The Illuminated were a cult of scholars from the Syrian city of Damascus led by Jubair al Hakim that sought to destroy all literature in the city, as they saw books as the source of all evil. The movement, which ruled Damascus in 1191 during the Third Crusade, gained support through repression and through the often-repeated fact that the Christians launched the Crusades after inspiration by the Bible, a book.
History[]
The Illuminated were founded in the late 12th century in Syria, with scholar Jubair al Hakim of the city of Damascus' Middle District becoming its leader. The Illuminated sought to destroy all literature (books and scrolls) in the city in order to stop the people from obeying their "true calling" and to root out the "source of all evil". Based at the Madrassa al-Kallasah, the Illuminated burnt books and scrolls. In 1191, Jubair became the new leader of Damascus after the death of the merchant king Abu'l Nuqoud at the hands of the Hashshashin, and ordered imams and public speakers to demand that the people turn in their literature to him. The people of Damascus lived in oppression until the Hashshashin assassinated Jubair after he left the madrassa with other scholars, about to collect the city's books, and The Illuminated were overthrown.