Andrew Gough's Arcadia

The mystery of Rennes-le-Château is predicated on two primary elements; (1) the Priory Documents and (2) the Archaeology & Artefacts of the legend. Let’s take a closer look at each and reflect on what they tell us.

The Priory Documents are a collection of papers, clippings, and genealogies that were deposited in the French National Library (Bibliothèque Nationale) between 1964 and 1967. Essentially, the documents comprise the essence of what we know about the legend of Rennes-le-Château. They also provide considerable insight into our understanding of the Priory of Sion.

Put another way; if the Priory Documents did not exist, nor would the legend of Rennes-le-Château (see The Legend of Rennes-le-Château).

So what do we know about the documents? For a start, their authenticity is extremely questionable. Not only are the documents difficult to corroborate with other historical sources, but equally worrying, the identities of those who authored and deposited them in the French National Library appears entirely fraudulent. In fact, most were deceased by the time the Priory document was authored. In several instance, the would-be author never existed in the first place. What better way to ensure that someone does not object to being entwined in the story?

The following is a summary of the primary Priory Documents:

Summary of Primary Priory Documents
Priory Document	Year Deposited	Deposited By	Description
Genealogy of the Merovingian Kings	1964	Henri Lobineau, a supposed Pseudonym for Leo Schidlof	Contains various genealogical tables linking the Plantard family to the Merovinginians, as well as detail on the lineage of Dagobert II. The file is said to have been first published in Geneva in 1956. Nicolas Poussin is featured, as is his painting Shepard’s of Arcadia. A map of the old Aude, the region around Rennes-le-Château is provided. Another document, ‘The Enigma of Rhedae’ details Saunière’s trip to Paris and the history of the mystery.
A Merovingian Treasure of Rennes-le-Château	1966 (13 May)	Antoine l’Ermite (Anthony the Hermit)	This ten page booklet was first published in 1961 and recounts the conventional story of Rennes-le-Château. Most of it is told in an interview style, quoting from Noel Corbu, the local businessman who purchased Saunière’s estate after the Abbe’s death. Suspiciously, the author’s name translates as Anthony the Hermit, the name of one of the three paintings Saunière allegedly purchased in the Lourve, in Paris, after having made his discovery.
Engraved Stones of the Languedoc	1966 (20 June)	Antoine l’Ermite	This priory document is a particular confusing collection of plates from a book that appears to have never existed; the Engraved Stones of the Languedoc by Eugene Stublein. Oddly, many authentic plates are incorrectly attributed to him. It would appear that the purpose of the document is to establish the credibility of the code found on the Tombstone of the Nobel, Marie de Nègre d’Ables.
The Red Snake (Le Serpent Rouge)	1967 (20 March)	Pierre Fougere, Louis Saint-Maxent, Gaston de Koker	The Red Snake is a bizarre collection of twelve lucid poems, one for each sign in the zodiac. Many reference Rennes-le-Château, The Rose Line, ‘Et in Ardadia Ego’ or Saint-Sulpice. The document includes two Merovingian period maps of France, genealogies, and the ground plan of Saint-Sulpice. Suspiciously, the documents three authors hung themselves, entirely independently, on or around the same day, before the document was filed.
The Secret Files of Henri Lobineau	1967	Henry Lobineau	The Secret Files of Henri Lobineau consists of a disjointed collection of clippings, genealogies, maps and alternative versions of the mystery of Rennes-le-Château. Many appear to link Pierre Plantard with Dagobert II and the rightful successor to the throne of France. Another establishes the Priory of Sion as having been founded in 1188, by Jean de Gisors.

Rene Descadeillas, a respected French journalist and local historian from Carcassonne, reported on Saunières life, circa 1962. Descadeillas believed the Parchments never existed! Frankly, given the questionable integrity of the catalogue of work, who can blame him?

Clearly, the Priory Documents represent a complex, long term approach to manipulating history. They also appear to be the fraudulent work of a few, shadowy puppet masters, namely Pierre Plantard and his colleague Philippe de Cherisey. The motivation and behaviour of these figures is arguably the real mystery of Rennes-le-Château (but more on that another day). But why go to all that trouble?

The Priory Documents: Parchment 1

The Priory Documents: Parchment 2

History of the Merovingians, courtesy of Henri Lobineau

The Red Snake; Le Serpent Rouge Cover Page

A Merovingian Treasure of Rennes-le-Château, courtesy of Antoine l’Ermite

Read More - Part II