Illuminati: Adam Weishaupt and the Founding of the Society #2

18th Century Europe: The Period that Paved the Way for the Illuminati

To understand the birth and rapid rise of the Illuminati, it is not enough to look only at its founder, Adam Weishaupt; one must also take a close look at the social and political atmosphere of the period in which he lived. 18th-century Europe was the scene of great wars, intellectual movements, and power struggles. Precisely for this reason, the emergence of a secret organisation such as the Illuminati during this period was no coincidence.

Adam Weishaupt was a thinker who lived between 1748 and 1830. One of the most important events that shaped his life and intellectual world was undoubtedly the Seven Years' War. This war was a major conflict between Europe's most powerful states, lasting from 1756 to 1763.

The reasons for the war differed depending on the sides involved. For Great Britain and France, the issue was dominance over the colonies. For Austria and Prussia, the question of who would hold sway in the heart of Europe was paramount. Austria formed an alliance with Russia, Saxony, Spain, France and Sweden, while Prussia was joined by England, Portugal, Hanover and Hesse-Kassel. Even the Iroquois Confederacy, comprising six tribes in North America, fought on the side of Britain. Opposing them was the Wabanaki Confederacy.

In this respect, the Seven Years' War is also known as the world's first ‘global war’. Ultimately, Prussia and England emerged victorious. However, the effects of this victory were not limited to Europe. One of the most significant developments following the war was the American War of Independence.

During the Seven Years' War, countries such as France, Spain, Holland, and Portugal fought fiercely for their colonies. However, by the end of the war, most of these states had been significantly weakened. France and Spain, in particular, struggled to maintain their long-term dominance over their colonies. This situation led to the strengthening of the idea of independence not only in Latin America but also in Britain's colonies in North America. Due to the financial burden of the war and the war weariness of its people, Britain began to lose control over its colonies. All these developments paved the way for the American War of Independence, which took place between 1775 and 1783, and the war ended in defeat for Britain.

One of the regions where the Seven Years' War was most intense and destructive was Central Europe. During this period, Prussia rapidly and effectively grew in power, fundamentally altering the balance of power in continental Europe. The process of disintegration within the Holy Roman Empire, which began after the Thirty Years' War, deepened further with the Seven Years' War. So much so that the Duke of Hanover, one of the electors of the Empire, also fought against the Empire in this war in his capacity as King of England.

At this point, religious differences also played a significant role. While Protestant Prussia and Anglican England emerged victorious, Catholic France and its allies suffered a major blow. This situation made it nearly impossible for the Catholic Church to regain its former authority in Europe.

France's defeat was deeply felt by the people. Social unrest increased, the economic crisis deepened, and Enlightenment ideas began to gain more acceptance among the people. All of this accelerated the process leading to the French Revolution.

The Young Man, Adam Weishaupt

He was born on 6 February 1748 in Ingolstadt. His father, who was of Westphalian origin, had been appointed professor of law in Ingolstadt from Würzburg. Adam started at the Jesuit school in Ingolstadt at the age of seven and a half. He was an eager, lively and ambitious child. He showed an interest in ancient classical works at an early age and was also introduced to the fundamentals of philosophy. However, the quality of education was poor, and being introduced to the works of Cicero through incorrect methods caused him to develop an aversion to these authors. The Jesuits were even more inadequate when it came to religious education.

At the age of 15, he left secondary school and began his university education. His main field was law; however, political science, history and philosophy appealed to him more. Adam excelled in his university studies and was appointed to a position at the university at a young age. In fact, Ickstatt, the university's administrator, appointed Weishaupt, his godson, as a professor under his patronage. Through Ickstatt's library, he gained access to the writings of French thinkers and began to be influenced by them. This situation led to growing opposition to Ickstatt among academics, most of whom were Jesuits. Moreover, Weishaupt's secret marriage, hidden from Ickstatt, caused a rift in their relationship.

Since there were not many friends left around him, Weishaupt was under pressure from the Jesuits and was subjected to many slanders. For this reason, he needed other people who thought like him. Weishaupt, who was a great admirer of Freemasonry, first thought of joining the Masons, but he thought that a secret organization about which all information was publicly available could not be considered secret and therefore would not provide the benefit he was looking for. This is how Weishaupt's idea of establishing a secret society emerged.

Illuminati: Establishment

Adam Weishaupt began to determine the rules of the society he would establish to spread his liberal and enlightened ideas. He named these rules the "Perfectibilisten Statutes" (Statutes of the Perfectible). According to what was written in this statute, it was clear that Weishaupt aimed to gain acceptance for his ideas among the public and powerful authorities by including powerful nobles in this society. For this reason, he accepted people who met the standards he called "pro Carolino" (in accordance with the standards) as members. New members could join the society upon the recommendation of an existing member. Those accepted in this way were called "Receptis" (accepted).

Weishaupt did not want too many members in the society, thinking that only as many members as necessary should be taken in. He attached great importance to the secrecy of the organization. For this reason, all members would use aliases, and members would not know each other's real names. He also wanted information to be spread in a limited and controlled way. For this reason, a superior was determined for new members to help them in the area they wanted to improve themselves, and their development was ensured under the guidance of this superior.

Although he initially thought that members should only improve themselves in the fields of politics, history, philosophy, and human nature, he later removed politics and replaced it with ethics. He later renamed these rules the "Illuminaten Statutes," as he thought the name "Perfectibilisten Statutes" sounded strange.

The society was established on May 1, 1776.


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