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Classification of demons
The Temptation of St. Anthony
 by Martin Schöngauer .
There have been various demonologies (classifications ofdemons) in Christian demonology and classical occultism and Renaissance magic. Classification systems are basedonthenatureofthedemon, thesinwithwhichtheytemptpeople, the month in which their power is believed to bethe strongest, the saints that were their adversaries, orother characteristics.
1 Classification by domain
Itcanbenotedthataccordingtoeachauthorlistedbelow,the domain of each demon is very different (with the ex-ception of Francesco Maria Guazzo, who seem to havecopied Michael Psellus with little difference). It can alsobe seen that each author chooses and classifies demonsdifferently.
1.1 The Testament of Solomon
Main article: Testament of SolomonThe
 Testament of Solomon
 is an Old Testamentpseudepigraphical work, purportedly written by KingSolomon, in which Solomon mostly describes particu-lar demons whom he enslaved to help build the temple, the questions he put to them about their deeds and howthey could be thwarted, and their answers, which pro-vide a kind of self-help manual against demonic activity.The date is very dubious, though is considered the old-est work surviving particularly concerned with individualdemons.
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1.2 Psellus’ classification of demons
Michael Psellus prepared a classification of demonsin the 11th century, which was an inspiration for theclassification Francesco Maria Guazzo prepared later.Psellus divided demons into Empyreal (Fiery), Aerial,Subterranean, Lucifugi (Bound), Aqueous, and Terrene(Terrestrial).
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1.3 The Lanterne of Light’s classificationof demons
In 1409-1410
 The Lanterne of Ligh
 (an anonymousEnglish Lollard tract often erroneously attributed toWycliffe)
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provided a classification system based on theSevenDeadlySins, establishingthateachoneofthemen-tioned demons tempted people by means of one of thosesins.
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ThislistwaslaterusedintheworksofJohnTay-lor, the Water Poet.<ref name="John Taylor, Works ofJohn Taylor, the Water Poet, Volume 2”, Spenser Soci-ety, 1873, p33">John Taylor,
 Works of John Taylor, theWater Poet, Volume 2
, Spenser Society, 1873, p33</ref>
 Lucifer: pride
 Beelzebub: envy (envious)
 Sathanus: wrath (wraþþe)
 Abaddon: sloth (slowȝ)
 Mammon: greed - avarice (avarouse) & covetous-ness (covetise)
 Belphegor: gluttony (glotouns)
 Asmodeus: lust (leccherouse) - later reported as us-ing the name Asmodeum1
 
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 1 CLASSIFICATION BY DOMAI
1.4 Spina’s classification of demons
Alphonso de Spina, in 1467, prepared a classification ofdemons based on several criteria:
 Demons of fate
 Goblins
 Incubi and succubi
 Wandering groups or armies of demons
 Familiars
 Drudes
 Cambions and other demons that are born from theunion of a demon with a human being.
 Liar and mischievous demons
 Demons that attack the saints
 Demons that try to induce old women to attendWitches’ SabbathsThis classification is somewhat capricious and it is dif-ficult to find a criterion for it. It seems that Spina wasinspired by several legends and stories. The drudes be-long to German folklore. Familiars, goblins, and othermischievous demons belong to the folklore of most Eu-ropean countries.Thebeliefinincubiandsuccubae(andtheirabilitytopro-create) seem to have inspired the seventh category, butit could also have been inspired in the Talmudic legendof demons having sexual intercourse with mortal women(see also Mastema).The visions of tempting demons that some early (and notso early) saints had, perhaps inspired the ninth category(e.g. the visions of Anthony the Great).The idea of old women attending Sabbaths was commonduring the European Middle Age and Renaissance, and Spina mentioned it before the
 Malleus Maleficarum.
1.5 Agrippa’s classification of demons
In
 De occulta philosophia
 (1509-1510), CorneliusAgrippaproposedseveralclassificationsfordemons. Oneis based in the number four and the cardinal points,with the ruling demons being Oriens (East), Paymon(west), Egyn (North) and Amaymon (South). The same four demons appear in the
 Semiphoras and Schemham- foras 
.
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Another classification, based in the numbernine, has the following orders of demons: False spir-its, Spirits of lying, Vessels of iniquity, Avengers ofwickedness, Jugglers, Airy powers, Furies sowing mis-chief, Sifters or triers, Tempters or ensnarers (See Bar-rett’s classification below).
1.6 Binsfeld’s classification of demons
Peter Binsfeld prepared a classification of demons in1589. His demon classification was, like the earlier En-glish
 Lanterne of Light 
, based on the seven deadly sins,though it differed slightly from the English text.
 Lucifer: pride
 Mammon: greed
 Asmodeus: lust
 Leviathan: envy
 Beelzebub: gluttony
 Satan: wrath
 Belphegor: sloth
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1.7 Michaelis’ classification of demons
In 1613 Sebastien Michaelis wrote a book,
 Marvelous History
, which included a classification of demons as itwas told to him by the demon Berith when he was exor-cisinganun,accordingtotheauthor. Thisclassificationisbased on the Pseudo-Dionysian hierarchies, according tothe sins the devil tempts one to commit, and includes thedemons’ adversaries (who suffered that temptation with-out falling).Note that many demons’ names are exclusively Frenchor unknown in other catalogs. St. John the Baptist andSt. John the Evangelist are the two St. Johns to whomMichaelis refers. The other saints are cited only by theirname without making clear, i.e., which Francis is (of As-sisi?).
1.7.1 First hierarchy
The first hierarchy includes angels that were Seraphim,Cherubim and Thrones.
 Beelzebub was a prince of the Seraphim, just be-low Lucifer. Beelzebub, along with Lucifer andLeviathan, were the first three angels to fall. HetemptsmenwithprideandisopposedbySt. Francisof Assisi.
 Leviathan was also a prince of the Seraphim whotempts people to give into heresy, and is opposed bySt. Peter.
 Asmodeus was also a prince of the Seraphim, burn-ing with desire to tempt men into wantonness. He isopposed by St. John the Baptist.
 Berith was a prince of the Cherubim. He temptsmen to commit homicide, and to be quarrelsome,contentious, and blasphemous. He is opposed by St.Barnabas.
 
1.8 Barrett’s classification of demons 
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 Astaroth was a prince of Thrones, who tempts mento be lazy and is opposed by St. Bartholomew.
 Verrine was also prince of Thrones, just below As-taroth. He tempts men with impatience and is op-posed by St. Dominic.
 Gressil was the third prince of Thrones, who temptsmen with impurity and is opposed by St. Bernard.
 Sonneillon was the fourth prince of Thrones,who tempts men to hate and is opposed by St.Stephen.
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1.7.2 Second hierarchy
The second hierarchy includes Powers, Dominions, andVirtues.
 Carreau was a prince of Powers. He tempts menwithhardnessofheartandisopposedbySt. Vincentand Vincent Ferrer
 Carnivale was also a prince of Powers. He temptsmen to obscenity and shamelessness, and is opposedby John the Evangelist.
 Oeillet was a prince of Dominions. He tempts mento break the vow of poverty and is opposed by St.Martin.
 Rosier was the second in the order of Dominions.He tempts men against sexual purity and is opposedby St. Basil.
 Belias was the prince of Virtues. He tempts menwith arrogance and women to be vain, raise theirchildren as wantons, and gossip during mass. Heis opposed by St. Francis de Paul.
1.7.3 Third hierarchy
The third hierarchy includes Principalities, Archangels,and Angels.
 Olivier was the prince of the Archangels. He temptsmen with cruelty and mercilessness toward the poorand is opposed by St. Lawrence.
 Luvart was prince of Angels. At the time ofMichaelis’s writing, Luvart was believed to be in thebody of a Sister Madeleine.
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 Verrier was the prince of Principalities. He temptsmen against the vow of obedience and is opposed bySt. Bernard.Many of the names and ranks of these demons appearin the Sabbath litanies of witches, according with JulesGarinet’s
 Histoire de la magie en France
, and Collin DePlancy’s
 Dictionnaire Infernal 
.
1.8 Barrett’s classification of demons
Francis Barrett, in his book
 The magus 
 (1801), offeredthis classification of demons, making them princes ofsome evil attitude, person or thing:
 Beelzebub: False Gods - idolaters
 Pythius: Spirits of Lying - liars
 Belial: Vessels of Iniquity - inventors of evil things
 Asmodeus: Revengers of Wickedness
 Satan: Imitators of Miracles - evil witches and war-locks
 Merihem: Aerial Powers - purveyors of pestilence
 Abaddon: Furies - sowers of discord
 Astaroth: Calumniators - inquisitors and fraudulentaccusers
 Mammon: Maligenii-temptersandensnarers
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2 Classification by office
Therewerealsoclassificationsbyoffice,likethosewrittenin several grimoires.
2.1
 The Book of Abramelin
The Book of Abramelin
, possibly written in the 14th or15th century, lists four princes of the demons: Lucifer,Leviathan, Satan and Belial. There are also eight sub- princes: Astaroth,Maggot,Asmodee,Beelzebub,Oriens, Paimon, Ariton (Egin) and Amaymon. Under the rule of these there are many lesser demons.
2.2 Le Livre des esperitz
Main article: Livre des EsperitzWritten in the 15th or 16th century, this grimoire was alikely source for Wierus hierarchy of demons, but whileWierus mentions 69 demons, Le Livre des esperitz hasonly 46. Wierus omitted, however, the four demons ofthe cardinal points: Orient, Poymon, Aymoymon and Equi (see Agrippa’s classification) and the three greatgovernors of all the other demons: Lucifer, Bezlebut andSatan.
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