Secret societies, orders and sects. Secret organizations that control the world

Secret societies arose from ancient times and formed the basis of the present social structure. Secret organizations, which can only be joined by the invitation of one of the participants, existed before our era, and with the development of culture they flourished. Such societies did not always pursue clearly good goals. Some of these secret societies were able to survive centuries.

Opus Dei

The closed religious organization was founded in Madrid in 1928 by Catholic priest José Maria Escriva de Balaguer. The purpose of Opus Dei is to help believers find holiness in everyday life, engaging in ordinary earthly activities, in particular professional activities. However, the methods of achieving holiness remain controversial. The organization is led by “numeraries” who undertake various obligations, including a vow of celibacy. Many members of society practice self-flagellation and wearing chains.

Priory of Sion

The Priory of Sion is a fictional secret society supposedly existing in Europe. The Priory was registered as "an independent fraternity of knights professing traditional Catholic law." The goal of the Priory was declared to be “the restoration of the ancient knightly spirit, the pursuit of knowledge and the strengthening of cohesion.”

Toogie

Thugs (stranglers) are medieval Indian bandits and robbers who dedicated themselves to serving the goddess of death and destruction, Kali. The Thugs used special identification marks and jargon. Many believe that the Thughi secret society still exists today.

From about the 12th century, Thugh gangs in central India robbed caravans and killed travelers. According to the records of historian William Rubenstein, the Tugh killed 1 million people between 1740 and 1840. The Guinness Book of Records attributes two million deaths to their account.

Druids

The priests of the ancient Celtic peoples served as judges, practiced healing and astronomy. Their society was secret and one could only join by invitation. Many fans of Druidic culture today recreate semblances of magical orders and advocate the theory that the tradition has not been interrupted since ancient times.

Order of the Temple of the East

The international occult-religious organization has existed since 1902. Originally conceived as a Masonic academy that would reflect the symbolism of several occult-mystical communities, the organization evolved into a carrier of the teachings of Thelema under the leadership of the occultist Aleister Crowley. Today, the largest branch of the order is located in California and includes several thousand members.

Rosicrucians

A secret mystical society founded during the late Middle Ages in Germany. Contains teachings built on ancient esoteric truths that are hidden from an ordinary person, provide an understanding of nature, the physical universe, and the spiritual realm, symbolized in part by the brotherhood's emblem of a rose blooming on a cross.

Assassins

A secret sect of murderers within the Ismaili Islamic movement, it entered history during the Crusades, when the Assassins confronted the aliens from Europe.

Today, the image of assassins is actively used in computer games and cinema.

Order of the Dragon

An order of chivalry founded in 1408 by King Sigismund I of Luxembourg of Hungary to protect the Hungarian royal house from internal and external enemies, and the Catholic Church from heretics and pagans. Vlad II Dracul, the father of Vlad the Impaler, who served as commander of the border troops and guarded the passages through Transylvania, also took part in the society. The nickname Dracul was given to him precisely because he was a member of the order.

Thule Society

The name Thule comes from the mythical northern country from ancient Greek legends. German occult and political society appeared in Munich in 1918. The main topic of social research was the origin of the "Aryan race". The country of Thule was placed by ancient Greek and Roman geographers on far north. Members of the society believed that the Aryans were a superior race that supposedly existed in prehistoric times on the legendary continent of Atlantis. The myth said that the inhabitants of Thule were descendants of Aryans who survived the destruction of the mainland.

Thanks to Mr. Dan Brown, most of us already know about the existence of secret societies such as the Illuminati, Opus Dei and the Secret Society of Freemasons. But this is not all the secret societies that influence social life. Many secret societies, both old and new, are still shrouded in secrecy so effectively that people can only guess at what goes on in them.

Of course, since the main point of secret societies is confidentiality, the fact that not much is known about the following twelve societies is unlikely to shock anyone. Again, just because little is known about them doesn't mean they aren't quite noticeable.

12. "Nine Old Women"

Undoubtedly, the most unexpected discovery of the last decade was the “coming out of hiding” of the Nine Crones, a secret American society consisting of nine women. These ladies bonded over the art of keeping secrets as they began doing small acts of kindness in Tennessee. They were engaged in baking and anonymously distributing bread, paying off small utility bills, etc. and so on. to help the poor and needy.

It all started with the fact that one day, having gathered together at 4 o'clock in the morning, the women baked several hundred small cakes, which were then anonymously distributed to those in need using the UPS delivery service. For more than 30 years, women kept their charitable activities a secret, even from their own husbands. Although now, after their activities were discovered several years ago, the “Nine Crones” have ceased to be “secret”, they still continue their good deeds and even included new members in the society in the form of their children!

11. Bilderberg Club

This secret society appears in the most sinister "conspiracy theories" (due to the power of the people included in it), especially when it comes to world politics or economic development. Daniel Estulin, who spent more than 14 years studying the secret activities of the Bilderberg Group, published a book outlining his findings in 2005, bringing the previously highly secret organization to the public's attention.

The secret society met for its first meeting at the Bilderberg Hotel in the Netherlands, hence its name. Those present were the elite of political, financial and other influential circles in America, Canada and Europe. This meeting explored the idea of ​​creating a "shadow world government" where views, opinions and policies could be discussed without public oversight. For more than fifty years, neither the agenda of the meetings nor the topics of discussion have ever been made public, and people attend club meetings strictly at the invitation of the Steering Committee. All participants take an oath of secrecy and arrive at meetings strictly one at a time. Although the very existence of the society is no longer a secret, information about the agenda and meetings is still secret.

10. "Bald Deer"

The Missouri Bald Deer were originally a secret society formed with "good intentions." They began their activities as an organization to maintain order during a period of massive social upheaval. But good intentions are rarely realized if the methods used are based on the use of violence and the shedding of blood. After the end of the Civil War, American society spiraled into anarchy. Horrible murders, lawlessness, very high taxes and economic collapse made life unbearable. That's when Nathaniel N. Kinney, along with 12 Missouri county leaders, formed a secret society called the Bald Deer.

Despite the violent nature of the actions, during which participants put pillowcases on their heads and killed people who had broken the law or their brothers, the society grew very quickly. Their operating principle involved identifying criminals, tying them to a tree and beating them. They were also known for beating those who criticized their methods, and sometimes even hanging them. Members of the society secretly took the oath, after which the recruits were allowed to fight lawlessness. Of course, this kind of violence could not last, and the Bald Deer ceased to exist in 1899.

9. Society “Word of the Horseman”

One of Scotland's most respected secret societies, the Horseman's Word Society was originally thought to be a society of blacksmiths and ploughmen, who used magical spells to gain power over their horses. However, in many books and scientific research it has been suggested that in fact the society was formed from professional riders who had their secrets, knew herbs and trained horses, passing on their knowledge from generation to generation. The society was strictly “male” and there was an initiation ritual in which ancient chants containing a magical phrase connected a man and a horse.

It is believed that most of the rituals took place in the granary, usually at midnight. Knowledge about horses was passed on during a secret meeting along with an oath that was supposed to bind the initiate to the community of horsemen. The last record of a meeting of this secret club dates back to September 1936, but the practice of initiation and transmission of knowledge continued at least until 1961, when the last known member of the society, Mr. Billy Rennie, was admitted.

8. Cicada 3301

Nobody knows what Cicada 3301 is except that it is a community of geniuses! For several years, Cicada 3301 ran online advertisements to recruit new members, but this was done extremely irregularly. In order to gain access to this secret society (or at least find out what it is), smart people around the world must solve a series of complex puzzles and codes, not only hidden in the messages they receive over the Internet, but also physically visible in many places around the world!

Since only smart people can complete the entire long chain of tasks, theorists argue that Cicada 3001 could be an organization of hackers, or maybe a special CIA project, someone's prank, or dangerous organization with “nefarious plans” to create Nietzsche’s “Superman”, or perhaps a progressive scientific community wanting to do something good. The fact is that the best code-breaking and cipher-breaking experts in the world are involved in solving these clues, and they tell us about the laws of number theory, Victorian occultism, philosophy, cyberpunk literature, Mayan numerology and even classical music! Yes, yes, all this is used in these puzzles.

7. "Skull and Bones" - Yale University

Those who think that the existence of secret societies is unimportant would do well to take a look at the select members of Yale University's secret society called Skull and Bones. The fact that only the best of the best are able to pass the SAT test and that the number of new admissions should not exceed 15 people per year is not the most amazing thing about this secret society. What's really amazing is that many of his former members V later life moved to live in The White house or headed financial and economic institutions.

Candidates undergo a strange initiation ritual in a secluded hall at Yale University known as "the tomb." The initiation process begins with the candidate being given a red woolen jacket, after which he is placed in the center, and members of the society accompany the initiation with shouts and chants, then new members, in order to gain trust, begin to talk about their sex life in the presence of others. At the same time, society strives to instill moral values ​​and a sense of duty towards society. Sometimes it seems that many influential people never returned from this “tomb”!

6. "NoZe" - Baylor University

Baylor University's NoZe fraternity takes its name from a joke that a freshman's nose is so large that an entire society can be formed around it. Former university students say that nearly 90 percent of campus liberals were inducted into the society, which was supposed to be a haven for students with unconventional, atypical opinions. The sole purpose of NoZe's existence was to torment the university administration with constant antics and blasphemous satire in its newspaper. The Rope».

“NoZa” repeatedly had to go underground, for example, after painting the university bridge in pink color followed by arson. There was a time when the university administration was so fed up with the antics of the organization’s members that it was banned for “obscenity, rudeness and mockery.” If a student's membership in an organization was discovered, the University would automatically and immediately expel the student.

5. Society "Seven"

The University of Virginia's Society Seven, now best known for its philanthropic activities, was the most secretive of the secret societies. It is unknown when it was formed, but the public first learned about it in 1905, when a drawing in the form of a white number “7” appeared on the territory of the university. The society has since become well known for its quiet "Good Samaritan" activities and financial assistance university graduates.

Membership in a secret society is a secret and becomes known only after the death of the participant. Then wreaths of black magnolias in the shape of the number “7” appear on the grave of a member of the society. Moreover, church bell The university rings 7 times at 7 second intervals to pay tribute to the deceased. Nobody knows where the society meets, or what issues it deals with. If anyone ever wants to contact the society, there is a way to do it - leave a letter at the foot of the Thomas Jefferson monument near the university rotunda.

4. "Ariori"

The Tahiti secret society "Ariori" accepts only the most beautiful and most perfect into its ranks. Members of the society adhere to the beliefs of sexual freedom, religion (the cult of the god Oro), and engage in the arts and pantomime. Initiation into the society entails a vow of childlessness, since childbirth is prohibited within its ranks. This oath led to the practice of infanticide, where pregnancies were either terminated or children were killed at birth.

As a reward for future membership, eternal youth with sensual delights is promised. Even though many details suggest a society in decline, much suggests that the society's purpose was to prepare its members for a fuller, more expressive life in the future. In fact, a member can leave the society at any time and live a normal life good family man, without interference or even dissatisfaction from other members.

3. Calf's Head Club

One of the most scary-sounding rituals belongs to an English secret society called the Calf's Head Club. This club appeared at the end of the seventeenth century. Members of the society met secretly at night to celebrate the execution of King Charles I, symbolized by the beheading of a calf. Everything in these celebrations was built around this action: alcohol was drunk from calf skulls, celebrations took place around the skulls in the form of singing songs and hymns. It seems that the purpose of society was only to enjoy fun and communicate with like-minded people.

Although festive event This society was unpleasant in general; it was forced to dissolve itself in 1734 by an unknown group of people dissatisfied with regular drunken fights and riots, during which drunk club members committed many blasphemous and seditious acts. Initially, historians attributed stories about this secret society not to reality, but to works of art. But, despite the fact that some of the rituals are truly shocking, various evidence of the existence of society is still being found since then.

2. Order of the Bull's Blood

The Oxblood secret society was originally formed by a group of five friends in 1834. Even today it is unknown whether this society really existed or whether it was just a hoax from an era of secret societies that still arise today. However, this society has the honor of being recognized as the oldest secret society at Rutgers University, and may still be active today. As a rite of passage and as proof of loyalty, new members were asked to take part in "pranks" that were far from harmless. The society made headlines when its members allegedly stole a cannon from Princeton University in 1875.

This secret society is still so secretive in its activities that no one really knows how members of the brotherhood join their ranks. Little is known about the initiation ritual. There were unconfirmed reports that such famous people as economist Milton Friedman, Vice President Garrett A. Hobart and former FBI Director Louis Freeh were members of this secret society.

1. "L'lux"

One of the most interesting secret societies is called "L'ux" - an underground secret society operating in the underground networks of Paris. It is believed that the society consists mainly of artists who work in the Parisian dungeons. In August 2004, local police, guided by signs that read “Not for everyone,” made the discovery of an illegally built cinema 20 meters below the streets of Paris. The police had to overcome many obstacles on their way, namely the recording of a barking dog (which, apparently, was being pulled by its hind leg) and even suspicious objects that looked like bombs, which turned out to be mechanisms designed to protect the property of free artists from the police!

Paris still lives with this underground movement of film and art lovers, which still remains a mystery. Society is now known for its members liking to do things that are forbidden. They broke into museums and staged plays in the winding canals of Paris, always remaining anonymous and secretive. The book, which explores the activities of this society, claims that the society has more than 100 members, and they are divided into teams that organize events, plan new actions and conduct innovative "experiments". It doesn't look like this secret society is going to calm down.

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There are many legends surrounding secret societies. Some are sure that these organizations rule the world, others - that they are dangerous because they possess occult knowledge... But no one really understands what they do... One way or another, some of the medieval secret orders still exist. Today we will talk about the most famous of them.

Masons

The first Masonic lodge appeared in London in 1717, although rumors about this organization had circulated before. The goal of the society is the transfer and research of esoteric knowledge accumulated by humanity. Contrary to popular misconceptions, this is not a sect or a political organization at all. The Masons have a complex internal hierarchy, their own system of rituals and secret signs by which they recognize each other.

Rosicrucians

This is an occult society founded at the beginning of the 15th century by Christian Rosenkreutz. They used magical practices to transform consciousness. Some researchers believe, by the way, that it was from the Rosicrucians that all other secret societies came, including the Masons.

Illuminati

The Order of the Bavarian Illuminati was founded in 1776 in Ingolstadt by philosopher, theologian and law professor Adam Weishaupt. Initially, Weishaupt planned to build his organization on the basis of Masonic traditions, but later decided to go his own way, although the order had long been associated with Freemasonry. There is a version that the Illuminati still secretly controls the world and it is they who should be blamed for various cataclysms, political and economic crises. Meanwhile, there is no evidence that the Illuminati exists in our time.

Templars

The founders of the Templar Order were beginning of XII centuries nine knights who took a vow to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land. Later, the order began to grow, it had followers in many European countries. The Templars were a very strong and powerful organization that had real power, wealth and influence. There is even a legend that they owned such Christian relics as the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Grail and the Blood of Christ. But after they were persecuted and mass executed in the 14th century, the order lost its influence... Although perhaps this is just an illusion. In any case, rumors about the Templars still pop up in different parts of the world.

Skull and Bones

This secret society was founded by William Russell in 1832 at Yale University. Initially it was called the Eulogia Club. The organization is quite influential in our time. Among the members of Skull and Bones are heads of state, major industrial magnates, and heads of intelligence services. Society meetings are held twice a week. Although the organization borrowed many rituals from the Freemasons, some experts argue that it is just a harmless student fraternity...

Bohemian Club

This is a private men's arts club located in San Francisco. Every year in July, its members gather in Monte Rio, California, to an estate on the territory of the Bohemian Grove with red trees... The first such “race” took place back in 1899.

According to some reports, the club has 1,500 members, including presidents, government officials, bankers, industrialists, famous artists and musicians... To join the club, they say, you need to wait at least 15 years. It is believed that all these people come here on vacation, but there are known cases when commercial deals were concluded in the Bohemian Grove and important agreements were signed... There are also rumors that Masonic, Satanist and other occult rituals are held there, since there are many representatives of the Bohemian Club various secret societies.

Given the trends towards globalization, the idea increasingly arises that power is concentrated in the hands of a narrow circle of individuals acting exclusively in their own interests. It may all make no sense, but we can never know for sure, which is why conspiracy theories are so popular these days. However, there are communities whose activities are kept under a veil of strict secrecy, their members do not openly declare their affiliation, and meetings are held without prying eyes.

Still, reporters sometimes manage to spot the strange intersections of the world's most powerful politicians and businessmen, and then speculate about the problems that could bring them together. On the list the most famous secret societies in the world you will see both some of the most ancient orders and heroes of popular novels.

1.

Most people who study the activities of this hacker group agree that Cicada is looking for talented cryptographers and code breakers to work for secret intelligence agencies. The fact is that every year they post encrypted riddles on various popular portals, and by solving them you can become a member of the society. However, the small amount of information about the Dragonfly allows only speculation based on the fact that during World War II, British intelligence identified talented youth through crossword puzzles in daily newspapers.

2. Skull and Bones

One of the most famous secret societies in the world, originated a century and a half ago at Yale University. Traditionally, graduates held important positions in politics or industry, which surprised few people, because they were members of wealthy and influential families. Even after graduation, they continued to keep in touch. To illustrate this, it will be enough for you to know that the twice-elected President Bush Jr. and the current US Secretary of State John Kerry graduated from Yale within two years of each other, and many analysts suggest that Kerry conceded the election to an unpopular candidate deliberately, as he was promised post in the next Democratic government.

3.

An extremely controversial organization that is unlikely to find fans among domestic readers. In the 40-50s of the last century, she actively helped Nazi criminals leave Europe and avoid trial at the Nuremberg trials. All this became possible solely thanks to the help of the United States, which wanted to get all the secret inventions of German scientists. The most striking example of such actions would be the escape of the group's founder, Otto Skorzeny, from prison after receiving a sentence for war crimes. He managed to escape by passing by the American military police, in the uniform of which he was dressed. Strange coincidence, isn't it?

4.

The Order of the Cross and the Rose, which is the full name of one of the most famous secret societies in the world, became the progenitor of most modern sects, and had a significant influence on the reform of the church in the Middle Ages. As its members claimed, they managed to comprehend secrets that are beyond the reach of vision ordinary person, and apply them to change the structure of society for the sake of progress. It was at the beginning of the 17th century that there was a softening of the policies of the Catholic Church, the start of widespread book printing and a lot of fundamental discoveries in the field of physics and chemistry, therefore it is the Rosicrucians who are credited with the liberation of science from the influence of religion.

5.

This was mentioned several times in Dan Brown's books. secret society, seeking to wrest control over the development of humanity from the church. In reality, everything looks much simpler, but much less clear. The fact is that the last official order of the Illuminati, located in Bavaria, was banned by the authorities at the end of the 18th century, and shortly before that a split occurred between its adherents. The goal of the Illuminati is considered to be to achieve a level of power where a group of individuals can control and direct the progress of all mankind. The information that most of the founding fathers of the United States were members of this order also adds fuel to the fire, which is confirmed by the presence on the banknote of a pyramid with an all-seeing eye and warm statements about the Illuminati by the third US president.

6. Masons

"Freemasons" the most famous secret society in the world, was born four hundred years ago, offering its members the opportunity to convey moral and ethical teachings to the broad masses, but to do this not through ordinary propaganda, but seeks to document it in the legislation of countries. Almost every country has its own lodge, to which several dozen more regional ones are subordinate. What is striking is the attitude of the Freemasons to religion; while preaching morality, they are not limited to a specific concept, but allow each member to maintain their own worldview if it coincides with any of the traditional religions. You can evaluate the influence of such a group yourself by the frequency of their mentions in historical chronicles and almost four million followers.

7.

The group took its name from the location of its first meeting, held at the Bilderberg Hotel 62 years ago. You can get here only by personal invitation, but almost every year leading financiers and media owners, as well as members of the government of the most influential countries in the Western Hemisphere, receive quotas. The topics of the meetings remain secret, but given the number of participants, it can be assumed that the most pressing political and financial difficulties developed countries. In the last century, there was a popular theory that it was this club that controlled the actions of the US Republican Party, which was refuted by the appearance of US President Barack Obama, a representative of the Democrats, in Denmark.

8.

One of the most famous secret societies in the world, also called “OTO,” was founded a century ago as a branch of Freemasonry, but if the “free masons” preach moral values, the Templars prefer to use occult teachings to intimidate the masses, hiding behind Christian ideology. The idea was taken from medieval treatises, when the church actively resorted to the use of force against dissenters, but if then this was approved even by the pope himself, now “OTO” is condemned by all three denominations of Christianity, because most of the rituals are of a satanic nature.

9.

The image of this community is actively used in art, both in science fiction and in documentaries. This group was studying the emergence of the Aryan race based on the myths and legends of the ancient world, where they somehow managed to survive after the collapse of Atlantis and recreate their family. Of course, a similar trend became widespread in Germany, especially during the Nazi period. There is also a popular theory that it was the Thule Society that taught Adolf Hitler eloquence and initiated him into the secrets of magical rites, which became main reason his political success, but recent research disproves the participation of senior NSDAP party officials in such organizations.

10.

The only known secret society in the world that arose in the Middle East. Despite the deep educational ideas, as well as the unification of the leading minds of the Muslim world to solve pressing problems, he did not abandon the laws of Sharia, considering them the only worthy means of dealing with people deprived of inner vision, a fifth of the entire teaching of the “Brothers of Purity” is devoted to this, the rest they talk about logic, physics and natural disciplines. It is believed that the society died as a result of the Crusades and the powerful expansion of European countries into the region during the colonial wars.

+ ODESSA

One should not ignore the association of former SS members, which actively assisted in the escape and attempts to avoid justice for the Nazis who were expected the death penalty for crimes against humanity. The clearest example of the action is the emergence of German settlements in Argentina and Peru, as well as the escape of Joseph Mengele, who performed inhumane experiments on prisoners and the inventor of the deadly gas Zyklon-B, used in concentration camps.

The history of the emergence of secret societies and secret organizations goes back centuries. Everything unknown in the minds of the people traditionally causes a lot of assumptions and speculation. However, today quite a lot is known about some of the secret organizations, their principles and charters.

Masons.

Officially, the organization of Freemasons was published in 1717, although there are some documents indicating that the activities of this group were registered back in the 14th century. The fraternity was originally created for people who shared key philosophical ideas of that time, including belief in a supreme being. The Masons paid Special attention moral issues, as a result, many of the heads of the lodges became known for their charitable activities And community service. Despite these harmless qualities, the Freemasons were not without criticism. Conspiracy theorists accuse them of being involved in nefarious occult practices and even political groups.

Typically, churches of all denominations criticize the Freemasons, since their moral teachings and esoteric spiritual beliefs are at odds with traditional religion. In the old days, Freemasonry was based on unique traditions and principles. Today, when the number of members is so large, and lodges are scattered all over the world, it becomes difficult to maintain the foundations. Only one practice remained unchanged, called the method of induction. The initiate must be recommended to the group by someone who is already a Freemason, and to reach the level of "Master" a person must go through three different levels. Members have prescribed modes of greeting each other, including handshakes, gestures, and passwords, and non-members are prohibited from attending meetings.

The number of famous members of Masonic lodges is truly impressive; we can recall, for example, Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, Henry Ford and Ben Franklin. Today, the Freemasons are less influential and secretive than ever, but still remain one of the most famous fraternities in the world. There are about 5 million officially members of Freemasonry alone.

Assassins.

The Assassins, or Nizari, were a mysterious group of Muslims active in the Middle East in the 13th century. The group included Shiites who broke away from the main sect and united to create their own utopian state. Since the Order's members were extremely small, they preferred to use guerrilla tactics in the fight against their enemies, including espionage, sabotage and political assassinations.

The Assassins infiltrated their highly trained agents into enemy cities and bases with instructions to attack at a strictly specified time. Secret assassins were known to seek to minimize civilian casualties, and victims were often frightened by the invisibility of their pursuers. According to history, enemy leaders woke up in the morning to find an Assassin’s dagger on their pillow with the note “You are in our power.” Over time, the legend of the secret Order grew. Even before the organization was finally destroyed by the Mongols, the assassins became famous for allegedly carrying out orders for such historical figures as King Richard the Lionheart.

Around the same time as the Order disintegrated, the entire library containing records about Nizari was destroyed. So much information was lost that today the Assassins appear to be nothing more than a myth. The legend about the use of drugs and intoxicants by members of the Order of the group seems controversial. The word "Hashshashin" itself roughly translates to "Hashish Users", indicating the possible use of stimulants in combat. The term itself was discredited, but the Nizari subsequently transformed it into the modern word “assassin” (killer).

Bilderberg Club.

Founded in the middle of the last century, the Bilderberg Club is often called the world government by conspiracy theorists. Its members are influential politicians, financiers, businessmen and media magnates from Europe and North America. There are about 400 people in total. They meet annually to discuss current world issues. But no concrete decisions are made. At least, this is stated on the website of the organization itself, but it is impossible to verify this. You can join the forum by invitation only. Outsiders, including journalists, are not allowed to attend meetings. Recording of these meetings is prohibited. Representatives of Russia periodically become guests of the Bilderberg Club. Among them are the founder of Yabloko, Grigory Yavlinsky, politician Garry Kasparov and the head of Rusnano Anatoly Chubais.

Illuminati.

One of the most famous Illuminati symbols is the glowing delta on the US dollar bill. Under the brand "Illuminati" in different time Various organizations have existed and, oddly enough, continue to exist. The first official brotherhood of the “enlightened” was formed in Bavaria in 1776. Adherents of this order fought against religion and promoted liberal ideas. The movement was banned by the authorities a few years after its founding. His ideologist, professor of canon law Adam Weishaupt, died in exile.

However, according to rumors, the Illuminati simply continued its activities, completely going into the shadows. They are credited with the creation of the United States and the October Revolution in Russia. Thanks to constant mentions in popular literature, the Illuminati still inspires fear today. Contemporary conspiracy theorists claim that the secret society has managed to survive and now exists as a sinister shadow government, guiding the actions of world politics and industry in the right direction.

In the 21st century, interest in the Illuminati awoke after the publication of the book “Angels and Demons” by the American writer Dan Brown. According to the plot, the descendants of a secret society take revenge on the Vatican for their murdered comrades.

Skull and Bones.

The most famous representatives of this secret society are George Bush Sr. and George W. Bush, as well as John Kerry. Ivy League colleges are known for their many secret societies and student organizations. Yale's Skull and Bones is the most famous of these. The organization arose in 1833, its members must come from the aristocracy, Protestants and Anglo-Saxon origin. Today, new members join the society every spring, the only real requirement being that the applicant must be a leader on his or her campus. As a result, the secret organization includes athletes, members student council and presidents of other fraternities. Several US presidents, many senators, and judges came out of Skull and Bones Supreme Court. This gave reason to believe that the organization is semi-underground, uniting political elite countries.

No one denies that this club is well funded - alumni created the Russel Trust Association, which keeps cash society. According to rumors, the group even owns its own island in upstate New York. Although the secret practices of Skull and Bones are not secret, rumors about the obligatory rituals still circulate. Although the society meets twice a week, it is still unknown what we're talking about. To the disappointment of conspiracy theorists, all credible rumors are fairly harmless. The group is associated in practice exclusively with student pranks.

The fame of “Skull and Bones” was given by legends about how new members are obliged to talk about their sexual fantasies, and analysis of sexual stories of childhood and youth is also carried out. It is also customary to give nicknames to all members of society. Thus, the tallest of them is called the “Long Devil”, the one with the greatest sexual experience is called “Magog” (this name was used by William and Robert Taft and Bush Sr.). But Bush Jr., apparently, was unable to conquer the group with his talents, receiving the nickname “Temporary.”

Order of the Eastern Templars.

This order is a mystical organization that appeared at the beginning of the twentieth century. The scheme is similar to a less hidden association, the Freemasons. The Eastern Templars rely on ritual and occult practices as a means to move community members from one level to another.

The general philosophy of the order is based on new era esoteric principles and practices as a way to realize true identity. Much of the group's knowledge, including the Mysteria Mystica Maxima manifesto, comes from the famous eccentric occultist Aleister Crowley. It was he who later became the leader of this secret society. After Crowley's death, the Order's influence and popularity waned, but today there are still many branches of the community scattered around the world. Mainly, these are the USA, Great Britain, and European countries. The growing popularity of Aleister Crowley at one time led to the fact that his brainchild, the Order Eastern Templars, eventually came to light. As a result, the organization became much less secret than before. However, this does not mean the loss of the most secret and forbidden practices. The main one is the association of sexual preferences, especially the teaching of “Phallus Worship” and the magic of masturbation.

Black hand.

The most famous member of this secret organization was Gavrilo Princip. The secret society “Black Hand” (another name is “Unity or Death”) was a national terrorist organization. It included anti-imperialist revolutionaries who fought for the liberation of Serbia from the rule of Austria-Hungary. The Black Hand was born in 1912. It is believed that the organization was originally an offshoot of the People's Defense, a group seeking to unite all Slavic peoples in Europe.

Taking into account its goals, the organization began to conduct anti-Austrian propaganda, preparing saboteurs and murderers for the overthrow in the province state power. The plans included inciting a war between Austria and Serbia, which would make it possible to escape from the imperial yoke and unite the Slavic peoples. The head of the “Black Hand” was Colonel Dragutin Dmitrievich, who served as the head of Serbian counterintelligence. In fact, the entire state apparatus of the country was controlled by a secret organization.

Today, the activities of this terrorist organization would be forgotten if not for the participation of the Black Hand in one of the most significant events of the 20th century. In 1914, a group of terrorists from Mlada Bosna (a branch of the Black Hand) assassinated the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand, starting the First World War. Events began to grow like a snowball. Soon Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and the allies of both sides entered into action. On the ruins of the First World War, the Second World War broke out, and subsequently “ Cold War" Thus, the Black Hand can be considered one of the most influential forces of the turbulent twentieth century.

Knights of the Golden Circle.

This secret society flourished in the United States during the American Civil War. At first, the group sought to support the annexation of Mexico and the West Indies to the country, which could help revive the dying slave trade. However, with the outbreak of hostilities, the Knights switched their attention from colonialism to warm support new Confederate government.

The organization had several thousand followers who even formed their own partisan detachments and began raiding fortresses in the West. IN northern states the mysterious order also had big influence. Lots of newspapers and public figures sympathized with the Southerners, including President Franklin Pierce, who was a member of the Knights. Unlike most other secret societies, it doesn't only care about rare meetings and mysterious plans. The knights were able to organize their own army and tried to resolve their issues from a position of strength. In 1860, a militant group attempted to invade Mexico.

During their own war, the Knights robbed stagecoaches and even attempted to blockade the port of San Francisco. On a short time even managed to take control of the southern state of New Mexico. With the end of the Civil War, the organization's activities gradually faded away, although many blame it for organizing the assassination of Lincoln.

Thule Society.

The most famous members of this German occult and political secret society were Rudolf Hess, Arthur Rosenberg, and even rumored to be Adolf Hitler himself. If many secret organizations are only suspected of their ulterior motives, then in the case of the Thule Society everything turned out to be proven.

Immediately after the end of the First World War, this organization was unofficially created in Germany. The initial Masonic ideas quickly gave way to occult ones, and over time the organization began to promote the ideology of the superiority of the Aryan race. This translated into a racist approach towards Jews and other minorities. Over time, the secret society could boast of several thousand of its members, and even published its own propaganda newspaper. In 1919, members of the Thule Society organized political organization"German Workers' Party". Later, young Adolf Hitler became its member, and it itself transformed into the National Socialist German Party, giving rise to Nazism.

The members of the Thule Society themselves took part in strange activities long before the advent of Nazism. They enthusiastically tried to find the origins of the Aryan race, looking for them in the mythical land of Thule. According to legends, a mythical land with a developed civilization existed somewhere in the region of the North Pole, and Iceland is all that remains of the land that went under water. There are many conspiracy theories surrounding the Thule Society. Although the organization was banned by Hitler, it is said that it gave him the magical secrets of power and successful public speaking.

Sons of Liberty.

The Sons of Liberty were a loosely organized group of dissidents who had been active in America since before the Revolutionary War. Their goal was to bring about a change in British law in light of the administration of the colonies.

The Sons of Liberty did not exist as a secret society in the traditional sense, but rather as a grouping of patriotic factions in support of a common cause. They usually met in Boston, near the elm tree, which has since received the name of the Liberty tree. It was here that the group developed its resistance policy, which included the distribution of brochures and even some acts of sabotage and terrorism. Such actions led to the fact that the British began to persecute the Sons of Liberty, considering their actions criminal. The organization even began to be called “Sons of Violence.” The group eventually became the most prominent among those who sowed the seeds of revolution among the colonists, and for coining the famous phrase "No taxation without representation!"

Although the Sons of Liberty in Boston were the most well-known group, factions were spread across 13 colonies. One group in Rhode Island looted and burned the British merchant ship Gaspee to protest unjust laws, while others simply denigrated British supporters. But the most famous incident involving the Sons is the Boston Tea Party in 1773, when members of the community dressed as Indians had tea thrown into the sea from British ships. These events marked the beginning of the American Revolution.