Historically, as much as spiritually in Europe, Rosicrucianism is an important movement. It arose to public prominence in Europe of the sixteenth century. It achieved considerable success in Germany, where the Swiss, Paracelsus, was its most prominent member. It later spread throughout Europe, with Robert Fludd in England being a notable advocate. This connection with the scientific enquirers of the time suffused Rosicrucianism with a hermetic philosophy and practice, which is still followed today.

Apart from pioneers like Paracelsus and Fludd, the movement attracted diverse people, such as Nicholas of Cusa, and leading figures of the Renaissance and post-Renaissance. Its significance in developing humanism in western thought cannot be ignored.

Its influence, like the influence of all great movements, reverberates down the centuries. The composer, Erik Satie, for example, was a member of a French branch of hermetic Rosicrucianism. Under the influence of its doctrines, he wrote Messe des pauvres (Mass of the Poor), in 1895.

The founder of Rosicrucianism was Christian Rosenkreuz, obviously a pseudonym.

The Fama Fraternitatis (Account of the Brotherhood), first published in 1614, recounts how Christian Rosenkreuz obtained his knowledge.

It states he was born in 1378, living for 106 years, which occultists know is not impossible. Rosenkreuz acquired his knowledge on trips to Egypt, Damascus, Damcar in Arabia, and Fès in Morocco, where initiatory centres were all active then, and a few, like those of the Druzes, now. Going to Germany, he taught three people, which later became eight, the eight taking Rozenkreutz's doctrines to different countries.

The symbol of Rosenkreutz's Rosicrucian order of initiates was a rose imposed upon a cross.

Rosenkreutz dressed up his doctrines in theological garb to protect his Rosicrucian initiates from clerical persecution. His doctrines were never published in full. Many works that claim to be his original Rosicrucian doctrines are either obscure or dubious.

However several families in Europe held the original doctrines in ciphered form as well as symbolic appurtenances of Rosicrucianism, including the famous "Rosicrucian jewel". Members of these families have been known to form a new lodge or centre of Rosicrucianism. They are often supported by other initiatory brotherhoods, not necessarily Rosicrucian.

The last great contribution of Rosicrucianism was in the 18th.century, when its doctrines were reinterpreted by Cagliostro for his Egyptian Lodges. Cagliostro was immortalized by Mozart in his opera, The Magic Flute, and rightly. For Cagliostro, with the Count of St.Germain, had made a Herculean effort, if not to prevent, then to curb, the approaching upheaval which was to materialize in the terror of the French Revolution.

Unfortunately Cagliostro went too far in his efforts, being forced to withdraw after involving himself, and implicating his movement, in political matters. Cagliostro found himself in the hands of the Inquisition in Rome. The Inquisition mounted a formidable guard on his cell, but he disappeared from his cell without trace, to the consternation of his guards and the Inquisitors. He was never seen again.

Rosicrucianism lives still, where in America it has taken diverse forms. In Europe it has maintained the hermetic basis given to it by Paracelsus and others.