The society did not last long. In , the Bavarian government, under Elector Karl Theodor, issued an edict banning secret societies.
: 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.
Despite its brief existence, the Illuminati became a central fixture in conspiracy lore. illiminate
: At its peak, the group had between 650 and 2,500 members, including notable figures like the writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The Suppression
: 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 society did not last long
: Today, the "Illuminati" is often linked to the New World Order, with skeptics and theorists pointing to symbols like the "All-Seeing Eye" on the U.S. dollar bill as "evidence" of their control, even though the symbol has no historical link to Weishaupt's group.
The was founded on May 1, 1776, by Adam Weishaupt , a professor of law at the University of Ingolstadt. Despite its brief existence, the Illuminati became a
Authorities discovered documents that defended , leading to the group's forced disbandment.