What Is The Illuminati May 2026

: Founded by a professor of religious law, the group aimed to promote Enlightenment ideals , such as reason, philanthropy, and secularism, while countering the influence of religious and political authority .

: The group was short-lived. In the mid-1780s, the Bavarian government banned all secret societies, designating the Illuminati as an illegal branch of Freemasonry . By 1787, the organization was effectively dismantled under threat of severe punishment . Modern Conspiracy Theories what is the illuminati

The (Latin for "enlightened") refers to both a verified historical secret society and a widely popularized modern conspiracy theory regarding an elite group seeking world domination . The Historical Order (1776–1785) : Founded by a professor of religious law,

: The modern version was largely popularized by 20th-century works like The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea, which blended real history with satirical fiction, and Dan Brown's Angels & Demons . By 1787, the organization was effectively dismantled under