The Grand Grimoire

The Grand Grimoire is a historical text shrouded in mystery with varying claims about both it's origins and authorship. Some claim this book to be written based on the writings of the biblical King Solomon, and to have been found in his tomb, while others have speculated it was written by Pope Honorius III. What we know for sure is that after this book was published in France, it spread to colonies the country held at the time. It also gained the attention of particular figures involved in the occult, such as numerous members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn; a British group in which Aleister Crowley, famously dubbed 'the wickedest man in the world', was a member. The Grand Grimoire is thought to be a source of great power, and it details information on the Hierarchy of Hell along with the demons involved. It also discusses how to summon these demons and how to cast varying spells.

History

Grimoire is a French word which has been derived from 'grammaires', meaning 'grammers'. This term originally referred to any book which was written in Latin, but over time became associated with textbooks used in the occult. It's been said that the entire tradition of western demonology rests on a handful of grimoires. As it's said that the Grand Grimoire, or possibly a copy of it, is currently located in the Vatican Secet Archives, and out of public accessibility; any images in this article which show a book may not be of the real text. They may be of a different book entirely, but they give an impression of what the real Grand Grimoire likely looks like. Other images included will show the covers of varying copies and translations to have emerged over the years.

The Grand Grimoire is known mainly from copies dating to the 1700s, but it's thought to date back to the early 1500s with people often claiming it to have been written during this time. This book is an anonymous French text of black magic, meaning that no one knows for sure who wrote it or how it came to be. It's been said that different editions date the book to 1521, 1522, and even 1421. However, it has been said by some sources that it was probably written during the early 1800s; a contradictory, and seemingly incorrect, detail which really emphasises how little people know about the book's origins. Scholars generally agree that the current form of the text likely emerged during the 18th century, also known as the 1700s, and Owen Davies has suggested that 1702 is when the first edition of the Grand Grimoire may have been created. Owen has also said a Bibliothèque bleue version may have been published during 1750.

The Grand Grimoire has also been referred to as the 'Gospel of Satan' and 'Le Dragon Rouge', translating to mean 'The Red Dragon'. Haiti in particular refers to the text as 'Le Veritable Dragon Rouge'. There is a legend saying that it was written by an apocryphal figure called Honorius of Thebes, and that he was possessed by Satan while writing it. The existence of Honorius of Thebes has not been concretely proven or disproven, but there is speculation that he may have been Pope Honorius III. Other people say Honorius of Thebes is also the author of the Sworn Book of Honorius, a text which the Grand Grimoire seems to take lots from. It is also said that some of the information found in the Grand Grimoire can be found in the Grimoire of Pope Honorius III; further establishing a connection between the Grand Grimoire, Pope Honurius III, and Honorius of Thebes.

There is more contradiction around the Grand Grimoire's origins. It has been said that the original text was discovered within the Tomb of Solomon, located in Jerusalem, during 1750. Apparently this book was found to be inscribed with the date of 1522, but some people believe that it could have been created as early as the 1200s. There is no proof of it dating back to the 1200s, but again it shows how great the mythology around this book and it's origins are. This book, which apparently many sources claim was found in the Tomb of Solomon during the year of 1750, is said to have been written in either Biblical Hebrew or Aramaic. The connection with the Biblical King Solomon and ancient language it's rumoured to have originally been written in are suspected to have enhanced the book's reputation as being a powerful book of magic. It is also said that lots of information in the Grand Grimoire derives from the Key of Solomon and the Lesser Key of Solomon; two grimoires written by King Solomon himself.

The introductory chapter of the Grand Grimoire is authored by someone called Antonio Venitiana del Rabina, and this individual supposedly gathered this information from the original writings of King Solomon. It has also been said that Antonio edited the Grand Grimoire from a copy transcribed from the genuine writings of King Solomon; implying that they had far more involvement than simply adding an introductory chapter. This also implies that the Grand Grimoire was technically written by King Solomon himself if the information featured was copied and transcribed from the King's writings, and some people do say the Grand Grimoire was written by King Solomon.

As for why the book is so well known today, during the 1700s there was a 'cheap grimoire boom' in France. This meant that a version of the Grand Grimoire was produced, and then it was published during the 1800s and has since been translated. The authorship of the Grand Grimoire is dubious, and so it is difficult to determine which version of the book is the original. Éliphas Lévi, a French occultist from the 1800s, believed the contemporary version of 'Le Dragon Rouge' to be counterfeit of the true, older, Grand Grimoire. This suggests that the Red Dragon book is possibly just an edited, and perhaps incomplete, version of the Grand Grimoire. Lévi is also said to have identified the Grand Grimoire as one of the leading magical texts. This book is said to be one of the most potent occult books in existence and that it possesses immense powers.

The contents of grimoires normally provide instructions for casting spells, for creating magical amulets and talismans, and details on rituals which can be performed to summon supernatural beings such as angels and demons. The Grand Grimoir is no different, and does contain instructions on how to summon and control demons; two of which are Lucifer and Lucifuge Rofocale. The Grand Grimoire describes the leading demons of hell and gives them all titles which are modelled on an earthly hierarchy. In the book, Lucifer is identified as the 'emperor' of Hell and is represented with a jester's hat as the 'Prince of fools'. He is also pictured in the book, in a seperate image, as the more conventional demon with horns, wings, and pitchfork.

The other demons are also associated with figures of fun, along with insects, animals, and motifs taken from Greco-Roman Pagan art; including the head of a satyr, used to depict Astaroth, and a sphinx, used to depict Lucifuge. Aside from Éliphas Lévi, other occultists such as Aleister Crowley and Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers have also claimed the Grand Grimoire to be the most dangerous grimoire of the Solomonic tradition. Stories tell of magicians being driven to madness, or worse, through consequences of dealing with the forces they've summoned. Apparently a terrible price is demanded by these dark entities, and this kind of word has made the Grand Grimoire a popular subject in occult fiction and horror. It is said that there are profound ethical implications of summoning demonic entities, and that engaging in these practices can have severe consequences for yourself and the world around you. The list of demons and their ranks are as follows:

1. Lucifer = Emperor

2. Beelzebub = Prince

3. Astaroth = Grand Duke

4. Lucifuge Rofocale = Prime Minister

5. Satanachia = Great General

6. Agaliarept = Commandent

7. Fleurety = Lieutenant General

8. Sargatanas = Brigadier-Major

9. Nebiros = Field Marshal

It's important to mention that translations do differ regarding the roles for both Satanachia and Nebiros. The French role for Satanachia is 'Commandent en Chef', meaning commander in chief. In Tarl Warwick's translation, it reads as 'Great General'. Regarding Nebiros, both Marshal and Inspecter General have also been used as roles. In Tarl Warwick's translation, the term 'Camp Marshal' is used. The 'demons' are also referred to by the more generic term of 'spirits' in Tarl Warwick's translation. An interesting detail about the 'Hierarchy of Hell' is that these demons are similarly prioritised in the 'Grimorium Verum'. It is also important to say that 'Lucifuge Rofocale' has been referred to as only 'Lucifuge' in some sources. This could be due to how similar the names 'Lucifer' and 'Lucifuge' are, however they are both completely different entities.

The Grand Grimoire consists of four parts. The original manuscript is said to contain magical spells along with a detailed account of how newly-elected popes are slowly corrupted and then won over by the power of Satan. As mentioned earlier, it also contains instructions which will supposedly allow a person to summon Lucifer or Lucifuge Rofocale. Even though the book is in four parts, it is firstly divided into two books. The first contains instructions for summoning a demon along with how to construct tools which can force the demon to do what you want. One of these tools, described as a required instrument, is a blasting rod which would be used to smite Lucifer into submission once evoked. After his submission is achieved, then a deal can be made.

The second book is further divided into two parts called the 'Sanctum Regnum' and 'Secrets, de L' Art Magique du Grand Grimoire', translating to 'Secrets, of the Magic Art of the Grand Grimoire'. The Sanctum Regnum has also been referred to as 'Genuine Sanctum Regnum' or 'The True Method of Making Pacts'. The Sanctum Regnum contains instructions for making a pact with a demon, and it has been said that it allows you to command the spirit with the tools constructed through the instructions of book one, but at greater risk. Some sources slightly dispute this by saying The Sanctum Regnum allows you to bypass the need for the complex tools in book one, and so you perform the rituals at a significantly increased risk. Secrets contains simpler spells and rituals which you can do after performing the summoning ritual detailed in book one.

These simpler spells allow for things such as winning the lottery, talking to spirits, being loved by a girl, making yourself invisible, plus more. With these spells, the Grand Grimoire is often portrayed as a book of immense power which is capable of granting unimaginable wealth, influence, or immortality. The book recommends that the magician have a bloodstone in their pocket while conducting these rituals. For one ritual, possibly the initial summoning ritual, a person needs a stone called Ematille and two blessed candles. These are used to form a 'Triangle of Pacts' so that the magician may be protected from the summoned spirits. As for the fourth part of the Grand Grimoire, it's been said some editions have a short text between the Sanctum Regnum and Secrets. This short text is called 'Le Secret Magique, où le Grand Art de Pouvoir Parler aux Morts', translated to mean 'The Magic Secret, or the Grand Art of being able to Speak with the Dead'. This text, as implied in it's name, deals with necromancy. A summary of the Grand Grimoire's segments are as follows:

Book One

. How to summon a demon and make tools

Book Two

Part One = The Sanctum Regnum

. Details how to make a pact with the summoned demon

Part 1/2 = Le Secret Magique, où le Grand Art de Pouvoir Parler aux Morts = The Magic Secret, or the Grand Art of being able to Speak with the Dead

. Deals with necromancy

Part Two = Secrets, de L' Art Magique du Grand Grimoire = Secrets, of the Magic Art of the Grand Grimoire

. Simpler spells and rituals for after summoning a demon

The Grand Grimoire was translated into English by Arthur Edward Waite. Waited was born during 1857, died during 1942, and was a British occultist who was also one of the designers of the Rider-Waite Tarot pack. He was also a leading member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The translation by Waite omits a significant part of the original text, and it's been suggested that this was done in an attempt to render the translation as useless, if not destructive, to the practitioner. The majority of the English translation was done by Waite, and it is called the 'Book of Black Magic and Pacts'. This book was published in London during 1898. On the Grand Grimoire, Waite has said the following:

"One of the most atrocious of its class; it has a process in Necromancy which is possible, say some occult writers - in the geniality of a lucid interval - only to a dangerous maniac or an irroclaimable criminal. It must be admitted that the Rite is highly unreasonable, but in dealing with such literature it seems unsafe to advance the objection, for it applies much too widely"

After the Grand Grimoire was initially copied in France, the published version spread to colonies which France had during the time. Due to this, the Grand Grimoire is still widely used in Caribbean countries which were once part of the French empire. As mentioned earlier, Haiti is one place in particular where the book is still used under the name of 'Le Veritable Dragon Rouge'. It is to be remembered though that there is a scarcity of reliable information, and this has fueled both intrigue and speculation. The rituals described in the book are complex and potentially hazardous; plus they have no guarantee of success, even for an experienced practitioner. It's a book used for ceremonial magic, and it's said that it's impervious to fire. However, many experts believe that the book is simply a dangerous hoax designed to deceive and manipulate the unwary.

My Thoughts

The Grand Grimoire is a book I've been vaguely aware of for a while, and since I've had this awareness it is something I've wanted to look more into. Having now done this research, I'm surprised at how lacking the Grand Grimoire is in discussed information. I was quite surprised to find that it has a strong connection, in more recent times, to the Hermetic Order of The Golden Dawn; but I'm further bewildered how there isn't a stronger mythology to this book. I expected details would be uncertain, but the lack of certainty really makes it seem like this book popped up out of nowhere to make some money during the cheap grimoire boom. It's discussed that this book seems to borrow from a number of different texts, the Key of Solomon and Lesser Key of Solomon being the most well known, and this leads to the question of if the author of this book was the equivalent of a kid who forgot to do their homework and so had to copy another kid to get it done on time. The time here being the cheap grimoire boom, and the other kid possibly being either King Solomon or Pope Honorius III.

The time around when the Grand Grimoire was published, and the fact no one can see the original, does make me wonder if there is an 'original' or if it all is just a 'get rich quick' scam. The talk about the Vatican Secret Archives housing the original could have just been a convenient answer to someone who wanted to see the original text, after all it isn't too great a leap to recognise that if such a dangerous book did exist then it would be held out of the public's reach in the Vatican. Now, do I think that demons exist and the spells in this book are legitimate? Yes and no. I can't give a definitive answer on these topics until I've looked into the Key of Solomon, the Lesser Key of Solomon, and other significant grimoires. I do believe everything happens for a reason, and I do believe that something you may refer to as magic could exist, but I don't know if it's exactly as people have written it.

As for the existence of demons and other entities, I currently believe they're human spirits which have been misinterpreted and mislabelled based on the type of energy they use. If they thrive on the positive, then they are labelled as angels. If they thrive on the negative, then they are labelled as demons. The same happens in metaphor to the living. Someone who is charitable can be referred to as an angel, and those who commit horrible crimes such as murder can be referred to as 'evil' or 'demonic' in nature. I'll need to look more into the roots of our present beliefs, as with this book, to really solidify my views. However, having looked into the Grand Grimoire, I can see why experts have considered the book to be a hoax and I am inclined to agree with them.

Thank You!

Thank you for reading this article! I know this one is significantly later than intended, but half term has had me exhausted with work. Due to how late this article has been published, the next article will be published a day later on Tuesday the 25th of February. This article will document a haunted location in Wiltshire. The following article should hopefully be published on Friday the 28th of February, and it will document a type of spirit. I will post an update on Friday's article within the comment's section of Wednesday's article snippet on Facebook to let you all know if I think it will be published on Friday or later. Hopefully it won't be delayed, but it has the potential to be a good length of article ontop of an already behind schedule.

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Sources I Have Used

1. Ancient Origins

2. The Occult Encyclopedia

3. Medium

4. Encyclopedia.com

5. Dennis Cooper Blog

6. Historic Mysteries

7. The Guardian

8. Listverse

9. Library Thing

10. OUPblog

11. Books of Magick