 freiherr adolph franz friedrich ludwig knigge (16 october 1752 â 6 may 1796) was a german writer, freemason, and a leading member of the order of the illuminati. thumb|freiherr adolph knigge thumb|Ãber den umgang mit menschen (on human relations) knigge was born in bredenbeck (now a part of wennigsen, lower saxony) in the electorate of hanover as a member of the lesser nobility. he studied law from 1769 to 1772 in gÃ¶ttingen where he became a member of corps hannovera. he was allegedly initiated into freemasonry in 1772 in kassel, where he held a position as court squire (hofjunker) and assessor of the war and domains exchequer. in 1777 he became chamberlain at the weimar court. in 1780 knigge joined adam weishaupt's bavarian illuminati and his work with the illuminati gave the group a great deal of publicity. but in 1783 dissensions arose between knigge and weishaupt, which resulted in the final withdrawal of the former on 1 july 1784. knigge could no longer endure weishaupt's pedantic domineering, which frequently assumed offensive forms. he accused weishaupt of "jesuitism", and suspected him of being "a jesuit in disguise" (nachtr., i, 129). "and was i", he adds, "to labour under his banner for mankind, to lead men under the yoke of so stiff-necked a fellow?ânever!" knigge's involvement with the illuminati, support of the advancement of human rights, and a period of serious illness led to the loss of support of his aristocratic sponsors and finally his fortune. knigge found a measure of financial stability again with a position in bremen in 1790. he died in bremen in 1796. in germany, knigge is best remembered for his book Ãber den umgang mit menschen (on human relations), a treatise on the fundamental principles of human relations that has the reputation of being the authoritative guide to behaviour, politeness, and etiquette. the work is more of a sociological and philosophical treatise on the basis of human relations than a how-to guide on etiquette, but the german word âkniggeâ has come to mean âgood mannersâ or books on etiquette. == works == * allgemeines system fÃ¼r das volk zur grundlage aller erkenntnisse fÃ¼r menschen aus allen nationen, stÃ¤nden und religionen (general system for the public, towards a foundation of all knowledge of people of all nations, conditions, and religions), 1778 * der roman meines lebens (the story of my life), 1781 * on the jesuits, freemasons, and rosicrucians, 1781 * sechs predigten gegen despotismus, dummheit, aberglauben, ungerechtigkeit, untreue und mÃ¼Ãiggang (six sermons against despotism, stupidity, superstition, injustice, mistruth, and idleness), 1783 * geschichte peter clausens'
1752_births 1796_deaths 18th-century_German_people 18th-century_German_writers Barons_of_Germany German_Freemasons German_non-fiction_writers Illuminati_members Lower_Saxon_nobility People_from_Hanover_Region People_from_the_Electorate_of_Hanover