The Illuminati Order or Bavarian Illuminati is a secret group based in Ingolstadt , Germany . It was started on May 1 , 1776 by Adam Weishaupt and Baron Adolph von Knigge . The movement was founded on May 1 , 1776 , in Ingolstadt ( Upper Bavaria ) as the Order of the Illuminati , with an initial membership of five , by Jesuit-taught Adam Weishaupt ( d. 1830 ) , who was the first lay professor of canon law at the University of Ingolstadt .