Difference between revisions of "Ouroboros Society"

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The Ouroboros: symbol of the Society.

The Ouroboros Society (French: Ouroboros Société; German: Ouroboros Gesellschaft; Italian: Societá di Ouroboros; Spanish: Sociedad de Ouroboros) is an ancient, Hermetic secret society relating to the Bavarian Illuminati, Freemasons, and several Rosicrucian orders.

History

The beginning

The Society traces its history back to the time of the Roman Republic; however, the current version of the Society was founded on June 6, 1806 after the banning of secret societies by Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria. This banning of secret societies caused the downfall of one of the most powerful, secret organizations ever to have existed: the Bavartian Illuminati.

The Bavarian Illuminati is the first trace of an Ouroborarian society in modern history. The Illuminati was a movement of freethinkers that were the most radical offshoot of The Enlightenment — whose adherents were given the name Illuminati (but who called themselves "Perfectibilists") — was founded on May 1, 1776 by Jesuit-taught Adam Weishaupt (d. 1830), who was the first lay professor of canon law. The group has also been called the Illuminati Order, the Order of the Illuminati, and the Bavarian Illuminati

After Theodore's decree, the structure of the Illuminati soon collapsed, but while it was in existence many influential intellectuals and progressive politicians counted themselves as members. Its members were supposedly drawn primarily from Masons and former Masons, and although some Masons were known to be members there is no evidence that it was supported by Freemasons. The members pledged obedience to their superiors, and were divided into three main classes: the first, known as the Nursery, encompassed the ascending degrees or offices of Preparation, Novice, Minerval and Illuminatus Minor; the second, known as the Masonry, consisting of the ascending degrees of Illuminatus Major and Illuminatus dirigens, the latter also sometimes called Scotch Knight; the third, designated the Mysteries, was subdivided into the degrees of the Lesser Mysteries (Presbyter and Regent) and those of the Greater Mysteries (Magus and Rex). Relations with Masonic lodges were established at Munich and Freising in 1780.

The order had its branches in most countries of the European continent; its members were reportedly around 2,000 members in the span of 10 years. The scheme had its attraction for literary men, such as Goethe and Herder, and even for the reigning dukes of Gotha and Weimar. Internal rupture preceded its downfall, which was effected by an edict of the Bavarian government in 1785.

After the eventual downfall of the Illuminati, in 1792 French revolutionary armies overran the Palatinate of Bavaria; in 1795 the French, under Moreau, invaded Bavaria itself, advanced to Munich — where they were received with joy by the long-suppressed Liberals — and laid siege to Ingolstadt. Charles Theodore, who had done nothing to prevent wars or to resist the invasion, fled to Saxony, leaving a regency, the members of which signed a convention with Moreau, by which he granted an armistice in return for a heavy contribution.

At this time, Bavaria was placed in a horrible situation that would continue until the creation of Amestris in 1806 and thus the modern-day Ouroboros Society.

Amestris and Ishbal

Under construction.