The bibliography and footnotes have been deliberately left out of this paper to avoid plagarism. References can be obtained by e-mailing Stormy at mpletsch@julian.uwo.ca
"These days...there are few people whose thirst for knowledge, adventure and good company, and whose curiosity will not have led them to join one secret society or another at some time."
--Baron Adolph Freiherr Von Knigge
The rise of the Enlightenment movement in Europe during the seventeenth century caused fertile conditions for the creation of secret societies. Groups such as the Freemasons, the Rosicrucians and the Templars held private meetings and cloaked their affairs in mystery. Conservatives and aristocrats feared the plots that they believed these societies were hatching. Rumours spread across Europe that its governments were being besieged from within by individuals working for these societies, and that their goal was to overthrow all governments and religions. Some scoffed at these ideas and called them ridiculous; others embraced them and feared that their closest friends could be agents of a faceless enemy. One such organization, the Illuminati Society, would give rise to rumours of conspiracy that have lasted until the present day.
Why did secret societies cloak their affairs in mystery? There were two main reasons. The first played on human needs to be accepted and to feel important. Members' egos were boosted by the thought that they were part of a handful of elites privy to classified information, regardless of whether this information was a national secret or merely a ritual that would be meaningless to outsiders. The second was for self-preservation.
In Plain Thoughts on Secret Societies, Lawrence states, "Secrecy must be cherished for some object, and it is not insolent to ask for what object." When the historical context is taken into account, that object becomes immediately apparent. Many of the ideals upheld by secret societies ran contrary to those of the people in power. In nations ruled by kings and aristocrats, notions of a brotherhood of equals were dangerous. Governments throughout time have sought to preserve stability and order for their people. In the eighteenth century, the great majority of nations were ruled by kings or queens, who would naturally seek to preserve their power throughout their lives and pass the throne to members of their family just as their ancestors had passed it to them. They had few qualms about using their nearly absolute power to impose their will on the people. Anyone who suggested that the monarch be replaced by an elected official, regardless of the narrowness of the pool of eligible voters, was making a statement that threatened the regentís sense of security and proposing a radical change to the current order. A large group of people holding notions that threatened or even disturbed the monarch was bound to be broken up and many of its members arrested. Therefore, societies used secrecy to protect their members.
Yet while secrecy may attract some individuals, it often produces fear in others. Lawrence continues, "An open society cannot lay a plan or concoct a dishonourable scheme without letting the world know it; but a secret society may do all this." High-ranking officials were unnerved by the fact that organized groups with large memberships were gathering all across Europe while state leaders were almost completely ignorant as to what these groups were doing.
The word "Illuminati" is Latin for "the enlightened ones," a title commonly given to scholars and mages for many centuries. Many groups referred to themselves as "illuminated," such as the Ambraldos in Spain and the Guerinets in France, and later Saint Martinís Illumines of France. However, "the Illuminati Society" most often refers to a group formed in Bavaria in the mid eighteenth century. Adam Weishaupt, professor of canon law at the University of Munich, founded the Illuminati on May 1, 1776, but the society always claimed to be much older in order to give itself an air of ancient mystery. It pointed to the other groups that had borne its name as "proof."
There were certain core principles vital to the Illuminati Society: "the hierarchical structure of the league, the emphasis on secrecy, the equality of the membership and protection against internal influence." Weishaupt's goals were "to sweep away all existing monarchies and creeds, establishing in their stead republics where the desire to do good to oneís fellow-man should take the place of all natural or revealed religions and subordinations of rank." Such ideas were hardly new. For many years pamphlets had been circulated criticizing the rule of the people by hereditary monarchs and "the sloth and corruption of the clergy." However, Weishaupt distrusted nationalism as much as despotism; "his creed was philosophic anarchism." He hoped that when all mankind acted as reasonable beings, there would no longer be any need for nations or states; the entire human species would become a single united family. As a result, later claims that ìCommunism...is but a form of the illuminated Masonry of Weishauptî originated when conspiracy theorists drew parallels between the vision of Marxist-Leninists and that of Adam Weishaupt. Nevertheless, there is no proof that either Marx or Lenin took Weishaupt as their inspiration.
Much of the character of the Illuminati Society was imparted to it by Weishaupt, who was orphaned at a young age and sent to a school run by Jesuit priests. Although he disagreed with many of their beliefs, he greatly admired their strict discipline. He would later give the Illuminati an organizational structure modeled after that of the Jesuits but pursuing a mandate almost completely opposite. The similarities would give rise to rumours that the Jesuits secretly supported the Illuminati despite the societyís distrust of organized religion. It has even been theorized that the Illuminati started these rumours themselves to cover their own tracks and discredit religion further.
An even closer resemblance can be found between the Freemasonís clubs and the Illuminati. Some conspiracy theorists claim that Masons were simply Illuminati under a different name. The Masonsí Societies were originally created as congenial clubs and meetinghouses. Many philosophes had become Masons and used the lodges as settings for their debates on religion, morality and government. The atmosphere in the lodges became increasingly pro- Enlightenment--fertile ground for the Illuminati. As well, the Masons were already organized into lodges with an established structure and code of conduct. All Weishaupt needed to do was bring them under his control.
Weishauptís first converts to Illuminism were several of his own students at the university. In 1777, he was initiated into the first degree of Masonry at a lodge in Munich named the Lodge Theodor zum guten Rath and continued his recruiting there. Through the lodge, he was able to meet and influence government officials, liberal-minded priests, academics, and aristocrats in order to advance his fledgling society.
The newly formed Illuminati had no organizational structure; Weishaupt himself had to create it all. He spent days reading books on secret societies and borrowing snippets of rituals, doctrines, and hierarchies from each of them. For example, there is evidence that some of the Illuminatiís knowledge of herbal cures and folk magic came from the Jewish Cabalists. However, the majority of their rites were based on Masonry. The Illuminati preserved the "secrecy, solemnity, mysticism and correspondence of Masonry...while ...the impatience of civil and moral restraints, and the aims against government, morals and religion, were elevated, expanded, and rendered more systematical, malignant, and daring." By joining the Masons, Weishaupt was introduced to a flourishing secret society. Far from being an obedient Mason, he sought to discover as many secrets as possible in order to incorporate them into his own system.
The Masons had a ranking system of several degrees; by working for the lodge and proving oneís loyalty, a member could advance up the degrees, taking on more secret knowledge, more responsibility, and a stronger leadership role with each degree. Weishaupt copied his first few degrees for the Illuminati directly from the Freemasons. Despite the fact that Weishaupt and his higher circle replicated so much of the Masonic structure, their correspondence shows a deep contempt for the Masonic system. They viewed the rites of Masonry much as certain philosophes viewed the church: useful for keeping simple people in line, but once one is truly enlightened, one has no use for such foolishness.
The first level was that of Novice, in which an individual was observed by inducted members. If the senior members believed that he was a good candidate for induction into the Illuminati, he became a Minerval. At this level, he knew only one member of the society--his superior. Minervals who studied and followed the teachings of the Illuminati became Illuminatus Minors, at which rank they were attended meetings and were able to meet other members. These three degrees were very similar to those of Apprentice, Fellow-Craft and Master Mason in the Freemasons' lodges; indeed, there was even some crossing over when the Illuminati successfully took over several Masonic lodges. If a candidate was found unreliable, he was not advanced beyond these degrees. Since the German lodges had developed a belief that "undisclosed superiors were watching the progress of the Lodges all over the world and would from time to time manifest themselves to such junior Brethren as had merited their favour and seemed worthy of advancement in Masonry," it was easy for Weishaupt's group to graft itself onto the Masonís clubs by claiming to represent those superiors. This belief would later fuel conspiracy theories by suggesting that the Illuminati controlled secret societies all over the world.
The higher degrees consisted of Illuminatus Major, Illuminatus Dirigens, Priest, Prince, Magus and King. In these levels some of the teachings of the lower ranks were contradicted. Christianity and Masonic ritual were discredited. The Magus degree included the acceptance of the doctrine that "God and the world [are] One, and all religions [are] human inventions." To become a King, one would have to agree that "every peasant, citizen, or father of a family is a sovereign, as in patriarchal life, to which mankind must be brought back, and that consequently all state authority must be abolished." The final four levels of Illuminism were called the Greater Mysteries, and no one ever actually achieved them; the society was disbanded before Weishaupt and his inner circle finished drawing up the qualifications. In effect, that inner circle acted in the leadership and executive roles laid out for the Greater Mysteries as described in Weishaupt's correspondence.
Although the Illuminati claimed that one of its goals was to establish equality for all mankind, this statute was not reflected in its membership. A high percentage of members were aristocrats and liberal-minded clergymen. It has been suggested that their motive for joining the society was "no longer to seek compensation for their decreasing influence at court, but rather to demonstrate their solidarity as proponents of the Enlightenment with the educated middle class." Due to the Illuminatiís dislike for organized religion and reflecting the prejudices of the times, Protestants were preferred over Catholics and Christians over Jews. However, in one area the Illuminati were truly ahead of their time. Weishaupt and his inner circle fully intended to establish a separate branch of the society that would be limited to women only. He realized that "We cannot improve the world without improving the women."
Partly to play on their membersí fascination for mystery, and partly to hide their doings from those outside the society, the Illuminati adopted several codes. They dated all their correspondence according to the Persian calendar. Many adopted the names of historical figures. Weishaupt called himself "Spartacus" and Baron von Knigge was known as "Philo." Places were also given classical code names: Bavaria was "Greece" and Munich was "Athens."
Weishauptís greatest alliance was with Baron von Knigge. The Baron, a Masonic enthusiast who had spent years in Freemasonry examining the hidden meanings of its ceremonies, was converted to Illuminism in 1782, bringing all his knowledge of ancient ceremonies with him. Weishaupt enlisted Knigge's help in creating the rites and qualifications for the higher ranks of Illuminism.
Ironically, in the end, Weishaupt's alliance with Knigge may well have been the Society's undoing. Weishaupt and Knigge often disagreed, particularly where religion was concerned. Weishaupt accused Knigge of working too many references to religion into the rituals; Knigge claimed that the society had to appeal to those who held religion in high regard in order to bring them under its control. Within two years von Knigge became frustrated enough to quit the Society, causing Weishaupt to insist on every member taking an oath of eternal loyalty to the Order.
Nevertheless, the damage had been done. The Elector of Bavaria had already been inquiring about the Illuminati, for he had heard that "somewhere or other in his dominions a new movement was afoot directed against the established order of things." Finding several pamphlets distributed by members of the Lodge Theodor, the Elector ordered that all lodges be closed. The Lodge Theodor continued to meet anyway. Several Minervals were questioned but refused to betray the Order. At this point, von Knigge and three of his associates who also had become disenchanted with Illuminism volunteered to reveal all their knowledge to the Elector. Although none of them was very highly advanced in the order, their testimony was enough to cause the Elector to issue an edict in 1785 abolishing the Order of the Illuminati. Weishaupt lost his position at the University and was banished from Bavaria. He fled to England, spent several years in the court of Saxe-Gotha, and later became a professor at Gottingen. Several other Illuminati noblemen were banished as well.
Most Masonic literature claims that "no association of men was ever more...misrepresented than the Illuminati." Such claims are understandable given the link between the Illuminati and the Masons; to protect their own interests, the Masons attempted to counteract the wave of conspiracy paranoia.
Typical quotes from Masonic literature include the following: "It is common to dismiss them [the Illuminati] with the remark that they were a body of men united together for the purpose of destroying society and religion, whereas, they were men of the profoundest religious convictions, and only desired such a reform in politics as would give man a greater degree of freedom... and ...to which was entrusted the noble task of causing virtue to triumph over folly and ignorance, and of carrying instruction and civilization into all classes of society... "
Though one Masonic publication states that the Illuminati aimed "to bind in one brotherhood men of all countries, ranks and religions," it later admits that "Protestants, rather than Catholics, were preferred as members." Such contradictions, as well as their reluctance to affirm facts that could harm their own reputation, discount the reliability of the Masons' views of the Illuminati.
The Illuminati were accused, among other things, of teaching and encouraging members to counterfeit official seals, build strongboxes that would explode of forced open, learn to write with both hands and forge signatures, and other such shady acts. Certain rituals were said to include human sacrifice, although no proof was ever found. Whether they were guilty or not, such accusations encouraged the Elector of Bavaria to ban the Illuminati and persecute other societies. It also set the tone for conspiracy rumours surrounding the Illuminati in the decades to come.
The permanence of the Illuminati legend was caused by a series of historical coincidences which led to rumours of Illuminati involvement. These rumours have very little basis in fact. Nonetheless, even unsubstantiated they have allowed the memory of the Illuminati to persist to the present day.
The Illuminati did indeed infiltrate Masonsí lodges and, before the society was dissolved, had established their own lodges not only in Germany but also in other countries, including France. Many leading figures in the French Revolution, such as Mirabeau, Lafayette, and Robespierre, were Masons if not Illuminati. So were Rousseau and Voltaire, who had championed the Enlightenment movement. The connection between the two societies led some to believe that all Masons' clubs had been taken over by the Illuminati and that, essentially, a Mason and an Illuminatus were one in the same. Since those with Enlightenment ideals both joined secret societies and supported the Revolution, it is easy to see where the rumour that the Illuminati masterminded the French Revolution had its roots.
Napoleon was also involved with Freemasonry, choosing to deal with the lodges rather than attempt to suppress them. In 1812 lodges in France were "opened and closed with the cry, Vive l'Empereur!" One writer describes Napoleon's career during his rise to power: "Masonry was then on his side, and as now the secret resources of the Order, its power of hidden influence and espionage were placed at the disposal of the cause it served. But when Masonry had reason to fear that Napoleonís power might be perpetuated... caused danger to the universal republic it could otherwise assure itself of at his death; when...he began to show a coldness for the sect... he was...sold by secret, invisible foes into the hands of his enemies... he died abandoned and persecuted by the dark sect which had used, abused and betrayed him."
In fact, there was a society named the Illuminati which sought to restore the Napoleon family to the French throne. It started in France and spread into Italy, but its plan never amounted to anything. This society had no links with Weishauptís Illuminati.
For the most part, Masonic lodges did support Napoleon in his conquered territories, though whether or not they actually helped him keep control of those areas is a matter of speculation. Still, it is highly doubtful that the Masons controlled Napoleon's rise and fall from glory, much less that Weishaupt and the Illuminati were "still living on in dark intrigue" and "prepared secretly for his [Napoleon's] downfall." Indeed, some lodges developed an anti-Napoleonic viewpoint, one even going so far as to declare as its object the restoration of a Bourbon monarch.
It is true that Weishaupt and many other former Illuminati were living as ministers in various European courts. Defenders of the conspiracy theory claimed that they were using their position to influence the crowned monarchs. Napoleon III, Benjamin Franklin, Cavour, and Garibaldi have all been accused of not only being Masons but operating in accordance with a sinister Masonic plan. Bismarck too was said to have been influenced; he "no sooner had his rival crushed, and his victory secured, than he hastened to pay to Freemasonry his promised persecution of the Church."
New England also had its Illuminati scare. In 1798, newspapers ran stories and ministers preached sermons claiming that the Illuminati had set up lodges in America and was planning a conspiracy to overthrow the government. Various people and groups ranging from Thomas Jefferson to the Quakers were accused of involvement. The root of this rumour can be seen once again in the French Revolution. The Americans lauded their revolution from monarchy, yet saw France's attempt degenerating into chaos. Conspirators attempting to destroy republican governments was for many a logical hypothesis. The Illuminati were also blamed for turning New England away from its puritan roots and leading it to develop a more secular nature. However, "it was impossible to find proof of a connection between the Illuminati and the American Masons."
Secret societies still exist in todayís democratic nations. Masonís clubs and Shriners conceal some of their activities from the general public, but their motivation stems from the appeal of a private members' club rather than the fear of political persecution. These groups raise money for children's charities and participate in municipal parades; their existence has been accepted by the public who do not view them as a threat. Nevertheless, the mention of the Illuminati continues to conjure up ideas of conspiracy and plots for world domination. Several Internet sites such as "CounterCulture Illuminati," "The Bavarian Illuminati Motorcycle Club," and "The Arc-Hive Conspiracy Site," as well as a collectible card game, the popular animated TV show Gargoyles, and the Illuminatus! novel trilogy, keep the legend alive.
Other Illuminati Links NOTE: These are other Illuminiati links I've found. These pages are NOT connected with mine in any way and I make NO claim to the accuracy of these sites.
The Illuminati Conspiracy
Defeating the Illuminati
Lycos - Search the Web
CareerPath - Where Employers and Employees Click
