Below is a link which is very informatiive about the Secret Societies
that we are talking about here on the forum. Take your time to browse
the entire website and its various links. Very, very interesting.

http://www.royalhouseofstewart.org.uk/dragon.htm

Secret societies are far older than the 15th century. The Freemasons for example, had oral traditions about the antediluvians. Interesting site though. Vlad Tepes was part of the Order of the Dragon in Wallachia.

I don't know how well this fits in but, there have always been people with the money to make grand plans. Often they didn't want anyone to know who it was thta turned the wheel. That might be because they didn't want to have to explain thier actions to anyone. Look at all the flack the last few presidents have cought.

I guess in a way even the Roman Catholic church is kind of like a secret society. They where the ruling force in Europe for a long time and it's possible that many people never knew who pulled all the strings.

There have been fraternal organizations as early as the ancient Greeks.

Are there two Order of the Dragons: an Hungarian and a Wallachian?

the suppresion of knowledge, and selective enlightenment to that knowledge, is the very foundation of control

there have always been secret societies, different mask, same face

Farthest I've seen/read for secret societies is Sumer, but I figure was probably some politicing/secret societying going on before Sumer even.