Jerome Xavier

Jerome Xavier, born Jerónimo de Ezpeleta y Goñi (1549 – 27 June 1617), was a Spanish Jesuit missionary to the Mughal court of Akbar (1542–1605) and his son Jahangir. A grand-nephew of Saint Francis Xavier, he chose to be called Jerome Xavier.

Early life Jerome Xavier was born "in the castle of his father Miguel de Ezpeleta" in the northern province of Navarre, Spain, in 1549. Xavier's great-uncle, Saint Francis Xavier, was a close friend of Ignatius of Loyola and co-founder of the Society of Jesus.

On 7 May 1568, at the age of nineteen, upon completion of a degree of Bachelor of Philosophy from the University of Alcalá, Jerome entered the Society of Jesus. He spent the following years studying philosophy and theology before being ordained priest in 1575. After ordination he spent a number of years teaching "elementary subjects" in Villarejo de Fuentes in Cuenca, Spain, before being sent east, arriving in Goa in September 1581.

Missionary work

First years Upon arrival in Portuguese Goa Father Jerome was "appointed as master of novices", and Father Jerome was sent, by popular election, to Lahore where he arrived on 5 May 1595.

The Mughal Empire at Akbar's death in 1605. Fully integrated territories in dark green, dependent territories in light green

In the court of Akbar Father Jerome's arrival in Lahore was marked by the hospitality of Akbar who provided him and his two companions, Father Emmanuel Pinheiro and Brother Bento de Góis, with lodgings in his own palace and "assigned a Muslim doctor to instruct them in learning the Persian language".

During the reign of Akbar, Father Jerome accompanied the Emperor on various expeditions through the Deccan Plateau, witnessing the capture of the fortress of Asirgarh in January 1601.

It was around this time that more Jesuit missionaries began to arrive to replace Father Emmanuel and Brother Bento who had been sent to explore the central route leading to China (the search of Cathay), and that the greatest accomplishment of Father Jerome and the Jesuits under Emperor Akbar was achieved.

While Xavier was accompanying the army, and with his two original companions sent elsewhere, he was notified by Father Francesco Corsi (1573–1635) of the declining atmosphere of religious freedom in Lahore under the "intolerant attitude of the Viceroy" put in place by Akbar. Immediately Father Jerome requested that the Emperor send the more experienced Father Pinheiro back to Lahore and issue a farmān "granting freedom of worship" The most notable of all baptisms during Father Jerome's charge of the mission was that of the three nephews of Jahangir in the summer of 1610.

These conversions were short lived as in 1613 "the princes apostatized and gave their crucifixes [given to them upon their baptism] back to the Jesuits". This act confirmed Father Jerome's growing pessimism about his mission, due to the "hardness of the Muslims and...motives of the convert". As the war progressed safety became a concern for Father Jerome, who moved the Mission and its congregation from Lahore to Agra in 1614. peace was restored in 1615 and the mission resumed its pre-war activity, though without Father Jerome who for the first time since his departure returned to Goa, "a broken man".

Final years and death The final years of Father Jerome's life were spent in retirement in Goa. He was once again assigned as Rector, this time at Saint Paul's College. He desired greatly to return to Spain, though he did not possess the "health and strength required for the labours of that country". He reflected that he was "on death's door" and on 27 June 1617, "he was found burned to death in his room" under circumstances that are not known to this day. Unknown to him at the time of his death, Father Xavier had been elected to serve as the Archbishop of Cranganore.