Later Illuminati theorists reframed Weishaupt as a figurehead run by Jewish bankers

Evidence

A more openly anti-Semitic version of Illuminati theory came in 1984 from the pen of Eustace Mullins, a protégé of Ezra Pound. Like his mentor, Mullins sees the world’s evil as a product of fi nancial manipulation, in which Jews play a central role. But as an explanation of world, as opposed to modern, history, his conspiracist vision makes the Illuminati merely a link in a much longer chain that extends back to the ancient Near East and forward to the nascent communist movement of the early Marx. Weishaupt himself is portrayed as a mere fi gurehead. As Queenborough and Winrod had claimed half a century earlier, Mullins sees the Illuminati as really run by Jews, in this case a Jewish banker who worked for the Illuminati’s “corresponding branch in Italy.” — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 289

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the broader pattern across this book of how Illuminati mythology accretes layers — earlier chapters’ material on Weishaupt is being retroactively decentered here. — connects to: Enemies of the French Revolution kept the dissolved Illuminati alive to explain upheaval — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 272; Anti-Semitic theorists subordinated the Illuminati to an overarching Jewish plot led by money. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 279; The Illuminati label evolved into an umbrella term emptied of historical content — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 293 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Todd’s conspiracy list mixed mutually hostile groups into one grand Illuminati cabal #expands (0.82) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 308
• The supposed Illuminati conspiracy later relocated to groups like the Council on Foreign Relations #expands (0.78) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 290