuted him and although he didn't have an officially recognized status, he was considered to be as person with a suitable religious grounding and was therefore judged accordingly by those in charge of the Inquisition. Here we approach this peculiar relationship for the first time and we emphasize that the inquisitorial trials are also an useful source enabling us to study certain aspects and circumstances in the Negro's life at that time.

[ES] El negro, como libre o como esclavo, fue un componente m?s de la sociedad espa?ola del siglo XVI. Como miembro de la misma estuvo sometido al control de las instituciones religiosas y pol?ticas y, si era esclavo, fue un simple objeto de la voluntad de sus due?os. La Inquisici?n tambi?n le persigui?, y aunque ?ste no ten?a una personalidad jur?dica definida, fue considerado como persona con una formaci?n religiosa adecuada y, por eso, juzgado por los responsables inquisitoriales. Hacemos aqu? una primera aproximaci?n en esta peculiar relaci?n e insistimos en que los procesos inquisitoriales son tambi?n una fuente ?til para estudiar ciertos aspectos y circunstancias de la vida del negro en aquella ?poca.