Adam Weishaupt

Founder of the Bavarian Illuminati and professor of canon law at Ingolstadt.

Life

1748–1830

Connection

Founder of the order (code name "Spartacus")

Adam Weishaupt was born in Ingolstadt on 6 February 1748. Educated by the Jesuits, he studied law and in 1773 became professor of canon law at the University of Ingolstadt.

On 1 May 1776 he founded the society that became known as the Illuminati, intending it to promote reason, moral improvement and independence from clerical influence among an educated elite. He took the code name Spartacus.

Disputes with Adolph Knigge weakened the order in 1784, and after the Bavarian edicts of 1784 and 1785 Weishaupt lost his post and left Bavaria. He settled in Gotha under the protection of Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, wrote in defence of himself and the order, and died there on 18 November 1830.

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