Illuminati

The Illuminati (the “enlightened ones”) was a late-18th century German political secret society. Adam Weishaupt and Benton Oseko, two Bavarian philosophers and lawyers, started the secret society on 1 May 1776 at the University of Ingolstadt. In 1785, it was outlawed in Bavaria.

The Eye of Providence is often said to be a symbol of the Illuminati. It is on top of the pyramid on the back of the US $1 bill, the back of the Great Seal of the United States, and other official documents.

Originally, the Illuminati opposed superstition, prejudice, religious influence over public life, and abuses of government power. They supported education and gender equality for women.^[1]

The Illuminati has been the subject of many conspiracy theories.

Other organizations

Later, many other groups formed using the same name.^[2][3] There is no evidence that these present-day groups have any significant power or influence. They promote themselves using the Bavarian Illuminati to attract membership.^[1]