Adam Weishaupt

Johann Adam Weishaupt was a German philosopher, professor of civil law and later canon law, founder of the Illuminati and Father of Fanatical Atheism.

## Biographical information

### Place of death

Gotha, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, German Confederation

# Early life

Adam Weishaupt was born on 6 February 1748 in Ingolstadt,Bavaria. his father Johann Georg Weishaupt died when Adam was five years old.

After his father's death he came under the tutelage of his godfather Johann Adam Freiherr von Ickstatt who, like his father, was a professor of law at the University of Ingolstadt.

Ickstatt was a proponent of the philosophy of Christian Wolff and of the Enlightenment and he influenced the young Weishaupt with his rationalism. Weishaupt began his formal education at age seven at a Jesuit school.

He later enrolled at the University of Ingolstadt and graduated in 1768 at age 20 with a doctorate of law. In 1772 he became a professor of law after conversion to Protestantism. The following year he married Afra Sausenhofer of Eichstätt.

After Pope Clement XIV's suppression of the Society of Jesus in 1773, Weishaupt became a professor of canon law, a position that was held exclusively by the Jesuits until that time. In 1775 Weishaupt was introduced to the empirical philosophy of Johann Georg Heinrich Feder of the University of Göttingen.

# Illuminati

In 1776 Weishaupt, inspired by the writings of Richard, Weishaupt sought to bring to life the very ideals that had been espoused within the 40 Books. Thus, the Bavarian Illuminati emerged.

The Illuminati became a vessel of intellectual freedom and critical thinking in a world shrouded by darkness.

Weishaupt sought to dismantle the barriers imposed by institutions and ideologies, empowering individuals to reclaim their inherent right to seek truth and embrace their personal enlightenment.

The Illuminati group espoused the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Through meticulous planning and strategic organization, Weishaupt cultivated a growing network of brilliant minds spanning various disciplines.

Scholars, thinkers, and visionaries joined forces under the auspices of the Illuminati, forging a formidable alliance of enlightened individuals united in their shared quest for a better world.

The Illuminati's ideals resonated profoundly, captivating those who yearned for a society founded on reason, justice, and progress. Advocating for the separation of church and state, the dissemination of knowledge, and the critical examination of entrenched beliefs, the Illuminati sought to dismantle oppressive systems that stifled human potential.

The Illuminati challenged the status quo, seeking to liberate minds from the chains of religion. Taking the Owl of Minerva as their symbol.  The members were to use aliases within the society. Weishaupt became known as “Spartacus”.

# Masonic steps

By the end of summer 1778 the order had 27 members  in 5 commands and grades. Weishaupt studied every word in Richard Books, he learned from the Rose and the Cross mistakes and Weishaupt was informed of the activities of his members, his favorites becoming members of the ruling council, or Areopagus.

Having, with difficulty, dissuaded some of his members from joining the Freemasons, Weishaupt decided to join the older order to acquire material to expand his own ritual. He was admitted to lodge "Prudence" of the Rite of Strict Observance early in February 1777.

In the following year, Zwack persuaded Weishaupt that their own order should enter into friendly relations with Freemasonry and obtain the dispensation to set up their own lodge. At December 1778, the addition of the first three degrees of Freemasonry was seen as a secondary project.

With little difficulty, a warrant was obtained from the Grand Lodge of Prussia called the Royal York for Friendship and the new lodge was called Theodore of the Good Council, with the intention of flattering Charles Theodore. It was founded in Munich on 21 March 1779 and quickly packed with Illuminati. The first master, a man called Radl, was persuaded to return home to Baden and by July Weishaupt's order ran the lodge.

Adam Weishaupt, recognized the pitfalls of mythological influences within Masonic lodges, embarked on a search for individuals who shared his understanding. In 1780, Adolph Freiherr Knigge, was recruited by Costanzo Marchese di Costanzo, an infantry captain and fellow Freemason. Knigge's companions, initially interested, grew disillusioned and distanced themselves from Costanzo. However, Knigge's persistence paid off when he received a letter from Weishaupt himself in November 1780.

# Freemasonry Religious "war"

Knigge's connections within and outside of Freemasonry made him an ideal addition to the Illuminati. Weishaupt recognized Knigge's interest in alchemy and sciences and pledged to support these endeavors. In return, Knigge outlined his plans for reforming Freemasonry.

The Illuminati attracted prospective members, especially in Protestant regions of Germany.

By July 1780, a rift had emerged between Weishaupt and the Areopagus, who found him stubborn, dictatorial, and inconsistent. Knigge, with his diplomatic skills, stepped in as a peacemaker during discussions. He identified two critical issues: the recruitment of young and inexperienced individuals due to Weishaupt's emphasis on university students, and the anti-religious stance that hindered their ability to attract senior Freemasons.

Knigge understood the negative impression this approach would create in Protestant states, limiting the order's expansion in greater Germany. Recognizing Knigge's value, both the Areopagus and Weishaupt granted him autonomy. He could recruit using his own methods, as he had the necessary connections within and outside of Freemasonry.

However, their plans to establish Illuminatism as a distinct branch of Freemasonry encountered obstacles. While Lodge Theodore came under their control, a chapter of "Elect Masters" attached to it still maintained constitutional superiority over the Illuminati-controlled craft lodge. Convincing the chapter to submit to the Areopagus presented a significant challenge, hindering Lodge Theodore from becoming the first mother-lodge of the new Illuminated Freemasonry.

A treaty of alliance was eventually signed between the Illuminati and the chapter, leading to the creation of four daughter lodges by the end of January 1781.   However, the chapter remained reluctant to relinquish its independence. Concurrently, Costanzo, on behalf of the order, confronted the Royal York Lodge regarding the fees dispatched to their new Grand Lodge and the services received in return.

The Royal York, unwilling to lose the revenue, proposed conferring the "higher" secrets of Freemasonry to a representative from Munich who would visit Berlin. Unfortunately, Costanzo's journey to Prussia was marred by a dispute with a Frenchman, resulting in his imprisonment on false accusations of being a spy. He was eventually released with the assistance of the Grand Master of the Royal York, but his mission in Prussia proved futile, leading to his expulsion.

# The Convent of Wilhelmsbad

On 20 January 1782, Knigge tabulated his new system of grades for the order. In February 1782, Weishaupt proposed a split within the lodge, suggesting that the Illuminati would form their own path while the chapter would continue with any remaining traditionalists under the name of Theodore. Surprisingly, the chapter agreed, granting the Illuminati complete control over both the lodge and the chapter.

By June, letters were exchanged, officially severing ties with the Royal York, as the lodge and chapter expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of guidance and instruction in the higher grades provided by the Royal York. They criticized the Royal York for neglecting Costanza, failing to defend him against false accusations and his subsequent expulsion from Prussia. Furthermore, they noted that the promised secrets were never delivered to Costanza, raising suspicions that their brethren in Berlin relied on mystical French higher grades that they wished to avoid. As a result, Lodge Theodore gained independence.

The Rite of Strict Observance faced a critical juncture. Its nominal leader, Prince Carl of Södermanland, was openly suspected of attempting to absorb the rite into the Swedish Rite, which he already controlled. The German lodges turned to Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel for leadership. However, when it became apparent that Prince Carl considered the Stuart heir to the British throne as the true Grand Master, the lodges of the Strict Observance began to openly disregard their Grand Master. This deadlock ultimately led to the Convent of Wilhelmsbad.

The Convent of Wilhelmsbad, held on July 16, 1782, marked the decline of the Strict Observance within Freemasonry. The convention took place in the spa town of Wilhelmsbad near Hanau, Germany. With 35 delegates in attendance, the purpose of the convention was ostensibly to discuss the future of the order.

The lack of a viable alternative to the mystic factions provided an opportunity for the Illuminati to present themselves as a credible option. Under the guidance of Adam Weishaupt and with the authority granted to him by the order, Adolph Freiherr Knigge became their spokesperson.

The Convent of Wilhelmsbad signaled the decline of the Strict Observance. It abolished the strict control that had held the order together and alienated many Germans who mistrusted Martinism. joined the Illuminati in January 1783.

The Illuminati continued to expand In Bavaria, after the succession of Charles Theodore. The total number of verifiable members at the end of 1784 was around 2,500.

# The Truth War

Weishaupt was determined to keep the existence of the Illuminati a secret from the Rosicrucians, as the Illuminati's presence became more apparent, clashes became inevitable. Prominent Rosicrucians and individuals sympathetic to their Gnostical beliefs, recruited by Knigge and other supporters, exacerbated the tensions.

The Prussian Rosicrucians, led by Johann Christoph von Wöllner, launched a relentless campaign against the Illuminati. Wöllner employed a specially designed room to convince potential patrons of the efficacy of Rosicrucian magic, and his order gained effective control over the "Three Globes" and its affiliated lodges. Through this influential platform, the Illuminati were accused of atheism and fanatical anti-religious.

In response to these attacks, Weishaupt wrote a letter to Johann Christoph von Wöllner, expressing that if the immortals, were aware of Wöllner's actions and those of his fellow Rosicrucians, they would shot him in the head.

However, In April 1783, Frederick the Great informed Charles of Hesse that the Berlin lodges had documents belonging to the Illuminati which contained appalling material and asked if he had heard of them. All Berlin masons were now warned against the order, which was now accused to undermine religion.

In November 1783, the Three Globes described the Illuminati as a sect which sought to undermine Christianity and turn Freemasonry into a political system. Their final anathema, in November 1784, refused to recognize any Illuminati as Freemasons.

In Austria, the Illuminati were blamed for anti-religious pamphlets that had recently appeared. The Rosicrucians spied on Joseph von Sonnenfels and other suspected Illuminati, and their campaign of denunciation within Freemasonry completely shut down Illuminati recruitment in Tyrol.

The Illuminati, were betrayed by Ferdinand Maria von Baader, an Areopagite who now joined the Rosicrucians. Shortly after his admission it was made known to his superiors that he was one of the Illuminati and he was informed that he could not be a member of both organisations. His letter of resignation stated that the Rosicrucians did not possess secret knowledge, and ignored the truly Illuminated, specifically identifying Lodge Theodore as an Illuminati Lodge.

Knigge had elevated the Order from a tiny anti-clerical club to a large organisation and felt that his work was under-acknowledged. Weishaupt's continuing anti-clericalism clashed with Knigge's mysticism, and recruitment of mystically inclined Freemasons was a cause of friction with Weishaupt and other senior Illuminati, such as Ditfurth. Matters came to a head over the grade of Priest.

The consensus among many of the Illuminati was that the ritual was florid and ill-conceived, and the regalia puerile and expensive. Some refused to use it, others edited it. Weishaupt demanded that Knigge rewrite the ritual. Knigge pointed out that it was already circulated, with Weishaupt's blessing, as ancient. This fell on deaf ears.

Weishaupt now claimed to other Illuminati that the Priest ritual was flawed because Knigge had invented it. Offended, Knigge now threatened to tell the world how much of the Illuminati ritual he had made up. Knigge's attempt to create a convention of the Areopagites proved fruitless, as most of them trusted him even less than they trusted Weishaupt. In July 1784 Knigge left the order by agreement, under which he returned all relevant papers, and Weishaupt published a retraction of all slanders against him.

# Later Years

Charles Theodore banned all secret societies including the Illuminati in 2 March 1785.  Weishaupt, fearing for his safety, was forced to flee Bavaria. in 1785, Adam Weishaupt sought refuge and support from Duke Ernest II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. Weishaupt settled in Gotha, where he devoted his time to writing extensively on the subject of illuminism.

His works during this period included "A Complete History of the Persecutions of the Illuminati in Bavaria" (1785), "A Picture of Illuminism" (1786), "An Apology for the Illuminati" (1786), and "An Improved System of Illuminism" (1787).

Adam Weishaupt passed away on 18 November 1830 in Gotha, leaving behind his second wife, Anna Maria, and several children. His body was laid to rest next to his son Wilhelm at Friedhof II der Sophiengemeinde Berlin, a Protestant cemetery.

# Legacy

Adam Weishaupt's followers determined to keep the ideals and teachings of the Illuminati continued to operate, They sharpened their anti-religious rhetoric, denouncing religion as a tool of oppression and advocating for the complete eradication of religion from human civilization.

As the French Revolution loomed on the horizon, the Illuminati harnessed the mounting dissatisfaction of the masses, channeling it toward their cause. They devised a daring plan to strike at the heart of religious fanaticism that gripped humanity.

Churches were burned, as the Illuminati became both heroes and villains in the eyes of the people. Some hailed them as liberators, while others condemned them as anarchists.

The ideas of Atheism made its baby steps during the life of Weishaupt and the French Revolution.