Aquaviva, Claudius (1543–1615)

Italian theologian, the fifth general of the Jesuits. He helped to strengthen the Society of Jesus when the principles of its founder, Ignatius Loyola, were seriously threatened. He improved its efficiency, membership, missionary work, and also its teaching, commissioning the Ratio Studiorum/Method of Studies (1591, revised 1599) which outlined a course of studies to be followed in Jesuit schools.

Having joined the Jesuits in 1567, Aquaviva was elected general in 1581, the youngest in the history of the Society. He was faced with a variety of internal disputes, most importantly the claims of the Spanish Jesuits for special privileges. These he successfully opposed by defeating Spanish demands for an additional commissary-general for Spain. He also resisted demands by the Inquisition to examine the Society's constitution. During his time in office the Society's membership increased from around 5000 to over 13,000.