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, perhaps the least secret of
all secret societies in the world, described below. Most use refers
to an alleged 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.
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Since 'Illuminati' translates to '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.
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The designation illuminati was in use from the 14th century by
the Brethren of the Free Spirit. In the 15th century the name was
adopted by other enthusiasts who claimed that the illuminating light
came, not by communication from an authoritative or secret source,
but from within, as the result of exalted consciousness, or
"enlightenment".
A movement of freethinkers that were the most radical offshoot of
The Enlightenment whose adherents were given the name Illuminati
(but who called themselves "Perfectibilists") was founded on May 1,
1776 by Jesuit-taught Adam Weishaupt (d. 1830), who was the first
lay professor of canon law. The group has also been called the
Illuminati Order, the Order of the Illuminati, the Ancient
Illuminated Seers of Bavaria, and the Bavarian Illuminati. In 1777,
Karl Theodor, Elector of Palatinate, succeeded as ruler of Bavaria.
He was a proponent of Enlightened Despotism and in 1784, his
government banned all secret societies, including the Illuminati and
the Freemasons.
The structure of the Illuminati soon collapsed, but while it was in
existence many influential intellectuals and progressive politicians
counted themselves as members. Its members were supposedly drawn
primarily from Masons and former Masons, and although some Masons
were known to be members there is no evidence that it was supported
by Freemasons. The members 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; its members were reportedly around 3,000-4,000
members in the span of 10 years. 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.
The Bavarian Illuminati have cast a long shadow in popular
history thanks to the writings of their opponents; the lurid
allegations of conspiracy that have colored the image of the
Freemasons have practically opaqued that of the Illuminati. In 1797,
Augustin published Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism
outlining a vivid conspiracy theory involving the Knights Templar,
the Rosicrucians, the Jacobins and the Illuminati. 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. Robison claimed to present evidence
of an Illuminati conspiracy striving to replace all religions with
humanism and all nations with a single world government.
More recently, Antony C. Sutton suggested that the secret society
Skull and Bones was founded as the American branch of the
Illuminati; others think Scroll and Key had Illuminati origins, as
well. Writer Robert Gillette claimed that these Illuminati
ultimately intend to establish a world government through
assassination, bribery, blackmail, the control of banks and other
financial powers, the infiltration of governments, mind control, 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; claimed that the French
revolution (1789) was engineered and controlled by the Illuminati
through the Jacobins, and later theorists have also claimed their
responsibility for the Russian Revolution (1917), although the order
was officially shut down in 1790. Few historians give credence to
these views; they regard such claims as the products of over-fertile
imaginations.
Several sources suggest that the Bavarian Illuminati survived, and
perhaps even exists today. Conspiracy theorists highlight the link
between the Illuminati and Freemasonry. It is also suggested that
the United States' founding fathers some being Freemasons were
rife with corruption from the Illuminati. Often the symbol of the
all-seeing pyramid in the Great Seal of the United States is cited
as an example of the Illuminati's ever-present watchful eye over
Americans.
Very little reliable evidence can be found to suggest that
Weishaupt's group survived into the 19th century. However, several
groups have since used the name Illuminati to found their own rites,
claiming to be the Illuminati. Such groups include the Grand Lodge
Rockefeller of David Goldman (USA), Orden Illuminati of Gabriel
López de Rojas (Spain), and The Illuminati Order of Solomon
Tulbure (USA).
In 1995, Gabriel de Rojas founded Illuminati Order in Barcelona,
Spain, elaborating the Operative Rite of The Illuminati of Bavaria.
This Rite is based on the Rite of the Illuminati and high degrees of
Scottish Rite of 33 degrees.
The System of its Illuminati Grand Master, Gabriel de Rojas, is the
Redism. This system is based on the lemma HOMO EST DEUS, or "man is
god".
Groups describing themselves as Illuminati say they have members and
chapters (lodges) throughout the world.
About the time that the Illuminati were outlawed in Bavaria, the
Roman Catholic Church prohibited its members from joining Masonic
lodges, on pain of excommunication. This was done as a general
edict, since the Church believed many lodges to have been
infiltrated and subverted by the Illuminati, but was not able to
accurately ascertain which ones. This rule was relaxed only in the
late 20th century.
In conclusion, although there is little in the way of damning
evidence for a trans-generational network of conspirators lurking in
the shadows, the ideas and philosophies originating, or propelled,
by the Bavarian Illuminists, the Freemasons, and other likeminded
groups, have held considerable unpublicized effect on world events
if only due to the writings by and about them, and in the
institutions which were subsequently founded, or in the course of
the natural spread of ideas.
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