Count Saint-Germain
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The Count of St. Germain ( French: ''Comte de Saint Germain''; ; – 27 February 1784) whose real name and origins remain unknown, was a European adventurer who had interests and achievements in science,
alchemy Alchemy (from the Arabic word , ) is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that was historically practised in China, India, the Muslim world, and Europe. In its Western form, alchemy is first ...
, philosophy, and
the arts The arts or creative arts are a vast range of human practices involving creative expression, storytelling, and cultural participation. The arts encompass diverse and plural modes of thought, deeds, and existence in an extensive range of m ...
. He rose to prominence in the European
high society High society, sometimes simply Society, is the behavior and lifestyle of people with the highest levels of wealth, power, fame and social status. It includes their related affiliations, social events and practices. Upscale social clubs were open ...
of the mid-18th century due to his works and interests. He associated himself with some of the top contemporary figures, including Casanova,
Voltaire François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778), known by his ''Pen name, nom de plume'' Voltaire (, ; ), was a French Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment writer, philosopher (''philosophe''), satirist, and historian. Famous for his wit ...
and
Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...
. The count used a variety of names and titles, including the Marquess of Montferrat (Fr. ''Marquis de Montferrat''), Count Bellamarre (Fr. ''Comte Bellamarre''), Knight Schoening (Fr. ''Chevalier Schoening''), Count Weldon, Count Soltikoff (Fr. ''Comte Soltikoff''), Manuel Doria, Graf Tzarogy, and Prince Ragoczy (De. ''Prinz Ragoczy''). He appears to have begun to be known under the title of the Count of St Germain during the early 1740s. He is said to have made far-fetched claims (such as being 500 years old), leading Voltaire to dub him "the Wonderman", and that "he is a man who does not die, and who knows everything".
Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel (, German and ; 19 December 1744 – 17 August 1836) was a cadet member of the house of Hesse-Kassel and a Danish general field marshal. Brought up with relatives at the Danish court, he spent most of his life in ...
, called him "one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived".


Origins

The count's birth and background remain obscure; nothing is known with certainty of his origins. Toward the end of his life, he claimed to be the son of
Francis II Rákóczi Francis II Rákóczi (, ; 27 March 1676 – 8 April 1735) was a Hungarian nobleman and leader of the Rákóczi's War of Independence against the Habsburgs in 1703–1711 as the prince () of the Estates Confederated for Liberty of the Kingdom of ...
, the
prince of Transylvania The Prince of Transylvania (, , , Fallenbüchl 1988, p. 77.) was the head of state of the Principality of Transylvania from the late-16th century until the mid-18th century. John Sigismund Zápolya was the first to adopt the title in 1 ...
;Spellings used are those given in ''The Comte de St. Germain'' by Isabel Cooper-Oakley while without hard evidence, this would account for his wealth and evident fine education. The will of Francis II mentions Leopold George, his eldest son, who was believed to have died at the age of four. It has been speculated that his identity was falsified to protect against persecution from the
Habsburgs The House of Habsburg (; ), also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of Europe and Western civilization. They were best known for their inbreeding and for ruling vast realms throughout Europe d ...
. At the time of his arrival in Schleswig in 1779, he told Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel that he was 88 years old, making his year of birth 1691, when Francis II was 15 years old. St. Germain was supposedly educated in Italy by Gian Gastone, the
grand duke of Tuscany Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor Places * Grand, Oklahoma, USA * Grand, Vosges, village and commune in France with Gallo-Roman amphitheatre * Grand County (disambiguation), se ...
and allegedly his mother's brother-in-law. He was believed to be a student at the
University of Siena The University of Siena (, abbreviation: UNISI), located in Siena, Tuscany, holds the distinction of being Italy's first publicly funded university as well as one of the oldest, originally established as ''Studium Senese'' in 1240. As of 2022, it ...
. Throughout his adult life, he deliberately concealed his actual name and origins, using a multitude of pseudonyms in the different places he visited.


Career


England

According to David Hunter, the count contributed some of the songs to ''L'incostanza delusa'', an opera performed at the
Haymarket Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre in Haymarket, London, Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in ...
in London on all but one of the Saturdays from 9 February to 20 April 1745. Later, in a letter of December of that same year,
Horace Walpole Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (; 24 September 1717 – 2 March 1797), better known as Horace Walpole, was an English Whig politician, writer, historian and antiquarian. He had Strawberry Hill House built in Twickenham, southwest London ...
mentions Count St. Germain as being arrested in London on suspicion of espionage (this was during the Jacobite rebellion of 1745), but released without charge:
The other day they seized an odd man, who goes by the name of Count St. Germain. He has been here these two years, and will not tell who he is, or whence, but professes wo wonderful things, the firstthat he does not go by his right name; and the second that he never had any dealings with any woman – nay, nor with any succedaneum ubstitute, i.e. for a woman He sings, plays on the violin wonderfully, composes, is mad, and not very sensible. He is called an Italian, a Spaniard, a Pole; somebody that married a great fortune in Mexico, and ran away with her jewels to Constantinople; a priest, a fiddler, a vast nobleman. The
Prince of Wales Prince of Wales (, ; ) is a title traditionally given to the male heir apparent to the History of the English monarchy, English, and later, the British throne. The title originated with the Welsh rulers of Kingdom of Gwynedd, Gwynedd who, from ...
has had an unsatiated curiosity about him, but in vain. However, nothing has been made out against him; he is released; and, what convinces me that he is not a gentleman, stays here, and talks of his being taken up for a spy.
The Count gave two private musical performances in London in April and May 1749. On one such occasion, Lady Jemima Yorke described how she was "very much entertain'd ''by him'' or ''at him'' the whole Time – I mean the Oddness of his Manner which it is impossible not to laugh at, otherwise you know he is very sensible & well-bred in conversation". She continued:
He is an Odd Creature, and the more I see him the more curious I am to know something about him. He is everything with everybody: he talks Ingeniously with Mr Wray, Philosophy with
Lord Willoughby Baron Willoughby of Parham was a title in the Peerage of England with two creations. The first creation was for Sir William Willoughby who was raised to the peerage under letters patent in 1547, with the remainder to his heirs male of body. An ...
, and is gallant with Miss Yorke, Miss Carpenter, and all the Young Ladies. But the Character and Philosopher is what he seems to pretend to, and to be a good deal conceited of: the Others are put on to comply with Les Manieres du Monde, but ''that'' you are to suppose his real characteristic; and I can't but fancy he is a great Pretender in All kinds of Science, as well as that he really has acquired an uncommon Share in some.
Walpole reports that St Germain:
spoke Italian and French with the greatest facility, though it was evident that neither was his language; he understood Polish and soon learnt to understand English and talk it a little ..But Spanish or Portuguese seemed his natural language.
Walpole concludes that the Count was "a man of Quality who had been in or designed for the Church. He was too great a musician not to have been famous if he had not been a gentleman". Walpole describes the Count as pale, with "extremely black" hair and a beard. "He dressed magnificently, ndhad several jewels" and was clearly receiving "large remittances, but made no other figure".


France

St. Germain appeared in the French court around 1748. In 1749, he was employed by
Louis XV Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reached maturity (then defi ...
for diplomatic missions. A
mime A mime artist, or simply mime (from Greek language, Greek , , "imitator, actor"), is a person who uses ''mime'' (also called ''pantomime'' outside of Britain), the acting out of a story through body motions without the use of speech, as a the ...
and English comedian known as Mi'Lord Gower impersonated St. Germain in Paris salons. His stories were wilder than the real count's (he had advised Jesus, for example). Inevitably, hearsay of his routine got confused with the original.
Giacomo Casanova Giacomo Girolamo Casanova (; ; 2 April 1725 – 4 June 1798) was an Italian adventurer who was born in the Republic of Venice and travelled extensively throughout Europe. He is chiefly remembered for his autobiography, written in French and pu ...
describes in his memoirs several meetings with the "celebrated and learned impostor". Of his first meeting, in Paris in 1757, he writes:
The most enjoyable dinner I had was with Madame de Robert Gergi, who came with the famous adventurer, known by the name of the Count de St. Germain. This individual, instead of eating, talked from the beginning of the meal to the end, and I followed his example in one respect as I did not eat, but listened to him with the greatest attention. It may safely be said that as a conversationalist he was unequalled. St. Germain gave himself out for a marvel and always aimed at exciting amazement, which he often succeeded in doing. He was a scholar, linguist, musician, and chemist, good-looking, and a perfect ladies' man. For a while he gave them paints and cosmetics; he flattered them, not that he would make them young again (which he modestly confessed was beyond him) but that their beauty would be preserved by means of a wash which, he said, cost him a lot of money, but which he gave away freely. He had contrived to gain the favour of
Madame de Pompadour Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour (, ; 29 December 1721 – 15 April 1764), commonly known as Madame de Pompadour, was a member of the French court. She was the official chief mistress of King Louis XV from 1745 to 1751, and rema ...
, who had spoken about him to the king, for whom he had made a laboratory, in which the monarch – a martyr to boredom – tried to find a little pleasure or distraction, at all events, by making dyes. The king had given him a suite of rooms at Chambord, and a hundred thousand francs for the construction of a laboratory, and according to St. Germain the dyes discovered by the king would have a materially beneficial influence on the quality of French fabrics. This extraordinary man, intended by nature to be the king of impostors and quacks, would say in an easy, assured manner that he was three hundred years old, that he knew the secret of the Universal Medicine, that he possessed a mastery over nature, that he could melt diamonds, professing himself capable of forming, out of ten or twelve small diamonds, one large one of the finest water without any loss of weight. All this, he said, was a mere trifle to him. Notwithstanding his boastings, his bare-faced lies, and his manifold eccentricities, I cannot say I thought him offensive. In spite of my knowledge of what he was and in spite of my own feelings, I thought him an astonishing man as he was always astonishing me.


Dutch Republic

In March 1760, at the height of the
Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War, 1756 to 1763, was a Great Power conflict fought primarily in Europe, with significant subsidiary campaigns in North America and South Asia. The protagonists were Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of Prus ...
, St. Germain travelled to
The Hague The Hague ( ) is the capital city of the South Holland province of the Netherlands. With a population of over half a million, it is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. Situated on the west coast facing the North Sea, The Hague is the c ...
. In Amsterdam, he stayed at the bankers Adrian and Thomas Hope and pretended he came to borrow money for Louis XV with diamonds as collateral. He assisted Bertrand Philip, Count of Gronsveld starting a porcelain factory in
Weesp Weesp () is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and an urban area in the Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality of Amsterdam in the Provinces of the netherlands, province of North Holland, Netherlands. It had a populati ...
as furnace and colour specialist. St. Germain tried to open peace negotiations between Britain and France with the help of
Duke Louis Ernest of Brunswick-Lüneburg Louis Ernest of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Bevern (25 September 1718, Wolfenbüttel – 12 May 1788, Eisenach) was a field-marshal in the armies of the Holy Roman Empire and the Republic of the Seven Netherlands, Dutch Republic, the elected Duke of Cour ...
. British diplomats concluded that St. Germain had the backing of the Duc de Belle-Isle and possibly of Madame de Pompadour, who were trying to outmanoeuvre the French Foreign Minister, the pro-Austrian Duc de Choiseul. However, Britain would not treat with St. Germain unless his credentials came directly from the French king. The Duc de Choiseul convinced
Louis XV Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reached maturity (then defi ...
to disavow St. Germain and demand his arrest. Count Bentinck de Rhoon, a Dutch diplomat, regarded the arrest warrant as internal French politicking, in which Holland should not involve itself. However, a direct refusal to extradite St. Germain was also considered impolitic. De Rhoon, therefore, facilitated the departure of St. Germain to England with a passport issued by the British Ambassador, General Joseph Yorke. This passport was made out "in blank", allowing St. Germain to travel in May 1760 from
Hellevoetsluis Hellevoetsluis () is a town and former municipality in the west of Netherlands. It is located in Voorne-Putten, South Holland. The former municipality covered an area of of which was water and it included the population centres of Nieuw-Helvoe ...
to London under an assumed name, showing that this practice was officially accepted at the time. From St. Peterburg, St. Germain travelled to Berlin, Vienna, Milan,
Ubbergen Ubbergen () is a village and former municipality in the eastern Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland. On 1 January 2015 it merged into the enlarged municipality of Groesbeek, renamed Berg en Dal from 1 January 2016. Notable people Notable p ...
, and
Zutphen Zutphen () is a city and municipality located in the province of Gelderland, Netherlands. It lies some northeast of Arnhem, on the eastern bank of the river IJssel at the point where it is joined by the Berkel. First mentioned in the 11th centur ...
(June 1762), Amsterdam (August 1762), Venice (1769), Livorno (1770), Neurenberg (1772), Mantua (1773), The Hague (1774), and
Bad Schwalbach Bad Schwalbach (; called Langenschwalbach until 1927) is the district seat of Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany. Geography Geographic location Bad Schwalbach is a spa town some 20 km northwest of Wiesbaden. It lies at 289 to 465&n ...
.


Works


Musical works

The following list of music attributed to the count comes from Appendix II from Jean Overton Fuller's book ''The Comte de Saint Germain''.


Trio Sonatas

Six sonatas for two violins with a bass for harpsichord or violoncello: * Op. 47 I. F major, , Molto adagio * Op. 48 II. B-flat major, , Allegro * Op. 49 III. E-flat major, , Adagio * Op. 50 IV. G minor, , Tempo giusto * Op. 51 V. G major, , Moderato * Op. 52 VI. A major, , Cantabile lento


Violin solos

Seven solos for solo violin: * Op. 53 I. B-flat major, , Largo * Op. 54 II. E major, , Adagio * Op. 55 III. C minor, , Adagio * Op. 56 IV. E-flat major, , Adagio * Op. 57 V. E-flat major, , Adagio * Op. 58 VI. A major, , Adagio * Op. 59 VII. B-flat major, , Adagio


English songs

* Op. 4 ''The Maid That's Made for Love and Me'' (''O Wouldst Thou Know What Sacred Charms''). E-flat major (marked B-flat major), * Op. 5 ''It Is Not that I Love You Less''. F major, * Op. 6 ''Gentle Love, This Hour Befriend Me''. D major, * Op. 7 ''Jove, When He Saw My Fanny's Face''. D major,


Italian arias

Numbered in order of their appearance in the ''Musique Raisonnee'', with their page numbers in that volume. :* * Op. 1 IV, pp. 16–20. ''Senza pietà mi credi'',* G major, (marked but there are 6 quavers to the bar) * Op. 2 VIII, pp. 36–39. ''Digli, digli'',* D major, * Op. 3 IX, pp. 40–45. ''Per pieta bel Idol mio'',* F major, * Op. 4/17 XIII, pp. 58–61. ''Se mai riviene'', D minor, * Op. 8 I, pp. 1–5. ''Padre perdona, oh! pene'', G minor, * Op. 9 II, pp. 6–10. ''Non piangete amarti'', E major, * Op. 10 III, pp. 11–15. ''Intendo il tuo'', F major, * Op. 11 V, pp. 21–26. ''Già, già che moria deggio'', D major, * Op. 12 VI, pp. 27–31. ''Dille che l'amor mio'',* E major, * Op. 13 VII, pp. 32–35. ''Mio ben ricordati'', D major, * Op. 14 X, pp. 46–50. ''Non so, quel dolce moto'', B major, * Op. 15 XI, pp. 51–55. ''Piango, è ver; ma non-procede'', G minor, * Op. 16 XII, pp. 56–57. ''Dal labbro che t'accende'', E major, * Op. 18 XIV, pp. 62–63. ''Parlerò; non-e permesso'', E major, * Op. 19 XV, pp. 64–65. ''Se tutti i miei pensieri'', A major, * Op. 20 XVI, pp. 66–67. ''Guadarlo, guaralo in volto'', E major, * Op. 21 XVII, pp. 68–69. ''Oh Dio mancarmi'', D major, * Op. 22 XVIII, pp. 70–71. ''Digli che son fedele'', E major, * Op. 23 XIX, pp. 72–73. ''Pensa che sei cruda'', E minor, * Op. 24 XX, pp. 74–75. ''Torna torna innocente'', G major, * Op. 25 XXI, pp. 76–77. ''Un certo non-so che veggo'', E major, * Op. 26 XXII, pp. 78–79. ''Guardami, guardami prima in volto'', D major, * Op. 27 XXIII, pp. 80–81. ''Parto, se vuoi così'', E major, * Op. 28 XXIV, pp. 82–83. ''Volga al Ciel se ti'', D minor, * Op. 29 XXV, pp. 84–85. ''Guarda se in questa volta'', F major, * Op. 30 XXVI, pp. 86–87. ''Quanto mai felice'', D major, * Op. 31 XXVII, pp. 88–89. ''Ah che neldi'sti'', D major, * Op. 32, XXVIII, pp. 90–91. ''Dopp'un tuo Sguardo'', F major, * Op. 33 XXIX, pp. 92–93. ''Serberò fra' Ceppi'', G major, * Op. 34 XXX, pp. 94–95. ''Figlio se più non-vivi moro'', F major, * Op. 35 XXXI, pp. 96–98. ''Non ti respondo'', C major, * Op. 36 XXXII, pp. 99–101. ''Povero cor perché palpito'', G major, * Op. 37 XXXIII, pp. 102–105. ''Non v'è più barbaro'', C minor, * Op. 38 XXXIV, pp. 106–108. ''Se de' tuoi lumi al fuoco amor'', E major, * Op. 39 XXXV, pp. 109–111. ''Se tutto tosto me sdegno'', E major, * Op. 40 XXXVI, pp. 112–115. ''Ai negli occhi un tel incanto'', D major, (marked but there are 4 crotchets to the bar) * Op. 41 XXXVII, pp. 116–118. ''Come poteste de Dio'', F major, * Op. 42 XXXVIII, pp. 119–121. ''Che sorte crudele'', G major, * Op. 43 XXXIX, pp. 122–124. ''Se almen potesse al pianto'', G minor, * Op. 44 XXXX, pp. 125–127. ''Se viver non-posso lunghi'', D major, * Op. 45 XXXXI, pp. 128–130. ''Fedel faro faro cara cara'', D major, * Op. 46 XXXXII, p. 131. ''Non ha ragione'', F major,


Literary works

Discounting the snippets of political intrigue, a few musical pieces, and one mystical poem, there are only two pieces of writing attributed to the Count: '' La Très Sainte Trinosophie'' and the untitled The Triangular Book of St. Germain (The Triangular Manuscript). The first book attributed to the Count of Saint Germain is ''La Très Sainte Trinosophie'', a beautifully illustrated 18th century manuscript that describes in symbolic terms a journey of spiritual initiation or an alchemical process, depending on the interpretation. This book has been published several times, most notably by
Manly P. Hall Manly Palmer Hall (18 March 1901 – 29 August 1990) was an American writer, lecturer, astrologer and mystic. Over his 70-year career he gave thousands of lectures and published over 150 volumes, of which the best known is ''The Secret ...
, in Los Angeles, California, in 1933. The attribution to St. Germain rests on a handwritten note scrawled inside the cover of the original manuscript stating that this was a copy of a text once in St. Germain's possession. However, despite Hall's elaborate introduction describing the Count's legend, The Most Holy Trinosophia shows no definitive connection to him. The second work attributed to St. Germain is the untitled 18th century manuscript in the shape of a triangle. The two known copies of the Triangular Manuscript exist as Hogart Manuscript 209 and 210 (MS 209 and MS 210). Both currently reside in the Manly Palmer Hall Collection of Alchemical Manuscripts at the Getty Research Library. Nick Koss decoded and translated this manuscript in 2011 and it was published as ''The Triangular Book of St. Germain'' by Ouroboros Press in 2015. Unlike the first work, it mentions St. Germain directly as its originator. The book describes a magical ritual by which one can perform the two most extraordinary feats that characterized the legend of Count of St. Germain, namely procurement of great wealth and extension of life.


Final days

The count arrived in Altona,
Schleswig The Duchy of Schleswig (; ; ; ; ; ) was a duchy in Southern Jutland () covering the area between about 60 km (35 miles) north and 70 km (45 mi) south of the current border between Germany and Denmark. The territory has been di ...
, in 1779, where he made an acquaintance with Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel, both of whom had an interest in mysticism. Charles was a member of several
secret societies 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 a ...
including the Bavarian Illuminati and a Secret Society of Freesmiths. The count showed Charles several of his gems and convinced him that he had invented a new method of colouring cloth. Charles, impressed, installed the count in an abandoned factory at
Eckernförde Eckernförde (; , sometimes also ; , sometimes also ) is a city located in the of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany. Situated on the coast of the Baltic Sea, approximately 30 km north-west of Kiel, it has a populat ...
which Charles had acquired especially for the count, and supplied the count with the materials and cloths needed to proceed with the project. The two met frequently in the following years, and Charles outfitted a laboratory for alchemical experiments in his nearby summer residence Louisenlund, where they, among other things, cooperated in creating gemstones and jewelry. Charles later recounts in a letter that he was the only person in whom the count truly confided. The count told Charles that he was the son of Francis II Rákóczi, and that he had been 88 years of age when he arrived in Schleswig.


Death

The count died in his residence in the factory on 27 February 1784 when Charles was staying in
Kassel Kassel (; in Germany, spelled Cassel until 1926) is a city on the Fulda River in North Hesse, northern Hesse, in Central Germany (geography), central Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Kassel (region), Kassel and the d ...
. The death was recorded in the register of the St. Nicolai Church (De. ''St. Nicolaikirche'') in
Eckernförde Eckernförde (; , sometimes also ; , sometimes also ) is a city located in the of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany. Situated on the coast of the Baltic Sea, approximately 30 km north-west of Kiel, it has a populat ...
. He was buried on 2 March at Eckernförde in a private grave, the cost of which was listed in the accounting books of the church the following day. On 3 April, a little over a month after his death, the mayor and the city council of Eckernförde issued an official proclamation about the auctioning off of the count's remaining effects in case no living relative would appear within a designated time period to lay claim on them. Charles donated the factory to the crown and it was afterward converted into a hospital. Jean Fuller, during her research in 1988, found that the count's estate upon his death was a packet of paid bills, receipts, and quittances; 82 Reichsthalers and 13 shillings in cash; and 29 various groups of items of clothing (gloves, stockings, trousers, shirts, etc.), 14 linen shirts, eight other groups of linen items, and various sundries: razors, buckles, toothbrushes, sunglasses, combs, etc. No diamonds, jewels, gold, or any other riches were listed, nor were kept cultural items from travels, personal items (like his violin), or any notes of correspondence.


Legacy

In various Theosophical and post-Theosophical teachings, the Count of St. Germain is seen as a
supernatural being Supernatural phenomena or entities are those beyond the Scientific law, laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin 'above, beyond, outside of' + 'nature'. Although the corollary term "nature" has had multiple meanin ...
called a Master of the Ancient Wisdom or an
Ascended master Ascended masters, also known as Mahatmas, are believed in several theosophical and related spiritual traditions to be spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans. Through a series of spiritual transformations, ...
, who is responsible for ushering in the
Age of Aquarius The Age of Aquarius, in astrology, is either the current or forthcoming astrological age, depending on the method of calculation. Astrologers maintain that an astrological age is a product of the Earth's slow precessional rotation and lasts f ...
. Several of these sects refer to him as "Master Rakoczi" or "Master R." Some write that the name St. Germain invented for himself was a French version of the Latin ''
Sanctus Germanus The Bishop of St Germans is an episcopal title which was used by Anglo Saxon Bishops of Cornwall and currently in use in the Church of England and in the Roman Catholic Church. The title is used by suffragan bishops of the Church of England, ...
'', meaning "Holy Brother". Saint Germain is associated with the color violet, the jewel
amethyst Amethyst is a Violet (color), violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the Koine Greek from - , "not" and (Ancient Greek) / (Modern Greek), "intoxicate", a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from Alcohol into ...
, and the
Maltese cross The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four " V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically. It is a heraldic cross variant which develope ...
rendered in violet (usually the ''iron cross style cross patee'' version). He is also regarded as the "Chohan of the Seventh Ray".


Theosophical Society

In 1892,
Helena Blavatsky Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (; – 8 May 1891), often known as Madame Blavatsky, was a Russian-born Mysticism, mystic and writer who emigrated to the United States where she co-founded the Theosophical Society in 1875. She gained an internat ...
characterized the Count of St. Germain as "the greatest Oriental Adept Europe has seen during the last centuries." She said that he was one of her Masters of Wisdom and hinted that he had given her secret documents. The Theosophical Society after Blavatsky's death considered him to be a
Mahatma Mahātmā (English pronunciation: , , ) is an honorific used in India. The term is commonly used for Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who is often referred to simply as "Mahatma Gandhi". Albeit less frequently, this epithet has also been used wit ...
, Master of the Ancient Wisdom, or Adept. According to the Theosophical Society, the
Seven Rays The seven rays is a concept that has appeared in several religions and esoteric philosophies in both Western culture and in India since at least the sixth century BCE. In occidental culture, it can be seen in early Western mystery traditions, such ...
are seven metaphysical principles that govern both individual souls and the unfolding of each 2,158-year-long
Astrological Age An astrological age is a time period which, according to astrology, parallels major changes in the development of human society, culture, history, and politics. There are twelve astrological ages corresponding to the twelve zodiacal signs in wes ...
. Since according to Theosophy, the upcoming
Age of Aquarius The Age of Aquarius, in astrology, is either the current or forthcoming astrological age, depending on the method of calculation. Astrologers maintain that an astrological age is a product of the Earth's slow precessional rotation and lasts f ...
, will be governed by the Seventh (Violet) Ray (the Ray of Ceremonial Order), Saint Germain is sometimes called "The Hierarch of the Age of Aquarius".
Annie Besant Annie Besant (; Wood; 1 October 1847 – 20 September 1933) was an English socialist, Theosophy (Blavatskian), theosophist, freemason, women's rights and Home Rule activist, educationist and campaigner for Indian nationalism. She was an arden ...
said that she met the Count in 1896.
C. W. Leadbeater Charles Webster Leadbeater (; 16 February 1854 – 1 March 1934) was a member of the Theosophical Society, Co-Freemasonry, an author on occult subjects, and the co-initiator, with J. I. Wedgwood, of the Liberal Catholic Church. Origi ...
claimed to have met him in Rome. According to Leadbeater, the count had
brown eyes Eye color is a polygenic phenotypic trait determined by two factors: the pigmentation of the eye's iris and the frequency-dependence of the scattering of light by the turbid medium in the stroma of the iris. In humans, the pigmentation of th ...
, olive colored skin, and a pointed beard, adding "the splendour of his Presence impels men to make obeisance". Elsewhere, he described the count as wearing "a suit of golden chain-mail which once belonged to a Roman Emperor; over it is thrown a magnificent cloak of crimson, with on its clasp a seven-pointed star in diamond and
amethyst Amethyst is a Violet (color), violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the Koine Greek from - , "not" and (Ancient Greek) / (Modern Greek), "intoxicate", a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from Alcohol into ...
, and sometimes he wears a glorious robe of violet."


"I AM" Activity

Guy Ballard claimed that, in August 1930, he met the Count of Saint Germain on
Mount Shasta Mount Shasta ( ; Shasta people, Shasta: ''Waka-nunee-Tuki-wuki''; Karuk language, Karuk: ''Úytaahkoo'') is a Volcano#Volcanic activity, potentially active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Cascade Range in Siskiyou County, California. A ...
in California. Shortly thereafter, Ballard founded the
"I AM" Activity The I AM Movement, also referred to as the I AM Temple, is the original ascended master teachings neo-Theosophical religious movement founded in the early 1930s by Guy Ballard (1878–1939) and his wife Edna Anne Wheeler Ballard (1886–197 ...
, and later the Saint Germain Foundation to serve as its parent organization. The "I AM" movement originated the presentation of the count as an
Ascended Master Ascended masters, also known as Mahatmas, are believed in several theosophical and related spiritual traditions to be spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans. Through a series of spiritual transformations, ...
, referred to simply as "Saint Germain." In the Ascended Master teachings, the names "Master Rakoczi" and "Master R" refer to a being distinct from Saint Germain, the Great Divine Director, who is Saint Germain's teacher in the Great White Brotherhood of Ascended Masters. Saint Germain is the central figure in a series of books published by the Saint Germain Press (the publishing arm of the Saint Germain Foundation). The first two volumes, ''Unveiled Mysteries'' and ''The Magic Presence'', written by Guy Ballard as "Godfré Ray King", describe Saint Germain as an Ascended master, like
Jesus Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...
, who is assisting humanity. In these first two books, Ballard discusses his personal experiences with Saint Germain and reveals many teachings that are in harmony with
Theosophy Theosophy is a religious movement established in the United States in the late 19th century. Founded primarily by the Russian Helena Blavatsky and based largely on her writings, it draws heavily from both older European philosophies such as Neop ...
. The third volume, ''The 'I AM' Discourses'', contains material that is foundational to the
sacred scripture The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) biblical languages ...
s of the "I AM" Religious Activity, founded in 1930 – the first of the Ascended Master Teachings religions. There are 20 volumes in the Saint Germain Series of Books, which are also referred to as the "Green Books". Another significant work, the ''
Comte de Gabalis ''Comte de Gabalis'' is a 17th-century French text by Abbé Nicolas-Pierre-Henri de Montfaucon de Villars (1635–1673). The titular "Comte de Gabalis" ("Count of Cabala") is an esotericist who explains the mysteries of the world to the author. I ...
'', is said to be from the hand of Sir Francis Bacon before he Ascended and returned as Sanctus Germanus or Saint Germain. First printed in 1670, the book includes a picture of the Polish Rider,
Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...
's famous painting at the
Frick Collection The Frick Collection (colloquially known as the Frick) is an art museum on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. It was established in 1935 to preserve the collection of the industrialist Henry Clay Frick. The collection (museum) ...
in New York City, which is said to be of Sir Francis Bacon, AKA the
Comte de Gabalis ''Comte de Gabalis'' is a 17th-century French text by Abbé Nicolas-Pierre-Henri de Montfaucon de Villars (1635–1673). The titular "Comte de Gabalis" ("Count of Cabala") is an esotericist who explains the mysteries of the world to the author. I ...
, or the Count of the Cabala. Lotus Ray King (Edna Ballard's pen name), wife of Guy Ballard, talked about this book having been authored by the Ascended Master Saint Germain in the Round Table Talks of the "I AM" Religious Activity. As an Ascended Master, Saint Germain is believed to have many magical powers such as the ability to teleport, levitate, walk through walls, and to inspire people by
telepathy Telepathy () is the purported vicarious transmission of information from one person's mind to another's without using any known human sensory channels or physical interaction. The term was first coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Frederic ...
, among others. Saint Germain is "The God of Freedom for this system of worlds". Ascended Master Saint Germain became the Hierarch of the
Age of Aquarius The Age of Aquarius, in astrology, is either the current or forthcoming astrological age, depending on the method of calculation. Astrologers maintain that an astrological age is a product of the Earth's slow precessional rotation and lasts f ...
on 1 July 1956, replacing the Ascended Master Jesus, who had been for almost 2,000 years the "Hierarch of the Age of Pisces".


Alice Bailey

In the works of
Alice Bailey Alice Ann Bailey (16 June 1880 – 15 December 1949) was a British and American writer. She wrote about 25 books on Theosophy and was one of the first writers to use the term New Age. She was born Alice La Trobe-Bateman, in Manchester, ...
, Saint Germain is called "Master Rakoczi" or the "Master R." Bailey likened Master Rakoczi to "the General Manager for the carrying out of the plans of the executive council of the Christ." In preparation for the return of Christ Master R. plays the role of the ''Lord of Civilization'', and his task is the establishment of the new civilization. He is said to telepathically influence people who are seen by him as being instrumental in bringing about the new civilization of the Age of Aquarius.


Previous incarnations

Certain Theosophical sects differ on the count's past lives, but generally agree upon Saint Alban, Proclus, Roger Bacon, and Sir Francis Bacon. Esotericist Raymond Bernard went further, claiming that the count was born Francis Tudor, the secret son of
Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudor. Her eventful reign, and its effect on history ...
and Lord Dudley, who was raised as Francis Bacon. In this manner Bernard gave the count direct credit, as Bacon, for writing the works of Shakespeare,
Christopher Marlowe Christopher Marlowe ( ; Baptism, baptised 26 February 156430 May 1593), also known as Kit Marlowe, was an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. Marlowe is among the most famous of the English Renaissance theatre, Eli ...
,
Edmund Spenser Edmund Spenser (; – 13 January 1599 Old Style and New Style dates, O.S.) was an English poet best known for ''The Faerie Queene'', an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the House of Tudor, Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is re ...
, and
Miguel de Cervantes Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra ( ; ; 29 September 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616 Old Style and New Style dates, NS) was a Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-eminent novelist ...
. Since Bernard identified Bernard as
Christian Rosenkreuz Christian Rosenkreuz (also spelled Rosenkreutz, Rosencreutz, Christiani Rosencreütz and Christian Rose Cross) is the legendary, possibly allegorical, founder of the Rosicrucian Order (Order of the Rose Cross). He is presented in three manife ...
and claimed that Masonic symbolism appears in Shakespeare's plays, he also effectively asserted that the Count of St. Germain was the founder of both
Rosicrucianism Rosicrucianism () is a spiritual and cultural movement that arose in early modern Europe in the early 17th century after the publication of several texts announcing to the world a new esoteric order. Rosicrucianism is symbolized by the Rose ...
and
Freemasonry Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
. Bernard rejected the idea that Bacon was reincarnated as the count, instead suggesting that Bacon simply feigned his death and developed the Count of St. Germain as a new identity. According to Mark Prophet, Francis Bacon faked his own death on Easter Sunday, 9 April 1626, and even attended his own funeral in disguise. It is believed by the adherents of the Ascended Master Teachings that he then traveled secretly to
Transylvania Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...
(then part of
Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
, now part of
Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
) to the Rakoczy Mansion of the noble family of Hungary. Finally, on 1 May 1684, he is believed to have attained (by his knowledge of
alchemy Alchemy (from the Arabic word , ) is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that was historically practised in China, India, the Muslim world, and Europe. In its Western form, alchemy is first ...
) his physical Ascension (attaining
immortality Immortality is the concept of eternal life. Some species possess "biological immortality" due to an apparent lack of the Hayflick limit. From at least the time of the Ancient Mesopotamian religion, ancient Mesopotamians, there has been a con ...
and eternal youth—the sixth level of Initiation), at which time Francis Bacon adopted the name "Saint Germain".


Skeptical view

The scholar K. Paul Johnson maintains that the "Masters" that
Madame Blavatsky Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (; – 8 May 1891), often known as Madame Blavatsky, was a Russian-born mystic and writer who emigrated to the United States where she co-founded the Theosophical Society in 1875. She gained an international foll ...
wrote about and produced letters from were actually idealizations of people who were her mentors.Johnson, Paul K. Initiates of Theosophical Masters (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1995) Also see the article "Talking to the Dead and Other Amusements" by
Paul Zweig Paul Zweig (July 14, 1935 – August 29, 1984) was an American poet, memoirist, and critic known for his study on Walt Whitman. Biography Zweig was born in Brooklyn on July 14, 1935, and was raised in a middle-class Jewish family in Brighton Bea ...
, ''The New York Times'', 5 October 1980, which maintains that Madame Blavatsky's revelations were fraudulent.


See also

* Occult theories about Francis Bacon * Shakespeare authorship question


Notes


References


Further reading

* * * * * Count de Saint-Germain. ''The Music of the Comte St.Germain.'' Edited by Manley Hall. Los Angeles, California: Philosophical Research Society, 1981. * Count de Saint-Germain. ''The Most Holy Trinosophia.'' Forgotten Books, N.D. Reprint, 2008. * d'Adhemar, Madame Comtesse le. "Souvenirs Sur Marie-Antoinette." Paris: Impremerie de Bourgogne et Martinet, 1836. * * * * Hausset, Madame du. "The Private Memoirs of Louis XV: Taken from the Memoirs of Madame Du Hausset, Lady's Maid to Madame De Pompadour." ed Nichols Harvard University, 1895. * * * * Melton, J. Gordon ''Encyclopedia of American Religions'' 5th Edition New York:1996 Gale Research Chapter 18--"The Ancient Wisdom Family of Religions" Pages 151–158; see chart on page 154 listing ''Masters of the Ancient Wisdom''; Also see Section 18, Pages 717-757 Descriptions of various Ancient Wisdom religious organizations * * {{DEFAULTSORT:St Germain, Count Of 1690s births 1784 deaths 18th-century alchemists 18th-century Hungarian people 18th-century occultists 18th-century philosophers Hungarian philosophers Longevity myths Rákóczi family Unidentified people Year of birth uncertain Ascended Master Teachings Entering heaven alive Folk saints Masters of the Ancient Wisdom Mythological characters Miracle workers