The Ancient Order of Freesmiths, or ''Alte Orden der Freischmiede'' is a
secret society
A secret society is an organization about which the activities, events, inner functioning, or membership are concealed. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence ag ...
originating in Europe during the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
. Since around 1864 the order has established an international membership but it does not publicly disclose the number of current members. The order is against publicity and refuses media interviews.
History
The order traces its origins to Christian
bladesmiths in the
Later Roman Empire
In historiography, the Late or Later Roman Empire, traditionally covering the period from 284 CE to 641 CE, was a time of significant transformation in Roman governance, society, and religion. Diocletian's reforms, including the establishment of t ...
. They formed a union, the "Freesmiths" to protect their trade from the influence of
guilds
A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular territory. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradespeople belonging to a professional association. They so ...
, whom they viewed as
pagan
Paganism (, later 'civilian') is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Christianity, Judaism, and Samaritanism. In the time of the ...
. During the reign of
Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( ; 2 April 748 – 28 January 814) was List of Frankish kings, King of the Franks from 768, List of kings of the Lombards, King of the Lombards from 774, and Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian ...
, the order was given a
capitulary
A capitulary (medieval Latin ) was a series of legislative or Public administration, administrative acts emanating from the Franks, Frankish court of the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties, especially that of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Em ...
to serve as
lay judges in
Francia
The Kingdom of the Franks (), also known as the Frankish Kingdom, or just Francia, was the largest History of the Roman Empire, post-Roman barbarian kingdom in Western Europe. It was ruled by the Franks, Frankish Merovingian dynasty, Merovingi ...
. After Charlemagne's death, the
Vehmic courts forced the order underground and it established a secret society which has operated continuously.
Membership
The order cites its aims as "elevating the mind to achieve its maximum potential" and its motto is "truth, fidelity, and secrecy". Membership is open to men and women who graduate from a self-study apprenticeship course, although it is difficult to obtain details about the exact application process for the course.
See also
*
Secret society
A secret society is an organization about which the activities, events, inner functioning, or membership are concealed. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence ag ...
*
Vehmic court
The Vehmic courts, ''Vehmgericht'', holy vehme, or simply Vehm, also spelt ''Feme'', ''Vehmegericht'', ''Fehmgericht'', are names given to a tribunal system of Westphalia in Germany active during the Late Middle Ages, based on a fraternal organis ...
References
External links
*
Fraternal orders
Secret societies in Germany
Secret societies in the United States
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