The Knights Templar, the Freemasons, the Illuminati, and others — groups that have long fired the imagination of writers, inspired films, and provided endless material for conspiracy theory enthusiasts.
Between reality and myth, it has become difficult to separate fact from fiction. Are these groups truly responsible for major historical events such as the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy or the French Revolution? Did prominent figures such as Angela Merkel, George Bush, Winston Churchill, and George Washington belong to them?
According to the American History Channel website, here are the true stories of five of the most famous secret societies tied to conspiracy theories.
The Knights Templar
The Knights Templar were warriors dedicated to protecting those they called Christian pilgrims on their journeys to what they regarded as holy lands during the Crusades.
The order was founded around 1118 by French knight Hugues de Payens, who established a group of “poor fellow-soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon,” later known simply as the Knights Templar.
At their headquarters on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, members vowed to live lives of chastity, obedience, and poverty, refraining from gambling, drinking, and even swearing.
In addition to their military skill and strict code of ethics — according to Western accounts — the Templars became one of the most powerful and wealthy forces in Europe, especially after creating a banking system that allowed pilgrims to deposit money in their home countries and withdraw it in the so-called holy land.
Their influence peaked in 1139 when Pope Innocent II issued a papal decree exempting them from taxes and declaring that their only superior was the Pope himself.
At the height of their power, the Knights Templar owned the island of Cyprus, commanded a naval fleet, and loaned money to many kings.
What Happened to the Templars?
After the Crusaders were expelled from Acre, the Knights withdrew to Paris, focusing increasingly on financial activities.
On October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France — heavily indebted to the Templars — demanded more loans. When they refused, he ordered their arrest. Many members were tortured until they confessed to fabricated charges of heresy.
By 1309, dozens of Templars had been burned at the stake in Paris. Under Philip’s pressure, Pope Clement V officially dissolved the order in 1312, redistributing its wealth.
In the aftermath, rumours spread that transformed into “conspiracy theories” — tales of Templars guarding holy relics such as the Holy Grail and the Shroud of Turin.
Today, books and films — most famously The Da Vinci Code — continue to recycle these legends.
The Freemasons
It is no surprise that American history is filled with Freemasonry. In 1784, 13 of the 39 signers of the U.S. Constitution were Freemasons. Founding Fathers such as George Washington, James Monroe, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Paul Revere all identified as members of the brotherhood.
But who are the Freemasons?
According to the History Channel, their roots go back to medieval Europe, when most trades were organised into local guilds. Cathedral builders, however, had to travel widely, and they identified one another using trade symbols — the compass and square, now the iconic Masonic emblem.
The earliest known reference to the Masons is the Regius Poem (or Halliwell Manuscript), published in 1390.
Modern Freemasonry was formally established in 1717 when four London lodges united to form the first Grand Lodge of England. From there, it spread quickly across Europe and eventually to the American colonies.
Beliefs of Freemasonry
Freemasons insist that their organisation is not a religion. They encourage belief in what they call the “Supreme Being” or “Great Architect of the Universe.”
Their lodges and secret rituals brought them into conflict with the Catholic Church, which condemned them in 1738 and issued around 20 papal decrees against them. In 1985, the Vatican reaffirmed centuries-old restrictions due to the rising number of Catholics joining Masonic lodges.
Freemasons also faced suspicion in early America. Their secrecy inspired the formation of the Anti-Masonic Party, the first “third party” in U.S. politics.
Freemasonry Today
Freemasonry still exists, often linking its public image to the charitable work of the Shriners, a group founded by Freemasons in 1870.
Membership rituals remain secretive, but applicants must seek entry themselves — they cannot be recruited. Famous Freemasons have included Mozart, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and actor John Wayne.
Their most famous emblem is the square and compass, often with the letter “G” at the centre, which some interpret as representing God or the “Great Architect.” Another debated symbol is the “all-seeing eye,” appearing on the U.S. dollar bill, which Freemasons claim symbolises divine providence.
The Illuminati
The Illuminati were founded in May 1776 by Professor Adam Weishaupt in Bavaria. Angered by the dominance of the Catholic Church and Bavarian monarchy, he sought to replace organised religion with a form of reason-driven “enlightenment.”
Inspired by the European Enlightenment, he borrowed ideas from Jesuits, Greek mystery traditions, Kabbalah, and Freemasonry. He also heavily recruited from Masonic lodges, drawing wealthy and influential men such as Baron von Knigge and the writer Goethe.
Members used codenames and encrypted correspondence; Weishaupt’s alias was “Spartacus.”
What Happened to the Illuminati?
The group flourished briefly until 1787, when Bavarian ruler Karl Theodor outlawed membership under penalty of death.
But their suppression only fueled conspiracy theories linking them to everything from the French Revolution to the assassination of JFK.
The Illuminati later inspired popular works such as Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons and Umberto Eco’s Foucault’s Pendulum.
Skull and Bones
Founded at Yale University in 1832, Skull and Bones is one of America’s most notorious secret societies. Its co-founders included William Huntington Russell and Alphonso Taft (later U.S. Secretary of War and father of President William Howard Taft, who himself became a member).
Each year, 15 Yale seniors are tapped for initiation. Though the names of new members are published, what happens inside their windowless meeting hall — known as “the Tomb” — remains secret.
Former members include U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, John Kerry, Henry Luce (founder of Time magazine), and numerous Fortune 500 executives and CIA operatives.
Anthony Sutton’s 1986 book America’s Secret Establishment claimed the society was plotting a “New World Order,” fueling countless conspiracy theories.
The Bilderberg Group
The first Bilderberg meeting took place in 1954 at the Hotel de Bilderberg in the Netherlands, convened by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. It gathered powerful political figures from Europe and North America to strengthen transatlantic relations.
Unlike the Illuminati or Freemasons, it is not technically a secret society. Yet, its strict application of the “Chatham House Rule” — forbidding participants from revealing discussions — has kept its reputation shrouded in mystery.
Notable attendees have included Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel, Tony Blair, and Henry Kissinger. Journalists are barred from reporting, and no official minutes are kept.
This secrecy has fueled speculation — including theories that Bilderberg members orchestrated the creation of the European Union, the Iraq War, and the bombing of Serbia.
While conspiracy theorists see it as a shadow government planning a “New World Order,” the group insists participants attend in a personal capacity and not in any official role.
Publicly listed topics at its 2019 meeting included Brexit, cybersecurity, and climate change.
Conclusion
For centuries, what happens behind the closed doors of such secretive groups has sparked debate, suspicion, and fascination. Whether fact or fiction, the only certainty is that secret societies continue to ignite public imagination and conspiracy theories around the world.
