The Real History of the Illuminati

Look closely at this symbol. You’ve been told it’s proof that someone is watching. We’ve all heard stories of the secret order, but is the Illuminati real? Short answer: Yes. The plural of the Latin illuminatus—meaning “revealed” or “enlightened”—the name illuminati has been assumed by various groups since the 15th century. But not in the secretly controlling-the-world way you might be thinking. Members of Illuminati groups believed they had access to an inner “light”—that is, a direct line to a higher power or an intelligence that transcended the human experience. The history of Illuminati groups spans over five centuries and several countries, including Spain, France, and Germany, with the oldest dating back to 1492. But the Illuminati you’re thinking of is likely the Bavarian Illuminati—the most prominent and mythologized order of the Illuminati and the scapegoat of many conspiracies, including instigating the French Revolution and assassinating John F. Kennedy. Founded by former Jesuit Adam Weishaupt in 1776, the secret society called themselves “Perfectibilists.” Their founder’s goal was to replace Christianity with a “religion of reason”—but the order was still organized along Jesuit lines, holding internal discipline and a system of mutual surveillance to maintain secrecy. Members were divided into a hierarchy with ranks such as novices, minervals, and illuminated minervals. The order also utilized aliases and symbols, including the Owl of Minerva for wisdom. This order gradually extended recruitment across Germany, enlisting young men of wealth, rank, and social importance. And beginning in 1778, Weishaupt’s Illuminati infiltrated the Freemasons—gaining a commanding position in politics. At its height, the Bavarian Illuminati spanned from Italy to Denmark, Warsaw to Paris. But despite this geographic reach, its numbers never exceeded 2,000 members. In the 1780s the Bavarian government issued edicts banning secret societies and had harsh punishments for membership, including the death penalty. Some Illuminati members were imprisoned, and Weishaupt was banished from Bavaria altogether. After forcibly disbanding, Weishaupt’s Illuminati disappeared from the historical record after 1785, snuffed out by the Bavarian government. Despite the power it once held, the Illuminati is now nothing more than a ghost of the 18th century. But all the conspiracies? Well, they’re more alive than ever.