Editing Adolph Freiherr Knigge (section)

== Biography ==
Adolph Freiherr von Knigge was born in Bredenbeck (now a part of [[Wennigsen]], [[Lower Saxony]]) in the [[Electorate of Hanover]] as a member of the Knigge family, an old [[German nobility]] dating back to 13th century. He was the only son of Carl Philipp [[Freiherr]] Knigge (1723–1766) and his wife, Louise Wilhelmine [[Baron|Baroness]] Knigge (1730–1763), member of the same family from [[Weimar]]. When he was barely eleven, his mother died, and when his father died three years later the teenager inherited a large debt. His creditors took possession of the family property and assigned the boy a meagre pension of 500 thalers.<ref name="RLF3.2">René le Forestier, ''Les Illuminés de Bavière et la franc-maçonnerie allemande'', Paris, 1914, Book 3 Chapter 2, pp202-226</ref>

He studied law from 1769 to 1772 in [[Göttingen]] where he became a member of Corps Hannovera. He was allegedly [[initiation|initiated]] into Freemasonry in 1772 in [[Kassel]], where he held a position as Court Squire (''[[hofjunker]]'') and Assessor of the War and Domains Exchequer.  In 1777 he became Chamberlain at the [[Weimar]] court.

In 1780 Knigge joined [[Adam Weishaupt]]'s [[Bavaria]]n [[Illuminati]] and his work with the Illuminati gave the group a great deal of publicity and influence of Masonic [[chapter (religion)|chapters]].<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/d-50h9nDugk Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20191106080619/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-50h9nDugk Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-50h9nDugk&feature=youtu.be&t=105|title=Are the illuminati real?|author=Chip Berlet|author-link=Chip Berlet|date=31 October 2019|publisher=[[TED-Ed]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> But in 1783 dissensions arose between Knigge and Weishaupt, which resulted in Knigge's final withdrawal from the group on 1 July 1784. Knigge stated that he could no longer endure Weishaupt's pedantic domineering, which frequently assumed offensive forms. He accused Weishaupt of "Jesuitism", and suspected him of being "a [[Jesuit]] in disguise" (Nachtr., I, 129). "And was I", he adds, "to labour under his banner for mankind, to lead men under the yoke of so stiff-necked a fellow?—Never!"

Knigge's involvement with the Illuminati, support of the advancement of [[human rights]], and a period of serious illness led to the loss of support of his aristocratic sponsors and finally his fortune. Knigge found a measure of financial stability again with a position in [[Bremen (city)|Bremen]] in 1790. He died in Bremen in 1796.

In [[Germany]], Knigge is best remembered for his book ''Über den Umgang mit Menschen'' (''{{vanchor|On Human Relations}}''), a treatise on the fundamental principles of human relations that has the reputation of being the authoritative guide to behaviour, politeness, and etiquette. The work is more of a sociological and philosophical treatise on the basis of human relations than a how-to guide on etiquette, but the German word “Knigge” has come to mean “good manners” or books on etiquette.