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In the XVIII century a passion for secret societies affected students as well as others. There were student orders or societies, that had its forms and ceremonies borrowed partially from Freemasonry. One of such unions was called Mosellaner (Moselbund), founded in Jena in 1746. This union later formed a fraternity, the Amizisten (Amicistenorden), with its well-known motto “A true friendship is the fruit of honour”. The order was penetrated by a few weak liberal trends, but they were buried under the harsh yoke of custom. Student societies have divided the academic Bürgerschaft into two parts. Members of the fraternities showed disdain for the uninitiated, and the latter were highly displeased with the societies’ policies. The discord between the two parties was a kindly soil that nurtured collisions and outrage of students. This led to the Gießen accident in 1777.

As the result of the orders activity, especially the Amizisten, the student unions ran gauntlet of government displeasure: the authorities suspected that the societies had a hidden political agenda. As per Regensburg Reichstag decision, all the students societies were abolished. Despite this, the Amizisten, the Burschenschaft predecessors, continued to assemble secretly. At long last the Jena academic senate banished cum infamia the last twelve members of the Amizisten order.

Suggestions for further reading:
1. Friedrich Christian Laukhard. Der Mosellaner - oder Amicisten - Orden nach seiner Entstehung, inneren Verfassung und Verbreitung auf den deutschen Universitäten, Halle 1799

Dan Brown’s novels massive success might be explained by dexterous combination of reality and fiction, including the strongly sought-for secret societies topic. The theme of cynic individuals in possession of clandestine truths conspiring to cease power continues to fascinate the unsophisticated minds of Mr. Brown’s readers. However, Mr. Brown is only an author, he is writing fiction. His books are just “amazing tales with enigma piled on secrets stacked on riddles”. It’s up to the reader to believe these tales or to take them for what they are worth.

The blog is aimed to investigate the history of the illuminati and other societies that sought to foster their philosophical views and attitudes in people.