Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) could not have imagined the Society of Jesus that he established in 1540 would play such an influential role in the political developments of early modern Europe. The former Basque military officer lived to see only the early stages of its dramatic transformation from a modest Roman Catholic missionary order of preachers into a vast society of teachers and founders of schools and universities, as well as councillors and confessors to heads of state. In due course, its members would participate in some of the most momentous political events of their day. . . .