tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post1497503014454098085..comments2024-03-18T20:22:06.331-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Medieval Secret SocietiesJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-35235946453094728712012-02-19T00:57:20.836-05:002012-02-19T00:57:20.836-05:00Hello! Is this a fictional group or a real/mythic...Hello! Is this a fictional group or a real/mythical one ? I have found references on the web to Cour des miracles, but nothing else.Cheerskymmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04756648496423174346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-55213418596268360222011-05-31T03:52:26.401-04:002011-05-31T03:52:26.401-04:00I've blogged about the leper Crusaders of the ...I've blogged about the leper Crusaders of the Order of St. lazarus here:<br />http://blog.double-dragon-ebooks.com/?p=237A.J. Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883460118925866873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-79678360656543050122011-05-30T21:53:47.180-04:002011-05-30T21:53:47.180-04:00The Celtic Church, with it's focus on monastic...The Celtic Church, with it's focus on monastic rather than diocesan structure (and at polite "odds" with the Church in Rome); especially with it's network(s) of scholars and daughter houses throughout Europe.<br /><br />It's been mentioned before, but the foundation of the Knights of the Garter (c. 1340s) kicks off the proliferation of secular knightly orders throughout Europe. There's also the suggestion that in founding the order, Edward III was trying to recreate the Knights of the Round Table (including a round hall and table purpose-built for one of the earliest gatherings). So ... perhaps the Knights of the Round Table existed in secret through the long centuries until Edward III decided it was time to bring them into the open again (albeit in disguise).JBMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13915780514486101083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-61414537601137177732011-05-28T17:26:20.870-04:002011-05-28T17:26:20.870-04:00The last book I read on the subject also involved ...The last book I read on the subject also involved gender studies: Gender & Fraternal Orders in Europe, 1300-2000, edited by Máire Fedelma Cross.<br /><br />http://mordicai.livejournal.com/1865644.html<br /><br />It has a few good places to start with-- a group of women, oppressed by cultural discrimination, who turn to a secret society & perhaps the occult?mordicaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05713766652793265867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-45844675952316194882011-05-28T13:06:12.554-04:002011-05-28T13:06:12.554-04:00What about Hermeticism? http://en.wikipedia.org/wi...What about Hermeticism? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HermeticismAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-67671512207502859512011-05-28T08:07:34.861-04:002011-05-28T08:07:34.861-04:00Horse whisperers!
(The old meaning, with certain...Horse whisperers! <br /><br />(The old meaning, with certain people allegedly knowing the Horseman's Word and thus able to control horses.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-32884857484154727422011-05-27T05:30:06.012-04:002011-05-27T05:30:06.012-04:00I once came up with the idea that there was a Eura...I once came up with the idea that there was a Eurasian Crime Syndicate known as 'Black Dog'.<br /><br />I based it in the existance of a Bandit King in China known as Black Dog, along with assorted Seedy little taverns known as the Black Dog where criminals hang out.<br /><br />Also I include Legends and Tales like The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Brotherhood of the Wolves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-17193478842805213012011-05-27T01:45:01.375-04:002011-05-27T01:45:01.375-04:00The mystery cults of Greco-Roman antiquity could w...The mystery cults of Greco-Roman antiquity could work as hold overs of ancient religions. They would include the Eleusinian Mysteries, the Dionysian Mysteries, and the Orphic Mysteries. <br /><br />Some of the many divinities that the Romans nominally adopted from other cultures also came to be worshipped in Mysteries, so for instance Egyptian Isis, Persian Mithraic Mysteries, Thracian/Phrygian Sabazius, and Phrygian Cybele.thorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09460645917003693992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-26791660713149319882011-05-27T00:51:41.252-04:002011-05-27T00:51:41.252-04:00Cartographers. OK, I'll stop.Cartographers. OK, I'll stop.Todd A. Gibsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16177477114706281373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-83169015380452485232011-05-27T00:49:41.891-04:002011-05-27T00:49:41.891-04:00Naval navigatorsNaval navigatorsTodd A. Gibsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16177477114706281373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-20843435565016766152011-05-27T00:49:00.331-04:002011-05-27T00:49:00.331-04:00How about a society of builders responsible for bu...How about a society of builders responsible for building, and keeping the secrets of, hidden rooms and passages in castles.Todd A. Gibsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16177477114706281373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-77471455021588350722011-05-27T00:47:19.099-04:002011-05-27T00:47:19.099-04:00Bleeders, LeechersBleeders, LeechersTodd A. Gibsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16177477114706281373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-48916342832801089162011-05-26T23:50:19.773-04:002011-05-26T23:50:19.773-04:00While the previous e-book refers to at least three...While the previous e-book refers to at least three secret societies: The Assassins, The Knights Templar and the Westphalian Trials (there is a mention in the introduction of Pythagoreanism). This book at least outlines some additional secret societies and "ancient mysteries" - I love the "adverts" for other books in the end pages.<br /><br />http://ia600300.us.archive.org/28/items/mysteriahistoryo00hennuoft/mysteriahistoryo00hennuoft.pdf<br /><br />The website for these free e-books is:<br /><br />http://www.digitalbookindex.com/_search/search010areamedievalsecretsocietiesa.aspAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-71605827312692925012011-05-26T23:37:00.146-04:002011-05-26T23:37:00.146-04:00What about looking at:
http://www.archive.org/det...What about looking at:<br /><br />http://www.archive.org/details/secretsocieties01keiggoogAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-80954528783965633832011-05-26T22:34:39.910-04:002011-05-26T22:34:39.910-04:00i can't think of things that haven't alrea...i can't think of things that haven't already been listed, but it made me think of guild leaders, sort of a cabal, and the same with the scientific community of Europe. Literary societies (late period, evolve toward salon culture), associations that formed from freemen that frequented the same tavern, etc.Ragnorakkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03812860633134547618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-42020747182117938062011-05-26T22:04:38.105-04:002011-05-26T22:04:38.105-04:00Whilst not a secret society proper. I have always ...Whilst not a secret society proper. I have always like incorporating the Black Friars or Dominicans, a sort of witch hunting, demon exorcising, atheist hating order, into many of my campaigns. Though I'm sure the truth differs significantly form the legend with these fellows.<br /><br />Basically a whole bunch of Arneson inspired Clerics!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-67572410403646290042011-05-26T21:44:28.833-04:002011-05-26T21:44:28.833-04:00And their own school system and bizarre legal righ...And their own school system and bizarre legal rights and duties, of course. Plus tons of relatives and friends and acquaintances in influential positions, and the power to get invited in to dinner just about anywhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-23699374831177538892011-05-26T21:42:14.536-04:002011-05-26T21:42:14.536-04:00The filidh of Ireland, with their secret language,...The filidh of Ireland, with their secret language, secret writing and gesture spelling systems, border-crossing intermarried clans, frequent long-distance travels, and amazing Church-approved powers of prophecy. And a poetic license for wordplay and subtle references, that they weren't afraid to use.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-25724047933805921982011-05-26T18:41:34.664-04:002011-05-26T18:41:34.664-04:00I'd recommend the Brethren of the Sword, the o...I'd recommend the Brethren of the Sword, the only Holy Order of the crusades that operated in what we know call the Baltic States (primarily Latvia). They were short lived, but were organized in a similar fashion to the Templars. I think there's accounts of them fighting werewolves in Montague Summer's book on the subject. Bullshit, of course, but intriguing grist for the mill! Check out THE NORTHERN CRUSADE or the section on them in Desmond Seward's THE HOLY ORDERS for more specs. Operated at the start of the 13th C. <br /><br />Good luck with the project and thanks for this site. Tons of great stuff and loved your analysis of Powers and Perils, one of the most memorable and rotten RPGs I ever played!<br /><br />Jay RidlerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-461148663698244632011-05-26T17:05:03.471-04:002011-05-26T17:05:03.471-04:00This is a good project. Thumbs-up.This is a good project. Thumbs-up.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-74191159150494439732011-05-26T15:58:36.037-04:002011-05-26T15:58:36.037-04:00The Thieves' Guild of Paris.
They trained the...The Thieves' Guild of Paris.<br /><br />They trained their members in oratory, so if they were caught, they could speechify before being hanged and give their fellows more time to pick pockets in the crowd. What else could such devious minds be plotting?Johnstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10416183152348428399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-68555164123890722472011-05-26T14:56:06.645-04:002011-05-26T14:56:06.645-04:00You could always include the other Military Orders...You could always include the other Military Orders (the Teutonic Knights, the Hospitallers, etc.). I'd also like to second -- or third or whatever -- the Cathar and Bogomil suggestions. <br /><br />Due to your cut off date the Mendicant orders are just starting, so you could portray them as sort of weird and sinister, but I'd hesitate to do that for obvious reasons.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10745062840676790649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-68501768514696262002011-05-26T14:53:41.444-04:002011-05-26T14:53:41.444-04:00There's the Luciferarians http://en.wikipedia....There's the Luciferarians http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luciferians<br /><br />There are the Druze<br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druze<br /><br />The Order of the Garter is probably too late for you. <br /><br />There's another monastic knightly group called the Order of Christ which sprang up in Portugal after the Templars were disbanded.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Christ_%28Portugal%29John Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15768771014487413321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-47048665129652898132011-05-26T14:26:57.978-04:002011-05-26T14:26:57.978-04:00Some historical organisations that could possible ...Some historical organisations that could possible fit:<br /><br />The Freemasons (although it's difficult to say how far back they go, they are the best known real secret society)<br /><br />and similarly the Rosicrucians.<br /><br />Also, The Invisible College. Not that secret, but some of their work would have been frowned upon by the church and public so was kept between themselves. I find the idea pretty exciting even before you add conspiracy theories.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06011974487836242987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-65255690761661590152011-05-26T14:23:52.918-04:002011-05-26T14:23:52.918-04:00It's too bad your cutoff date excludes the Acc...It's too bad your cutoff date excludes the Accademia dei Lincei (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accademia_dei_Lincei) -- how many secret societies can legitimately claim Galileo as a member?<br /><br />Someone above mentions Mithraic cults -- John M. Ford does some neat stuff with this in his alternate history _The Dragon Waiting_.Matthew Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04905727799828366356noreply@blogger.com