illuminati

1. People claiming to be unusually enlightened with regard to a subject.
2. Illuminati Any of various groups claiming special religious enlightenment.

[Latin illūminātī, from pl. of illūminātus. See illuminate.]

A term first used in the fifteenth century by enthusiasts in the occult arts, signifying those who claimed to possess light directly communicated from a higher source or because of abundant human wisdom. The term was used in Spain about the end of the fifteenth century, but probably originated from an Italian Gnostic source. All kinds of people, many of them charlatans, claimed to belong to the Illuminati. In Spain those who assumed the label had to face the rigor of the Inquisition, and many of them moved to France as refugees in the early seventeenth century.

Here and there small bodies of those called Illuminati— sometimes known as Rosicrucians —rose into publicity for a short period. It was through Adam Weishaupt (1748-1830), professor of law at Ingolstadt, that the movement first became identified with republicanism. Weishaupt founded the order of the Illuminati in Bavaria in 1776. It soon secured a stronghold throughout Germany. Its critics suggested that its founder's objective was merely to convert his followers into blind instruments of his will.

Weishaupt built a strong organization modeled on the Jesuits'. The Illuminati was an occult organization and had a series of classes and grades, similar to that within Freemasonry. It offered promise of the communication of deep occult secrets in the higher ranks. Only a few of the members knew Weishaupt personally as the society spread throughout Germany. He was able to enlist a number of young men of wealth and position, and within four or five years the members even began to have a hand in the affairs of the state. Not a few of the German princes found it to their interest to have dealings with the fraternity.

Weishaupt blended philanthropy and mysticism. He was only 28 when he founded the sect in 1776, and it began to prosper when a certain Baron Adolph von Knigge (1752-1796) joined him in 1780. A gifted person of strong imagination, von Knigge had been a master of most of the secret societies of his day, including the Freemasons. He was also an expert occultist, and the supernatural held a strong attraction for him. He and Weishaupt rapidly spread the gospel of the revolution throughout Germany. They grew fearful, however, that if the authorities discovered the existence of such a society as theirs they would take steps to suppress it. With this in mind they conceived the idea of grafting Illuminism onto Freemasonry, which they thought would protect it and help it spread more widely and rapidly.

The Freemasons were not long in discovering the true nature of those who had just joined their organization. A chief council was held to thoroughly examine the beliefs held by the Illuminati, and a conference of Masons was held in 1782. Knigge and Weishaupt attended and endeavored to capture the whole organization of Freemasonry, but a misunderstanding grew up between the leaders of Illuminism. Knigge withdrew from the society, and two years later some who discovered Weishaupt's democratic aims denounced it to the Bavarian government, which quickly moved to suppress it. The Illuminati were all but destroyed in 1785 and Weishaupt fled. However, illuminist ideas spread to occultists in France and helped in building support for the French Revolution.

The title Illuminati was later given to the French Martinists, followers of the French mystic Louis Claude de St. Martin (1743-1803), known as "le philosophe inconno."

A famous member of the Order of Illuminati was Count Alessandrodi Cagliostro. He was initiated in 1781 at Frankfurt, where the Illuminati used the name Grand Masters of the Templars, and was said to have received money and instructions from Weishaupt to influence French Masonry. Cagliostro later became associated with the Martinist order, which had been founded in 1754. Some believe that the Illuminati maintained a complex network of secret orders in the later seventeenth century, others that a variety of different independent groups used the name. A revived Order of Illuminati was founded in 1880 by Leopold Engel at Dresden, Germany. Notable names connected with this revival include Rudolph Steiner and Franz Hartmann.

Through the twentieth century, the idea of an Illuminati conspiracy became one of the more popular conspiracy myths feeding off waves of paranoia in the Western public. In the late twentieth century, popular writer Robert Anton Wilson played with the Illuminati theme in a series of books designed to shake the reader out of conventional modes of thought.

Sources:

Barruel, Augustin. Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism. 4 vols., London, 1797.

Daraul, Arbon. Secret Societies, Yesterday and Today. London: Fernhill Housen, 1961. Reprinted as A History of Secret Societies. New York: Citadel, 1961.

Fagan, Myron. A Brief History of the Illuminati. Lansing, Ill.: H.B.C., 1978. Gould, R. F. History of Freemasonry. 5 vols. Rev. ed. London: Caxton, 1931.

Hackethorn, Charles William. The Secret Societies of All Ages and Countries. 2 vols. Reprint, New Hyde Park, N.Y.: University Books, 1965.

Holmes, Donald. The Illuminati Conspiracy. Los Angeles: Falcon Press, 1987.

Waite, Arthur E. A New Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry. 2 vols. London: Rider, 1921. Reprint, New Hyde Park, N.Y.: University Books, 1970.

Wilgus, Neal. The Illuminoids. New York: New American Library, 1989.

Wilson, Robert Anton. Cosmic Trigger: Final Secret of the Illuminati. Berkeley, Calif.: And/Or Press, 1977.

——. The Illuminati Papers. Berkeley, Calif.: And/Or Press, 1980.

——. Illuminatus! 3 vols. New York: Dell, 1975.

——. Masks of the Illuminati. New York: Timescape, 1981.

n.

A sect of Spanish heretics of the latter part of the sixteenth century; so called because they were light weights -- cunctationes illuminati.

This article is about the group. For the film, see Illuminata (film). For other uses, see Illuminati (disambiguation).

Illuminati (plural of Latin illuminatus, "enlightened") is a name that refers to several groups, both historical and modern, and both real and fictitious. Historically, it refers specifically to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776. In modern times it is also used to refer to a purported conspiratorial organization which acts as a shadowy "power behind the throne", allegedly controlling world affairs through present day governments and corporations, usually as a modern incarnation or continuation of the Bavarian Illuminati. In this context, Illuminati is often used in reference to a New World Order (NWO). Many conspiracy theorists believe the Illuminati are the masterminds behind events that will lead to the establishment of such a New World Order.

Contents 1 History 2 Modern Illuminati 3 In popular culture 4 Cited references 5 Additional references 6 External links

History

Adam Weishaupt

The movement was founded on May 1, 1776, in Ingolstadt (Upper Bavaria), by Jesuit-taught Adam Weishaupt (d. 1830),^[1] who was the first lay professor of canon law at the University of Ingolstadt.^[2] The movement was made up of freethinkers, as an offshoot of the Enlightenment.^[3] Writers at the time, such as Seth Payson, believed the movement represented a conspiracy to infiltrate and overthrow the governments of European states.^[4] Some writers, such as Augustin Barruel and John Robison, even claimed that the Illuminati were behind the French Revolution, a claim that Jean-Joseph Mounier dismissed in his 1801 book On the Influence Attributed to Philosophers, Free-Masons, and to the Illuminati on the Revolution of France.^[5]

The group's adherents were given the name "Illuminati", although they called themselves "Perfectibilists". The group has also been called the Illuminati Order and the Bavarian Illuminati, and the movement itself has been referred to as Illuminism (after illuminism). In 1777, Karl Theodor became ruler of Bavaria. He was a proponent of Enlightened Despotism and, in 1784, his government banned all secret societies, including the Illuminati.

During the period when the Illuminati was legally allowed to operate, many influential intellectuals and progressive politicians counted themselves as members, including Ferdinand of Brunswick and the diplomat Xavier von Zwack, who was number two in the operation and was found with much of the group's documentation when his home was searched.^[6] The Illuminati's members pledged obedience to their superiors, and were divided into three main classes, each with several degrees. The order had its branches in most countries of the European continent; it reportedly had around 2,000 members over the span of ten years.^[2] The organization had its attraction for literary men, such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Johann Gottfried Herder, and even for the reigning dukes of Gotha and Weimar. Weishaupt had modeled his group to some extent on Freemasonry, and many Illuminati chapters drew membership from existing Masonic lodges. Internal rupture and panic over succession preceded its downfall, which was effected by the Secular Edict made by the Bavarian government in 1785.^[2]

Modern Illuminati

Main article: New World Order (conspiracy theory)

Writers such as Mark Dice,^[7] David Icke, Ryan Burke, Jüri Lina and Morgan Gricar, have argued that the Bavarian Illuminati survived, possibly to this day. Many of these theories propose that world events are being controlled and manipulated by a secret society calling itself the Illuminati.^[8][9] Conspiracy theorists have claimed that many notable people were or are members of the Illuminati, including Winston Churchill, the Bush family,^[10] Barack Obama,^[11] the Rothschild family,^[12] David Rockefeller and Zbigniew Brzezinski.^[13]

In addition to the shadowy and secret organization, several modern fraternal groups claim to be the "heirs" of the Bavarian Illuminati and have openly used the name "Illuminati" in founding their own rites. Some, such as the multiple groups that call themselves some variation on "The Illuminati Order"^[14][15][16] use the name directly in the name of their organization, while others, such as the Ordo Templi Orientis, use the name as a grade of initiation within their organization.

In popular culture

Main article: Illuminati in popular culture

The Illuminati are a recurring theme in popular culture. References to such an organization appear in many fictional works across many genres, appearing in print,^[17] in film,^[18] on television,^[19] in video games,^[20] in comic book series,^[21] as well as in both trading card and roleplaying games.^[22]

Cited references

1. ^ The European Illuminati by Vernon L. Stauffer, hosted on the Grand Lodge of British Columbia & Yukon website (hereafter BC&Y).
2. ^ ^{a b c} A Bavarian Illuminati Primer Compiled by Trevor W. McKeown hosted BC&Y
3. ^ Goeringer, Conrad. "The Enlightenment, Freemasonry, and The Illuminati". American Atheists. http://atheists.org/The_Enlightenment%2C_Freemasonry%2C_and_The_Illuminati. Retrieved 2008-12-31. 
4. ^ Payson, Seth; Proof of the Illuminati, The Invisible College Press, LLC, 2003 (first published in Charlestown: Etheridge, 1802) ISBN 1931468141
5. ^ Jean-Joseph Mounier, On the Influence Attributed to Philosophers, Free-Masons, and to the Illuminati on the Revolution of France, Scholars' Facsimiles & Reprints, New York, 1974 (reprint of the first edition from 1801). ISBN 0-8201-1135-X.
6. ^ Introvigne, Massimo. "The Illuminati and Angels & Demons FAQ – Do the Illuminati Really Exist?". Center for Studies on New Religions. http://www.cesnur.org/2005/mi_illuminati_en.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-30. 
7. ^ "Angels & Demons Causing Serious Controversy - 5/17/09 - Fresno News - abc30.com". Abclocal.go.com. 2009-05-17. http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/entertainment&id=6817493. Retrieved 2009-07-08. 
8. ^ Barkun, Michael. A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America, Comparative Studies in Religion and Society, University of California Press, 2003,
9. ^ Illuminati News website: The Secret Order of the Illuminati (A Brief History of the Shadow Government)
10. ^ The Bush Family and their Illuminati Rituals
11. ^ The Barack Obama Illuminati Connection
12. ^ Makow Ph.D, H: Illuminati: The Cult that Hijacked the World, BookSurge Publishing, 2008, ISBN 1439211485
13. ^ Springmeier, F: Blood Lines of the Illuminati, Ambassador House, 1998, ISBN 0966353323
14. ^ The Illuminati Order Homepage
15. ^ Official website of The Illuminati Order
16. ^ *Orden Illuminati Consejo Central México
17. ^ Prominent examples include: The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, Dan Brown's Angels & Demons, The Fallen Angels by Susannah Kells & Bernard Cornwell, and The Illuminati by Larry Burkett.
18. ^ For example, they are central to the plot of the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
19. ^ For example, in the Disney animated television show Gargoyles
20. ^ such as Deus Ex
21. ^ CGD – New Avengers: Illuminati
22. ^ Bergquist, Theodore; Jacobsson, Anders; Nilsson Richard, Sub Rosa - Hemliga Ordnar och Sällskap, RiotMinds Stockholm 2008, ISBN 978-91-977263-0-6

Additional references

• 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica: "Illuminati"
• Die Korrespondenz des Illuminatenordens. Bd. 1, 1776–81. Ed. by Reinhard Markner, Monika Neugebauer-Wölk and Hermann Schüttler. - Tübingen, Max Niemeyer, 2005. - ISBN 3-484-10881-9
• Radical Enlightenment: Philosophy and the Making of Modernity 1650–1750. Israel, Jonathan I. (Oxford University Press, USA; New Ed edition, 2002).

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Illuminati

• Complete text of 'Proofs of a Conspiracy...' by John Robison (1797) at sacred-texts.com
• Illuminati Conspiracy Part One: A Precise Exegesis on the Available Evidence by Terry Melanson
• 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia entry on Illuminati

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Dansk (Danish)
n. pl. - lyse hoveder, illuminater

Nederlands (Dutch)
mensen die beweren bijzonder verlicht te zijn, vereniging/beweging van zulke mensen

Français (French)
n. pl. - personnes qui détiennent la vérité/la connaissance

Deutsch (German)
n. pl. - Illuminaten, (mit besonderer Erkenntnis Begabte, Orden, die sich bes. Erleuchtung rühmten)

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. pl. - (θρησκ., μτφ.) οι πεφωτισμένοι

Italiano (Italian)
illuminati (sette sorte in Spagna e Germania in diversi periodi storici)

Português (Portuguese)
n. pl. - pessoas (f pl) de espírito iluminado

Русский (Russian)
иллюминаты (члены тайного общества)

Español (Spanish)
n. pl. - gente ilustrada, gente culta

Svenska (Swedish)
n. pl. - illuminater, sekter o hemliga sällskap som ansåg sig vara upplysta (hist.), upplysta (invigda) personer (iron.)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
具睿智的人, 先觉者, 光照派

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. pl. - 具睿智的人, 先覺者, 光照派

한국어 (Korean)
n. pl. - 자칭 천재, 광명파, 계몽주의자

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 明知を誇る人びと, 啓蒙主義者

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الجمع) الطبقه المستنيرة‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. pl. - ‮אנשים נאורים או ידענים במיוחד (בדר"כ: באירוניה)‬

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