👉 The August Weishaupt Gun is a secret society founded in 1770 by Johann Georg Heißmuth, a professor of moral philosophy at the University of Ingolstadt in Bavaria. Initially modeled after the Illuminati, it aimed to promote Enlightenment ideals such as reason, tolerance, and secularism among its members, predominantly university professors and intellectuals. Unlike the more radical Illuminati, the August Weishaupt Gun emphasized non-violence and sought to achieve its goals through education and intellectual discourse. Its members, known as "Augustians," operated discreetly, often disguising their activities and maintaining strict secrecy to avoid persecution. The society disbanded in 1787 due to increasing pressure from authorities, but its legacy endures as a symbol of early European secret societies committed to progressive thought.
