Illuminati
- This is an article about groups called Illuminati. For information on the games, see Illuminati (game) and Illuminati: New World Order
The
Illuminati is the name of many groups, modern and historical, real and
fictitious, verified and alleged. Most commonly, however,
The Illuminati refers specifically to the
Bavarian Illuminati, described below. Most alleged and fictitious uses refer to a shadowy
conspiratorial organization which controls world affairs behind the scenes, usually a modern incarnation or continuation of the Bavarian Illuminati.
Illuminati is sometimes used synonymously with
New World Order.
Origins
Since Illuminati literally means 'enlightened ones' in Latin, it is natural that several unrelated historical groups have identified themselves as Illuminati. Often, this was due to claims of possessing gnostic texts or other arcane information not generally available.
The designation illuminati was also in use from the 15th century, assumed by enthusiasts of another type, who claimed that the illuminating light came, not by being communicated from an authoritative but secret source, but from within, the result of exalted consciousness, or "enlightenment".
Alumbrados of Spain
\nTo the former class belong the alumbrados of Spain. The historian Marcelino Menéndez Pelayo found the name as early as 1492 (in the form aluminados, 1498). but traced them to a Gnostic origin, and thought their views were promoted in Spain through influences from Italy. One of their earliest leaders, born in Salamanca, a labourer's daughter known as La Beata de Piedrahita, came under the notice of the Inquisition in 1511, as claiming to hold colloquies with Jesus and the Virgin Mary; some high patronage saved her from a rigorous denunciation. (Menéndez Pelayo, Los Heterodoxos Espanioles, 1881, vol. v.). Ignatius Loyola, while studying at Salamanca in 1527, was brought before an ecclesiastical commission on a charge of sympathy with the alumbrados, but escaped with an admonition. Others were not so fortunate. In 1529 a congregation of naive adherents at Toledo was subjected to whippings and imprisonment. Greater rigors followed, and for about a century the alumbrados sent many victims to the Inquisition, especially at Cordoba.
Illuminés of France
\nThe movement (under the name of Illuminés) seems to have reached France from Seville in 1623, and attained some following in Picardy when joined (1634) by Pierce Guerin, curé of Saint-Georges de Roye, whose followers, known as Gurinets, were suppressed in 1635.
A century later, another, more obscure body of Illuminés came to light in the south of France in 1722, and appears to have lingered till 1794, having affinities with those known contemporaneously in Britain as 'French Prophets', an offshoot of the Camisards.
Rosicrucians
\nA different class were the so-called Illuminati, better known as Rosicrucians, who claimed to originate in 1422, but rose into notice in 1537; a secret society, that claimed to combine with the mysteries of alchemy the possession of esoteric principles of religion. Their positions are embodied in three anonymous treatises of 1614, mentioned in Richard and Giraud, Dictionnaire universel des sciences ecclésiastiques. Paris 1825. Rosicrucians also claimed heritage from the Knights Templar and Priory of Sion.
Martinists
\nLater, the title Illuminati was applied to the French Martinists which had been founded in 1754 by Martinez Pasqualis, and to their imitators the Russian Martinists, headed about 1790 by Professor Schwartz of Moscow; both were occultist cabalists and allegorists, absorbing eclectic ideas from Jakob Boehme and Emanuel Swedenborg.
The Bavarian Illuminati
\nHistory
\nA short-lived movement of republican freethinkers, the most radical offshoot of the Enlightenment, to whose adherents the name Illuminati was given, (but who called themselves "Perfectibilists"), was founded on May 1, 1776 by the ex-Jesuit Adam Weishaupt (d. 1830), professor of canon law, and Baron Adolph von Knigge, in Ingolstadt, Bavaria (now Germany). The group has also been called the Illuminati Order, the Order of the Illuminati, and the Bavarian Illuminati.
In the conservative state of Bavaria, where the progressive and enlightened elector Maximilian III Joseph von Wittelsbach was succeeded (1777) by his conservative heir Karl Theodor, and which was dominated by the Roman Catholic Church and the aristocracy, such an organization did not last long before it was suppressed by the powers that be. In 1784, the Bavarian government banned all secret societies, the Illuminati as well as the Freemasons. The structure of the Illuminati soon collapsed, but while it was in existence many influential intellectuals and progressive politicians were members.
Its members, drawn primarily from Masons and former Masons, pledged obedience to their superiors, and were divided into three main classes: the first, known as the Nursery, encompassed the ascending degrees or offices of Preparation, Novice, Minerval and Illuminatus Minor; the second, known as the Masonry, consisting of the ascending degrees of Illuminatus Major and Illuminatus dirigens, the latter also sometimes called Scotch Knight; the third, designated the Mysteries, was subdivided into the degrees of the Lesser Mysteries (Presbyter and Regent) and those of the Greater Mysteries (Magus and Rex). Relations with masonic lodges were established at Munich and Freising in 1780.
The order had its branches in most countries of the European continent, but its total numbers never seem to have exceeded two thousand. The scheme had its attraction for literary men, such as Goethe and Herder, and even for the reigning dukes of Gotha and Weimar. Internal rupture preceded its downfall, which was effected by an edict of the Bavarian government in 1785.
Cultural effect
\nDespite the organization's short lifespan, the Bavarian Illuminati have cast a long shadow in popular history, thanks to the writings of their opponents. The lurid allegations of conspiracy theory that have colored the image of the Freemasons have practically opaqued that of the Illuminati. In 1797 Abbé Augustin Barruél published Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism outlining a vivid conspiracy theory involving the Knights Templars, the Rosicrucians, the Jacobins and the Illuminati. Simultaneously and independently, a Scottish Mason and professor of natural history named John Robison started to publish Proofs of a Conspiracy Against all the Religions and Governments of Europe in 1798. When he saw the similar work done by Barruél, he included large quotes from the latter's work. Robison claimed to present evidence of an Illuminati conspiracy striving to replace all religions and nations with humanism and a single world government, respectively.
More recently, Antony C. Sutton suggested that the secret society Skull and Bones was founded as the American branch of the Illuminati. Robert Gillete has claimed that these Illuminati ultimately intend to rule the world through assassination, bribery, blackmail, the control of banks and other financial powers, the infiltration of governments, and by causing wars and revolution to move their own people into higher positions in the political hierarchy.
Thomas Jefferson, on the other hand, claimed they intended to spread information and the principles of true morality. He attributed the secrecy of the Illuminati to what he called "the tyranny of a despot and priests".
Both seem to agree that the enemies of the Illuminati were the monarchs of Europe and the Church. Barruél claimed that the French revolution (1789) was engineered and controlled by the Illuminati through the Jacobins, and later conspiracy theorists have also claimed their responsibility for the Russian Revolution (1917), although the order was officially shut down in 1790. Very few historians give credence to these views; they regard such claims as the products of overfertile imaginations.
The conspiracy theorist's view
The Illuminati's occult beginnings
Adam Weishaupt was known to be a great friend of a merchant known only as 'Kolmer'. Kolmer was greatly travelled and knew much about the middle eastern esoteric traditions in the occult, the Kabalah, and alchemy coming from Ancient Egypt and Persia. Some researchers claim that Kolmer was none other than 'Altomas', a man admired and mentioned by Cagliostro, court magician to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, who was heavily involved in the French Revolution). Whoever he was, he brought a great deal of influence upon Weishaupt, reputedly teaching him an ancient form of gnosticism called 'Manichaeanism' or 'Mandauanism'- the basis of Weishaupt's order. Secret Societies based on the principle of Manichaeanism had been calling themselves 'the illuminati' since before the 3rd century AD. Another name connected to these three is Count Saint-Germain a popular and influential figure in courts across europe, another prolific occultist, and high ranking freemason of the time. Cagliostro and Kolmer became heavily embroiled in masonic activities under his influence. The knowledge of these three was passed on to Weishaupt, but the only documented evidence of this is that the Order adopted the Persian calendar. Weishaupt built his order into a hierarchical structure of degrees, similar to both the Jesuits and the Freemasons, with only the top 9 being initiated into the occult side, the lower degrees being a mutual self help fraternity in the style of lower freemasonry.
The Illuminati's New World Order
The self confessed purpose of the Illuminati was to overthrow every world government and institution, and bring about a New political and spiritual World Order based on the Illuminati's gnostic beliefs. Their key philosophy was excellently summed up by Weishaupt: "Behold our secret. Remember that the end justifies the means, and the wise ought to take all the means to do good which the wicked take to do evil." In other words, the Illuminati felt itself morally justified to kill and betray in order to bring about their New World Order. With this ideology taught to initiates, the thousands of members (the order becoming fashionable throughout Europe) were prepared to do anything.
Was 1780 really the end of the Illuminati?
The Illuminati, with its many and various influential members, was able to bury itself deep into society, and mask itself with subterfuge and obscurity. By the time the Bavarian government came to try and smash it, it was already denucleated, it was a body too wide and vast to effectively hit on the head. In fact, efforts the Bavarian authorites made to destroy them assisted the Illuminati- everyone thought they were gone. As Weishaupt said in one of his letters, dated 1794 (14 years after their apparent dissolution): "The great strength of our Order lies in its concealment. Let it never appear in any place in its own name, but always covered by another name, and another occupation. None is fitter than the three lower degrees of Freemasonry; the public is accustomed to it, expect little from it, and therefore takes little notice of it. Next to this, the form of a learned or literary society is best suited to our purpose... By establishing reading societies and subscription libraries... we may turn the public mind which way we will. In like manner we must try to obtain an influence in ... all offices which have any effect, either in forming, or in managing, or even in directing the mind of man." While the order was banned in Bavaria, it remained prolific throughout Europe, and also in America. Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and many of the other founding fathers were Freemasons, and indeed spoke very highly of Weishaupt. At the time, the Illuminati had many of its tentacles enrouted in freemasonry, recruiting heavily from all rites, and both were accused at the time of being members. This 'relationship' between the Illuminati and Masonry was strengthened by the merging, in July 1782, of the Illuminati with a Frankfurt Masonic Lodge called 'the Order of Strict Observance' at the Masonic convention at Wilhelmsbad in Hess. Strict Observance was the descendant of an earlier Rosicrucian Order called the Order of the Gold and Rosy Cross. Researchers claim this merge married the degrees of Illuminism with the higher degrees of Freemasonry, creating a system whereby higher ranking masons could join the Illuminati, and in many lodges, including the Order of Strict Observance, this was automatic. As well, members of the Illuminati automatically became high ranking freemasons! This coup, whether the masons realised it or not, allowed them to control the majority of high level freemasonry. Now in a position of ultimate power, the Illuminati could re-arrange the Masons to its own specifications, and soon they wielded ultimate power over it. Immediately after the Wilhelmsbad conference, the Illuminati moved its headquarters to that of the Strict Observance in Frankfurt, which now ceased to exist, completely consumed by the Illuminati.
From being in control of the Masons, and therefore many of the most powerful and influential men in Europe and America, they could begin their agenda for world domination that has resulted, conspiracy theorists say, in every war, complete control of the press and is bringing the earth closer to New World Order.
The Illuminati in popular culture
The historical Illuminati have had several influences on popular culture, not all of them entirely serious:
References
- 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica:'' "Illuminati"\n*America's Secret Establishment: An Introduction to the Order of Skull & Bones — Antony C. Sutton (Trine Day, LLC, 2003)\n*Behold a Pale Horse — Cooper, Milton William (Light Technology Publishing, 1991)\n*The Cosmic Conspiracy — Deyo, Stan (Adventures Unlimited Pres, Illinois, 1994)\n*The Illuminati 666 — Sutton, Josiah William (Teach Services, Inc, New York, 1983).\n*Proof of a Conspiracy Against all the Religions and Governments of Europe — Robinson, John A.M. (New York, 1798)
See also
\n* Conspiracy theory\n* New World Order (conspiracy)\n* David Icke\n* The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu\n* Ordo Templi Orientis
External links
