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Demons were considered to be angels who had been cast out of heaven for defying God. Each demon was associated with specific acts and sins and each was connected to a saint in heaven whose actions could override that of the demon. During the 16th and 17th centuries, demonologists developed a complex hierarchy of demons in order to enable exorcists to identify demons and call upon the correct saint to drive the demons out of the possessed. As demons were thought to be fallen angels, their system of hierarchy mimicked that used to categorize angels. |
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Lucifer - "whose rebellion against God caused him and his followers to be cast from heaven (Guiley)." |
emperor of hell ranked above Satan often appeared in the form of a beautiful child corresponding saint - John the Baptist |
Beelzebub - "prince of the Seraphim and next to Lucifer (Michaelis)" reigned over the witches' sabbat |
appeared in the form of a giant fly corresponding saint - St. Francis |
Asmodeus - "he burns with the desire to tempt men with his swine of luxuriousness, and is the prince of wantons (Michaelis)." |
prevented married couples from having intercourse destroyed new marriages forced husbands to commit adultery corresponding saint - John the Baptist |
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