Rodolfo Acquaviva

Who was Rodolfo Acquaviva?

Rodolfo Acquaviva Italian Jesuit missionary to India, at the court of Akbar the Great, 1580–1583; Martyred, 1583; Blessed, 1893.

Son of Giangirolamo Acquaviva, 10th Duke of Atri, great-grandson of Andrea Matteo Acquaviva, condottiere and man of letters, Rodolfo belonged to a powerful and illustrious family of Germanic origin settled in the Kingdom of Naples since the twelfth century. Inspired by the example of his uncle Claudio Acquaviva who joined the Society of Jesus in 1567 and ruled it as 5th General of the Jesuits between 1581 and 1615, he became a novice at Sant'Andrea al Quirinale in Rome together with Stanislas Kostka. After completing his studies Acquaviva was chosen by his superiors for the prestigious and challenging Indian missions, begun by Francis Xavier in the Portuguese territory of Goa and he travelled to Lisbon, starting point for the voyage east. There he was ordained a priest and sailed for India in 1578. At first he taught at Saint Paul's College, Goa but was then assigned as the leader of a mission to the court of Akbar upon the request of Grand Mughal.