Illiminate May 2026

: Experts from BBC Future suggest the myth persists because it offers a simple explanation for complex global events, reflecting humanity's fascination with hidden power during times of uncertainty.

The was founded on May 1, 1776, by Adam Weishaupt , a professor of law at the University of Ingolstadt.

: The group aimed to promote Enlightenment ideals, such as reason, secularism, and individual liberty , while opposing the powerful influence of the Roman Catholic Church and the state. illiminate

: Influenced by the Freemasons, the order used a hierarchical system of degrees and internal discipline to ensure secrecy.

Weishaupt was banished from Bavaria, and after 1785, no historical records exist of the group's continued activities. : Experts from BBC Future suggest the myth

Illuminati | Facts, History, Suppression, & Conspiracy Theories

Authorities discovered documents that defended , leading to the group's forced disbandment. : Influenced by the Freemasons, the order used

The society did not last long. In , the Bavarian government, under Elector Karl Theodor, issued an edict banning secret societies.