The Illuminati is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically, the name usually refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776, in Bavaria, Germany. The societys stated goals were to oppose superstition, obscurantism, religious influence over public life, and abuses of state power. The Illuminati did plenty of unusual things, such as using symbols, adopting pseudonyms to avoid identification, and having complicated hierarchies that divided the ranks. The Illuminati wasnt always just some crazy chimera — it used to be a very real group with ambitious goals. However, the group was disbanded in 1785, and since then, the term "Illuminati" has been used when referring to various organizations that are alleged to be a continuation of the original Bavarian Illuminati, though these links have not been substantiated. These organizations have often been accused of conspiring to control world affairs, by masterminding events and planting agents in governments and corporations, in order to gain political power, influence, and to establish a New World Order. The Illuminati has been the subject of many conspiracy theories, and it has been credited with activities ranging from the instigation of the French Revolution to the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. However, these claims have not been substantiated, and the Illuminati does not exist anymore.