ACQUAVIVA, Rodolfo. Atri, Abruzzi 2.10.1550 — Cocalin (Cuncolim), Goa 15.7.1583. S.J. Italian Missionary in India. Of high birth: nephew of a Jesuit general, brother of two future cardinals, son of Giangirolamo Acquaviva d’Aragona, the Duke of Atri, and Margherita Pio di Savoia. Joined S.J. 1568, educated in Rome. Selected to missionary work and ordained as a priest before he left Lisbon for Goa in 1578 (together with others, i.a. Mateo Ricci). In 1580-83 with two other Jesuits (Henriquez and Monserrate) at Mughal court in Fatehpur Sikri. In 1583 he became the head of Goan missions, but was soon murdered by Hindus, who rebelled against the suppression of their religion. Beatified in 1893.

Publications: Wrote an account of his visit to Akbar, apparently publ. in D. Bartoli, Missione al Gran Mogor del P. R. A. Rome 1653 – in the 1714 ed. the name is written as Rudolfo Aquaviva – new ed. Salerno 1992.

Sources: *N. Angelini,: Der selige Rudolf Acquaviva und seine Gefährten. Regensburg 1894; Koch, Jesuitenlexikon; P. Pirri, D.B.I. 1, 183f.; *Maclagan, The Jesuits and the Great Mogul. L. 1932; Wikipedia (see also Italian version).