Knights of the Maccabees

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The Knights of the Maccabees was a fraternal organization formed in 1878 in London, Ontario, Canada.

A related but separate organization "Maccabees of the World" was also established, the two merging under the title "The Knights of the Maccabees of the World" (KOTMOTW) later shortened to the "Maccabees" in 1914.

Most active in the U.S. state of Michigan, the group's fraternal aspects took a backseat to providing low-cost insurance to members. In the society's early years, it also provided other final-expense related benefits such as society cemeteries.

By 1920 the ladies' auxiliary, Ladies of the Maccabees, alone claimed more than 200,000 members.

In 1926, they established their headquarters at the Maccabees Building in downtown Detroit, Michigan. In 1960, the Maccabees relocated to a new building in Southfield, Michigan - a suburb of Detroit. In 1986, they built new 251,000 square foot office building, once again in Southfield.

In 1941 the group gained control of the Michigan Union Life Association, furthering its transformation from a benefit society into a modern, legal-reserve insurance company.

In 1962, the group changed its name again, this time to the Maccabees Mutual Life Insurance Company.

In the 1990s the organization was demutualized and sold to the Royal Insurance Group and operated under the name Royal Maccabees Life Insurance Company.

In 1999, Royal Maccabees was sold by its parent company, Royal & SunAlliance Financial Services. Swiss Re took over much of the coverage. Royal Maccabees no longer exists as an insurance company.