Albert Pike and His Prediction of 3 World Wars

Who Was Albert Pike?

Albert Pike (1809‑1891) was an American figure with many facets: lawyer, soldier, writer, and prominent Freemason. He served as a Confederate general during the U.S. Civil War, later spending much of his life within Freemasonry, particularly in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. He wrote Morals and Dogma, among other works. Ancient Pages+1

Pike is a real historical person, respected in his circles for his scholarly work in law and Masonic ritual. However, many of the more sensational claims about him are either exaggerated, misattributed, or outright fabrications. Antidisinfo+1

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The Claim: Pike’s Prediction of Three World Wars

The core claim is this:

• Pike supposedly wrote a letter to Giuseppe Mazzini, an Italian revolutionary, on August 15, 1871.

• In this letter, Pike allegedly outlines a blueprint for three world wars that would prepare the world for a “New World Order” or some global domination plan. Ancient Pages+1

• These wars are said to correspond roughly to World War I, World War II, and a future World War III. Ancient Pages+1

Here is a summary of what the alleged letter says for each “war”:

World War	Alleged Purpose / Outcome
First World War	To overthrow the Czar of Russia, make Russia an atheistic Communist power. To use conflicts between empires (British, German) to weaken religious institutions. Ancient Pages+1
Second World War	To foment tension between Fascism and Zionists; to destroy Nazism; to strengthen political Zionism so that a sovereign state of Israel can be established; to let International Communism become stronger and serve as a counterbalance to Christian influence. Ancient Pages+1
Third World War	To take advantage of differences between political Zionists and leaders of the Islamic world; to have them mutually destroy each other; to create chaos, moral, spiritual, and economic exhaustion; to provoke a social cataclysm, disillusion with Christianity; possibly opening the way for a universal doctrine or ideology (sometimes framed in occult or Luciferian terms in the modern retellings) Ancient Pages+1

This narrative has been repeated in many books, websites, conspiracy theory circles. One version is found in William Guy Carr’s Pawns in the Game, published in the mid‑20th century. Ancient Pages+1

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Evidence and Authenticity: What Historians and Fact‑Checkers Say

While the story is widespread, there is no credible historical evidence that the letter is genuine. Key points:

• No verified archival record of the letter in any respected institution, including the British Museum or British Library. Despite claims that the letter was once on display, those institutions deny such a record. Ancient Pages+2Factually+2

• The language in the alleged letter contains terms that did not exist or were not in use in 1871, e.g. “Nazism,” “political Zionism”, etc., which suggests the text must have been produced later. Reddit+2travelingtemplar.com+2

• Scholars who have studied Pike’s works do not find this letter in his known corpus. Major biographies do not treat this prophecy as authentic. travelingtemplar.com+1

• Fact‑check sites generally classify the claim as a hoax or fabrication. Factually+1

So, while many people believe the prophecy narrative, it lacks credible sourcing.

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Why the Myth Persists

Why do so many people believe Pike made these predictions? Some reasons include:

1. Conspiracy appeal: The idea of secret societies planning world events long in advance is compelling and dramatic. It fits many people’s intuitions about hidden power and control.

2. Retrofitting / postdiction: The “predictions” appear more plausible when read after WWI and WWII have happened. Because readers see correspondences (e.g., Russia turning communist, Zionism emerging, conflicts in the Middle East), it looks like prophecy. But that also means events are matched after the fact.

3. Lack of scrutiny: Many claim sources cite this “letter,” but traces or originals are never shown. Once something is repeated enough times, people take it as fact. Also, because Pike was real and Mazzini was real, the setting gives a veneer of plausibility.

4. Desire for meaning: In turbulent times, people often look for patterns. If something horrible happens (wars, disasters), there is comfort (or fear) in believing it’s part of a grand design or plan — rather than chaos.

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Analyzing the “Predictions” Against History

Even setting aside authenticity, how well do the alleged prophetic statements align with what actually happened?

• First World War: Russia did experience the collapse of the Tsarist regime, and eventually, communist rule. There was indeed friction among the major European powers. In that sense, some aspects align. But it’s a stretch: WWI was more immediately about specific diplomatic entanglements (alliances, nationalisms) than a pre‑planned Illuminati plot.

• Second World War: The rise of Nazism, the Holocaust, conflicts with Zionist aspirations over Palestine, and the eventual founding of Israel in 1948 are all historically real. But again, confluence ≠ intentional blueprint.

• Third World War: The prophecy (as claimed) says WWIII will pit political Zionism and the Islamic world against each other, leading to massive destruction and a breakdown of religious structures. Whether or not current or future conflicts fulfill that is speculative. Many scholars warn against interpreting ongoing Middle East tensions through the lens of prophecy, since doing so can oversimplify and misrepresent the varied causes of those conflicts.

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Implications & Cautions

Whether or not the letter is real, the story of “Albert Pike’s three world wars” teaches more than just about conspiracy theories — it shows how ideas spread and how belief works. Some implications:

• Misinformation can masquerade as prophecy: Without evidence, bold claims can still gain traction if they tap into existing fears or beliefs.

• The danger of confirmation bias: Once someone accepts a prophecy narrative, they may interpret events to fit it, ignoring contexts, complexities, or contrary evidence.

• Ethical concerns: Some versions of this myth have been used to stoke religious or political animosities, especially towards Muslims or Jews, by framing them as part of an apocalyptic future. That’s dangerous.

• Historical learning vs sensationalism: Studying Pike’s real life, his writings, his historical context is more valuable than chasing after unverified documents. There's much to learn in what is real: his role in Freemasonry, his philosophy, the social currents of 19th century America, etc.

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Conclusion

The idea that Albert Pike, in 1871, foresaw three world wars with uncanny accuracy is a captivating story — one that appeals to mystery, prophecy, and secret influence. However, upon closer examination:

• There is no credible evidence that Pike actually wrote the letter in question, or made those exact predictions.

• The text of the “prophecy” contains anachronisms and terms that suggest it was written after the events it supposedly predicts.

• The story seems to have grown through retellings, repetition in conspiracy literature, and lack of primary documentation.

Ultimately, this narrative serves as a cautionary tale: in an age of information, verify sources; beware of claims that fit too neatly with later history; recognize how powerful stories can be even without evidence.