Bavarian Illuminati
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The historical Bavarian Illuminati was a quasi-Masonic Enlightenment society founded on May 1, 1776, in Ingolstadt, Upper Bavaria, by Prof Adam Weishaupt. Its agenda was essentially socio-political - the promotion of the Enlightenment in mainstream society, particularly amongst the ruling class; the abolition of Monarchy and the democratisation of society; the disempowerment of Organised Religion, by an opposition to superstition and the removal of political influence from the Church; and the support of international Republicanism. Due to the oppression present in Bavaria at the time the group organised itself as a 'secret society', thus allying itself with a culture steeped in Occultism, as was to a certain extent Weishaupt himself. The main thread of this article is an exploration of this group and its heirs.
In addition to this there is another Bavarian Illuminati, a fictional one generated by conspiracy theorists since the persecution and suppression of the historical order. This fiction is often pure paranoid fantasy (or wishfulfilment fantasy for some), but can also serve as an umbrella term (or abusive label) for any secret political group with occult interests. As either it is also a political tool.
These two faces of the Illuminati may also be linked, according to some researchers (including the author of this article), who argue that disinformation, subterfuge, smear campaigns and camoflage are integral to the methodology of the Illuminati and their enemies. All these aspects will be explored in the context of the historical order.
Proto-Illuminati
As a student under the Jesuits Weishaupt rebelled against Catholicism and made at least one attempt at recreating an ancient pagan Mystery School. His sect appears to have been a hybrid one, influenced by Classical Greek and Romano-Persian Mithraic forms. This was in part based on youthful rebellion and student hijinks as much as a serious pagan revolt, but it enabled him to become well versed in initiatory practices and secrecy. In this move he was influenced by the contemporary taste for Classical mythology, combined with a fad for secret societies inspired by the rise of Freemasonry and Roicrucianism and the like. Though in practise it may not have been more than a student fraternity, if it ever got off beyond the planning phase.
As a rebel in a conservative Catholic principality, Weishaupt soon became embroiled in 'subversion', first in the covert religious Reformation occuring late in Bavaria, and then in a related Enlightement Republican anti-clerical politics of the Universities, with their underground political networks. He thus developed a taste for Rationalism and scientific thought which stood ill at ease with his earlier neo-pagan and esoteric interests. In responce he seems to have developed a rational humanist form of Christianity and a scientific approach to his occultism.
Weishaupt was thus attracted to the Pro Enlightenment form of German Freemasonry very early on, but soon resigned declaring it an empty shell. None the less it gave him another structural element to add to his future Order.
Even more of an influence was his belief that the Jesuits were a conspiratorial secret society, which still even existed in secret after their official dissolution, influencing certain Rites of Freemasonry. Thus he envisioned a counter-Jesuit order organised on similar principles.
The Bavarian Illuminati Mk I
The name Illuminati was imposed on this society from outside, Weishaupt called it the Order of Pefectablists, or simply The Order. The origin of the title 'Illuminati' is obscure, the first group to be designated by it were the Illumines, French quasi-Masonic groups of the mid 18th Century influenced by the mystic St Martin, who were called 'Illuminated Ones', before the label of Martinist stuck. They were influenced by Iberian mysticism, and may have been associated with the Spainish Alumbrados ('the enlightened ones') of the 17th Century, who had believed in an 'illumination from the Holy Spirit', and were essentially a moderate form of Christian Gnosticism, probably influenced by the remnants of Medieval Iberian Sufism.
Likewise a rebel Afghan Islamic sect of 'Illuminated Ones' was being reported in the mid 18th Century, who could arguably be traced back to radical Sufism or Ismaili mysticism, and perhaps even the Assassins. Weishaupt himself seemed aware of this on founding the Illuminati in the late 18th Century, when he called for a revival of the 'system of the Ghebers', meaning Persian Esotericism, which was then associated with Oriental science, Alchemy and the Ancient Persian Mysteries in general (including Sufism). Later the connection between the Assassins and Templars was also played upon by Illuminati propagandists.
The 'Illuminati' form of the title was also associated in the late 18th Century with the occult Freemasonry of groups like the Prussian Knights of Light and Asiatic Brethren, and is later found in English Masonry as a term for Masonic occultists.
In the confusion of the esoteric melting pot of this period it seems the meaning of the term Illuminati was not very clear, but was being applied to any esoteric Masonic lodge, particularly those of an 'Oriental' occult flavour.
The first manifestation of the Order was a group of five initiates, whose activity was primarily confined to the university and opposition to the Catholic hierarchy.
To be completed
