Chevalier Luigi d'Aquino

2. Luigi Knight of AQUINO

Luigi d'Aquino was born in Naples on June 22, 1739. He was son of the 8th Prince of Caramanico, Duke of Casoli, Grand Chamberlain to the Emperor Charles VI. Of a rebellious character, he lives a libertarian youth, and does not develop his gifts for mathematics and chemistry. He is interested early in Freemasonry, for interest in hermetism. Around 1763, he joined a Lodge affiliated to the "Mother Lodge Scottish Marseille" (documented relations from 1750), also in correspondence with the letter of the Dutch Lodge "the Beloved". His Lodge, with the distinctive title of "La Stella" worked according to "the method [of the Rite] of Clermont", which first introduced the Templar Masonic legend, thus posing as a forerunner of the Strict German Templar Observance of Von Hundt.

Asked to go away to avoid prison, probably following a duel, he entered the Order of Malta on March 30, 1765. At the beginning of 1766, he embarked on a French ship for Malta and met Joseph Balsamo at the stopover of Palermo. They form a close friendship, which will last until the death of Aquino. Housed in the palace of the Grand Master, Pinto de Fonseca, they attend the laboratory of the Order. They return to Naples seven months later, and must flee in April 1767, for Masonic membership and opposing tendencies to the policy of King Bourbon, Ferdinand IV.

Cagliostro flees and Aquino leaves for Rome. The two men will meet there, and Cagliostro married there in 1768 to a governess of the entourage of Luigi, Lorenza Feliciani.

In 1771, Luigi returned to Naples, and in 1777, he accepted a settlement in the lawsuit against his elder brother, for the inheritance of the two family majots, resulting in the obtaining of an annual rent of 6000 ducats. He again frequented the Masonry, the Lodge "Perfetta Unione", a workshop almost free of any external influence, practicing a typical italic ritual, with Egyptian-Templar character, affiliated to the Obedience of Vincenzo di Sangro, son of Raimondo di Sangro, 7th Prince of San Severo. In 1773 and 1774, the two friends alternate stays in Naples and Malta. In 1775, the persecutions resume (Papal "anti-Masonic pragmatics" of September 12, 1775). D'Aquino flees from Naples, Cagliostro and Lorenza take refuge in Marseille, where he is welcomed by the masons who consider him "depository of the secrets of the pyramids" (he will actually receive the Masonic light in April 1776, at London, at the Esperance Lodge). Ancient traditions, Alexandrian and alchemical, were surely transmitted to Cagliostro by the Knight of Malta, dignitary of the "Perfetta Unione" and probably do not come from mythical trips to exotic lands. The mention of the mysterious "Althotas", Greek or Armenian character, fruit of the imagination of Cagliostro, aimed to accredit an initiation to the "oriental mysteries", but in fact, this name is composed of Thot, and the syllables AL and AS, which, read cabalistically give SALA, messenger, so "Envoy of Thot".

In 1776 Luigi fled to Malta under the protection of the Order. In early 1782, he was found in Strasbourg, where he accredited Cagliostro to the notables and Brothers of the "Mother Lodge of Candor". In June 1783, Cagliostro rushed to Naples to see again Luigi d'Aquino, gravely ill, who begged him to come. His master and friend died on September 22, 1783, at the age of 44. From then on, Cagliostro, probably missioned, began his work of apostolate and teaching, becoming the "Great Copht". In 1776, Luigi took refuge in Malta, under the protection of the Order. In early 1782, he was found in Strasbourg, where he accredited Cagliostro to the notables and Brothers of the "Mother Lodge of Candor". In June 1783, Cagliostro rushed to Naples to see again Luigi d'Aquino, gravely ill, who begged him to come. His master and friend died on September 22, 1783, at the age of 44. From then on, Cagliostro, probably missioned, undertakes his work of apostolate and teaching, becoming the "Grand Cophte".