How did the illuminati come into being?

The Illuminati (one name they went by) was formed by Professor Adam Weishaupt on 1 May 1776 as an Age of Enlightenment organization. Per their name (Illuminati is literally illuminated in Latin) they sought knowledge, and had the semi-political aim of separating the Catholic Church's control of government of that time. This worked against them by drawing the attention of the church, resulting in then Pope Pius VI's successful attempt to shut them down. In 1785 Duke of Bavaria Charles Theodore ordered the disbanding of all secret societies, and Weishaupt fled prosecution, dying in self-imposed exile in 1830.