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The Illuminati is the name that refers to several groups, both real and fictitious. Most commonly it refers specifically to the ''Bavarian Illuminati'', an Enlightenment era Secret Society founded in the late Eighteenth Century . However, in modern times it refers to a purported conspiratorial organization which acts as a shadowy Hand Behind The Throne , allegedly controlling world affairs through present day Governments and Corporations , usually as a modern incarnation or continuation of the Bavarian Illuminati. In this context, ''Illuminati'' is often used in reference to a New World Order (NWO) . Many Conspiracy Theorist s believe the Illuminati, ''The People of The Light'', or ''illuminated ones'', are the masterminds behind events that will lead to the establishment of such a New World Order. In rarer cases, the Illuminati refers to an elite set of enlightened individuals who may not cooperate but are uniquely empowered by their enlightenment, much like the Intelligentsia classes of today are empowered by their education and intelligence. These are people who have become ''illuminated'' and have achieved a higher mystical understanding of the universe. Many secret societies and Mystical traditions are concerned with this kind of illumination or enlightenment, such as the Rosicrucian Societies, the Martinists and the original Bavarian Illuminati. Daraul, Arkon , ''A History of Secret Societies'', London Octagon 1983 (originally London: Muller, 1961) ISBN 0863040241 ORIGINS Pre- Weishaupt origins are given to the Alumbrados of Spain and Illuminés of France . This claim holds in name and mystical concerns, but no solid historical lineage is known. Their practice of Mysticism and attempt at communion with God through meditation or sexual practices, along with claims of enlightenment while living, denote a seeming connection with later Illuminati groups. However claims of later connections to other organizations' familiarity with these early movements are unsubstantiated. THE BAVARIAN ILLUMINATI History ]] A movement of Freethinkers that were the most radical offshoot of The Enlightenment — whose adherents were given the name ''Illuminati'' (but who called themselves "Perfectibilists") — was founded on May 1 , 1776 in Ingolstadt ( Upper Bavaria ), by Jesuit-taught Adam Weishaupt (d. 1830 ), who was the first lay professor of Canon Law . The group has also been called the ''Illuminati Order'', and the ''Bavarian Illuminati'', and the movement itself has been referred to as Illuminism . In 1777 , Karl Theodor , Elector Palatine, succeeded as ruler of Bavaria. He was a proponent of Enlightened Despotism and in 1784 , his government banned all Secret Societies , including the Illuminati. While it was not legally allowed to operate, many influential intellectuals and progressive politicians counted themselves as members, including were known to be members there is no evidence that it was supported by Freemasonry as an institution. Indeed, membership in the Illuminati, unlike that in Freemasonry, did not require belief in a Supreme Being . As a result, Atheists having only the former organization open to them, congregated disproportionately in it; this over-representation, taken along with the Illuminati's largely Humanist and anti-clerical bent, likely accounts for many of the claims of Atheism leveled at the alleged world conspiracy of which the Illuminati supposedly remain a part. The Illuminati's members pledged obedience to their superiors, and were divided into three main classes: the first, known as the ''Nursery'', encompassed the ascending degrees or offices of ''Preparation'', ''Novice'', ''Minerval'' and ''Illuminatus Minor''. The second, known as the ''Masonry'', consists of the ascending degrees of ''Illuminatus Major'' and ''Illuminatus dirigens''. It was also sometimes called ''Scotch Knight''. The third, designated the ''Mysteries'', was subdivided into the degrees of the ''Lesser Mysteries'' (''Presbyter'' and ''Regent'') and those of the ''Greater Mysteries'' (''Magus'' and ''Rex''). Relations with Masonic lodges were established at Munich and Freising in 1780 by Alexander Gibson and Joseph Vincent respectively. The order had its branches in most countries of the European continent; it reportedly had around 2,000 members over the span of 10 years. The scheme had its attraction for literary men, such as Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe and Johann Gottfried Herder , and even for the reigning dukes of Gotha and Weimar . Internal rupture and panic over succession preceded its downfall, which was effected by The Secular Edict made by the Bavarian government in 1785 . Illuminati after 1790 Conspiracy theorists such as (Spain), The Illuminati Order illuminati-order.com and others. Cultural effect The Bavarian Illuminati have cast a long shadow in popular history thanks to the writings of their opponents; the allegations of Conspiracy that have coloured the image of the Freemasons have practically opaqued that of the Illuminati. In 1797 , Abbé Augustin Barruél published ''Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism'' outlining a vivid Conspiracy Theory involving the Knights Templar , the Rosicrucian s, the Jacobins and the Illuminati, during the course of which Barruél blamed all of what he regarded as the disasters of his times such as the French Revolution on the said groups. A Scottish Mason and professor of natural history named John Robison started to publish ''Proofs of a Conspiracy Against all the Religions and Governments of Europe'' in 1798 . Robison claimed to present evidence of an Illuminati conspiracy striving to replace all world religions with Humanism and all nations with a single world government. More recently, had Illuminati origins, as well. Writer Robert Gillette claimed that these Illuminati ultimately intend to establish a World Government through Assassination , Bribery , Blackmail , the control of Bank s and other financial powers, the Infiltration of Government s, Mind Control , and by causing War s and Revolution to move their own people into higher positions in the Political Hierarchy . Thomas Jefferson , on the other hand, claimed they intended to spread information and the principles of true Morality . He attributed the secrecy of the Illuminati to what he called "the Tyranny of a Despot and Priests " referring to the governments and religious beliefs of the time. Both sides seem to agree that the enemies of the Illuminati were the Monarch s of Europe and the Church ; Barruél claimed that the French Revolution in 1789 was engineered and controlled by the Illuminati through the Jacobins, and later theorists even claimed that the Illuminati were responsible for the Russian Revolution Of 1917 , although the order was officially defunct prior to 1789. Few historians give credence to these views; they regard such claims as the products of over-fertile imaginations. Conspiracy Theorists highlight an alleged link between the Illuminati and Freemasonry. They also suggest that the United States' founding fathers—some of whom were Freemasons—were rife with corruption from the Illuminati, and that the symbols of the All-seeing Eye and the unfinished pyramid in the Great Seal Of The United States are an example of the Illuminati's ever-present watchful eye over Americans. While Weishaupt's group did not survive into the 19th Century , several groups have since used the name ''Illuminati'' to found their own rites, claiming to be ''the'' Illuminati. Groups describing themselves as Illuminati say they have members and chapters throughout the world. According to Principia Discordia , the Bavarian Illuminati were revived or rediscovered in the 20th Century under the leadership of Mordecai Malignatus. The British writer David Icke also claims that the Illuminati secretly manipulate world events, citing bloodline connections between the British Royal Family , the Windsors and Mountbattens, and United States Presidents and, he says, a connection to the Illuminati. The idea of a secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati is currently deep-rooted in popular culture. The Illuminati were for example used in the fiction novel by Dan Brown called '' Angels & Demons ''. According to Brown the Illuminati was originally founded by scientists, amongst others Galileo Galilei , who had become infuriated with the refusal of the Catholic Church to accept their work, merely condemning their research as heresy. Interestingly enough, the poet John Milton is also included by Brown. SEE ALSO NOTES REFERENCES
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