Europe, Middle Ages 800-Year Prelude

Europe, Middle Ages

800-Year Prelude to the Da Vinci Code

"Mr. Jean de Gisors, now that we are at the start of a new decade -- 1220 A.D. -- it's a good time to begin work on your long-awaited autobiography."

"I agree, Marie de Saint-Clair. If you are ready to begin, I'd like to start with my political and religious ambitions, and then fill in the personal details later."

"That sounds great, Jean. I'm ready when you are."

"As you well know, Marie, I was born in France in 1133 where I've lived for the vast majority of my life. I was fortunate enough to be a wealthy and powerful land owner with estates in England and in Sussex, and a manor of Titchfield in Hampshire, which have helped color my political aspirations. I was privileged to be a vassal of the king of England until 1193, and have served as lord of that noted fortress located in Normandy, which was the location of the infamous Battle of Gisors between forces of France and those of England. Furthermore, I have been fortunate enough to make the acquaintance and secure the friendship of a number of salient men, including Thomas a Becket. I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but I had opportunity to meet with Mr. Becket in 1169 here at Becket, just one short year before he was brutally murdered."

"Did that interview have any relationship with your religious and political views, Mr. de Gisors?"

"In an indirect way it did, Marie. As you know, my life's work began in earnest in 1188 when I founded the Priory de Zion, the same organization I fully expect you to preside over one day when I am no longer able to."

A discernible gleam overtakes the 86-year-old's eyes. Marie straightens up from his writing, suddenly more focused on de Gisors' dialogue than on his annotations.

"I grant you the sacred charge of propagating our order under any and all conditions, because it is sure to have a lasting effect on posterity. As I've told you many times, the Priory de Zion has been the guiding force behind the Knights Templars, the French faction which has been our military might and the possessor of the holy grail which Mary Magdalene took into this country after the crucifixion of Jesus."

"That cup symbolizes the bloodline of our order as being descended from a divinity which has been passed down through the Merovingian ancestry and to which we are the rightful heirs. You must carefully preserve this knowledge I'm telling you and contain it only within our order, which strives to reassert our rights to the throne of the world."

"I will Jean. Wouldn't it be great if we were able to safeguard such a secret so that our order traversed through country lines, nation states, and occupations?"

The gleam which had flared within de Gisors' eyes now forcefully overtakes de Saint-Clair's, who ardently continues in a rare outburst of volubility.