-Caveat Lector-
ILLUMINATI (Lat. Illuminare) a designation in use from the
I5th century, and applied to, or assumed by, enthusiasts of types distinct
from each other, according as the " light " claimed was viewed as directly
communicated from a higher source, or as due to a clarified and exalted
condition of the human intelligence. To the former class belong the
alumbrados of Spain. Menendez Pelayo first finds the name about 1492 (in the
form aluminados), but traces them back to a Gnostic origin, and thinks their
views were promoted in Spain through influences from Italv. One of their
earliest leaders, born in Salamanca, a laubour 's daughter, known as La
Beata de Piedrahita, came under the notice of the Inquisition in 1511: as
claiming to hold colloquies with our Lord and the Virgin ; having high
patrons, no decision was taken against her (Los Weterodosos espaitoles,
I88I, lib. v.).
Ignatius Loyola, while studying at Salamanca (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 unlettered adherents at Toledo was visited with scourging
and imprisonment.
Greater rigours followed, and for about a. century the alumbrados afforded
many victims to the Inquisition, especially at Cordova. The movement (under
the name of Illumines) seems to have reached France from Sevillc in 1623,
and attained some proportions in Picardy when joined (1634) by Pierre
Guerin, curee of Saint-Georges de Ruyo, whose followers, known as Guerinets,
were suppressed in 1635 (Hermant, His/. Drs herese, I717).
Another and obscure body of Illumines came to light in the south of France
in 1723, and appears to have lingered till 1794, having nffmitk with those
known contemporaneously in this country as " French Prophets," an offshoot
of the camisards.
Of 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, combining with the mysteries of alchemy the possession of
esoteric principles of religion. Their positions are embodied in three
anonymous treatises of 1614 (Richard et Giraucl, Dirt. de la thtol. cath.).
A short-lived movement of republican freethought, to whose adherents the
name illuminati was Given, ~1s founded on may day 1776 by Adam Weishauptt
(d. I83O), professor of
canon Law at Ingolstadlt, an ex-Jesuit. The chosen title of this Order or
society was Perfectibalists
Its members, pledged to obedience to :their superiors, were divided into
three main classes ;
the first including " novices,"" minervals " and " lesser illuminati
" :
the second consisting of freemasons, " ordinary," "Scottish " and "
Scottish knights " .
the third or " and mystery " class comprising two grades of ' priest " "
regent " and of " magus " and " king."
Relations with masonic lodges were establishcd at Munich and Freising in
1780, The order had its branches in mosit 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 Weima
. Internal rupture preceded its downfall which was effected bv an
edict of the bavarian government in 1785;. Later, the title Illuminati
was given to the French Martinists, founded in 1754 by Martinez Pasqualis,
and to their imitators, the Russian martinists, headed about 1790 by
Professor Schwartz of Moscow ; both were Cabalists and allegoristsimbibing
ideas from Jakob Boehme and Emmanuel Swedenborg
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
