Priory of Sion
A purported secret society founded in 1099, central to the Holy Bloodline and Da Vinci Code theories, later exposed as a 20th-century hoax by Pierre Plantard.
INVESTIGATION OVERVIEW
The Priory of Sion was allegedly a secret society founded in 1099 that protected the Merovingian bloodline of Jesus Christ. The story was popularized by the 1982 book 'The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail' and Dan Brown's 2003 novel 'The Da Vinci Code.' The Priory claimed grand masters including Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, and Victor Hugo. In 1993, French journalist Jean-Luc Chaumeil exposed the Priory as a hoax created by Pierre Plantard in 1956. Plantard had fabricated documents (the 'Dossiers Secrets') and deposited them in the French National Library. Despite the exposure, the Priory of Sion remains a fixture in alternative history and conspiracy literature.
KEY CLAIMS
The Priory of Sion has protected the Merovingian bloodline of Jesus Christ since 1099
Famous historical figures including Leonardo da Vinci were grand masters
The Priory knows the location of the Holy Grail (the bloodline, not a cup)
The Catholic Church has suppressed knowledge of the bloodline for centuries
The Priory was exposed as a hoax, but some believe the hoax was a cover story
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
The 'Dossiers Secrets' were deposited in the French National Library and appeared authentic
The list of grand masters includes verifiable historical figures
The 1982 book 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail' presented the theory as non-fiction
Dan Brown's novel brought the theory to a global audience
The hoax was documented by journalists who traced Plantard's activities
COUNTER ARGUMENTS
Pierre Plantard admitted the Priory was his creation in a 1993 court testimony
The 'Dossiers Secrets' were proven to be forgeries deposited by Plantard
No historical records of the Priory exist before 1956
The grand master list was fabricated from historical figures with no connection to each other
The bloodline theory relies on unsubstantiated genealogical claims
TIMELINE
Plantard creates the Priory of Sion
Plantard deposits forged documents in French National Library
'Holy Blood, Holy Grail' published
Plantard admits hoax under oath
'The Da Vinci Code' published
KEY FIGURES
Pierre Plantard
Creator of the Priory of Sion hoax
Henry Lincoln
Co-author of 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail'
Dan Brown
Author of 'The Da Vinci Code'
ORGANIZATIONS
Priory of Sion
Alleged Secret Society (Hoax)
Opus Dei
Catholic Organization
SOURCES
RELATED ENTITIES
PEOPLE
Pierre Plantard
Henry Lincoln
Dan Brown
ORGANIZATIONS
Priory of Sion
Opus Dei
EVENTS
Plantard creates the Priory of Sion
1956
Plantard deposits forged documents in French National Library
1960s
'Holy Blood, Holy Grail' published
1982
Plantard admits hoax under oath
1993
'The Da Vinci Code' published
2003