Knights of the Apocalypse
Encyclopedia
The Knights of the Apocalypse was a secret society
created in Italy
in 1693.
Agostino Gabrino, the son of a merchant
of Brescia
, was its founder. Its professed aim was to defend the Catholic Church
against the expected Antichrist
, but it was accused of having political motives as well. On Palm Sunday 1693, when the choir of St Peter's at Rome was chanting Quis est iste Rex Gloriae? ("Who was that king of Glory?") Gabrino sword in hand, rushed to the altar crying Ego sum Rex Gloriae. ("I am king of glory."). In a similar manner he disturbed public worship in the church of St. Salvator. Though Gabrino was treated as a madman, and confined in a madhouse, the society flourished, until a one member - woodcutter denounced it to the Inquisition
, who arrested the eighty knights. Though chiefly mechanics, tradesmen and labourers, they always carried swords even when at work, and wore on their breasts a star with seven rays
, tail and star was surrounded by a golden thread, which circle represented the terraneous globe. The tail of the star represented the sword seen by St. John in the Apocalypse. Gabrino styled himself monarch of the Holy Trinity. He was credited by his enemies with a desire to introduce polygamy
and has been accused of an intended rebellion against the papal government and his knights were to marry pure virgins only.
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
created in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1693.
Agostino Gabrino, the son of a merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
of Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, was its founder. Its professed aim was to defend the Catholic Church
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
against the expected Antichrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
, but it was accused of having political motives as well. On Palm Sunday 1693, when the choir of St Peter's at Rome was chanting Quis est iste Rex Gloriae? ("Who was that king of Glory?") Gabrino sword in hand, rushed to the altar crying Ego sum Rex Gloriae. ("I am king of glory."). In a similar manner he disturbed public worship in the church of St. Salvator. Though Gabrino was treated as a madman, and confined in a madhouse, the society flourished, until a one member - woodcutter denounced it to the Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
, who arrested the eighty knights. Though chiefly mechanics, tradesmen and labourers, they always carried swords even when at work, and wore on their breasts a star with seven rays
Seven Rays
The seven rays is an occult concept that has appeared in several religions and esoteric philosophies, since at least the 6th century BCE, of the Aryan peoples in both Western culture and in India...
, tail and star was surrounded by a golden thread, which circle represented the terraneous globe. The tail of the star represented the sword seen by St. John in the Apocalypse. Gabrino styled himself monarch of the Holy Trinity. He was credited by his enemies with a desire to introduce polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
and has been accused of an intended rebellion against the papal government and his knights were to marry pure virgins only.