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ORDO SUPREMUS MILITARIS TEMPLI HIEROSOLYMITANI®
The Magistral Grand Priory of The Holy Lands
(Notre Dame, Saint Mary of Magdalene)
The
Merovingians
by G C H Nullens
The Facts
This Frankish dynasty has always been known as the "first race" of the
kings of France. It reigned on Gaul from the 5th to the 8th century that means
from Clovis I (481-511) to Childeric III (743-751). Its name comes from Merovech
who was Childeric I's father. Childeric I ruled over the Salian Frank tribe from
his capital in Tournai, Belgium. His son, Clovis I born in 465 succeeded him in
481 or 482 A.D. He rallied under him in addition to the Salian the Ripuarian
Franks and the Alamanni. He defeated Syagrius and the Visigoth king Alaric II in
507. His country extended this way to the Pyrennées. His conversion from
Paganism to the Catholic religion promoted the fusion between the Franks and the
Gallo-Roman population of the conquered countries. This assured the survival of
his achievements whereas his Visigoth predecessors had been Arians trying to
rule the Catholic Gaul.
The territories were partitioned between his three sons at his death in 511 but
he expansion went on with the conquest of Burgundy. Clotaire I reunited the
territories in 558 but it was partitioned again in 561, It took half a century
of internal battles and the arrival of Clotaire II to reunite them again in 613.
Dagobert I became the sole king in 629. On Dagobert's death in 639 the kingdom
was divided again. Siegebert III had been King of Austrasia under Dagobert I
until 639 and then sole king until 656. At his death Dagobert II became King of
Austrasia until 660 or 661 when the Carolingians took over. Dagobert II was
restored in 676 until his assassination in 679. He had a son called Sigebert IV.
It is not known for certain if he was killed with his father or if he escaped.
The Carolingians took gradually over as Grand Master of the Palace and reduced
the Merovingians Kings to mere puppets especially with Pepin II of Herstal. In
the winter of 751-752 the last Merovingian King, Childeric III, was deposed and
the Carolingian Pepin the Short was elected King in his place. He was send to a
monastery with his son and did not leave any successor.
The only possibility to have continuity in the Merovingian dynasty would be with
Dagobert II's son, Sigebert IV, if it could be proved that he was not killed
with his father.
The Story
The treasure found by the priest Bérenger Saunière in Rennes-le-Chateau was
saved for the future King of France. This King is not the official pretender
from the Orleans family but the offspring of the Merovingian King, Saint
Dagobert II. His son, Sigebert IV, was thought to have died with his father.
This is not true according to the fourth parchment found by Saunière. As we
know it was taken from Saunière and kept in Paris by the experts of Saint
Sulpice. The abbot Bieil gave it to Emile Hoffet who kept it for himself.
When he died this document was bought by the British "International League
of Antiquarian Booksellers" or so the story goes. A copy was given to the
owner of the castle of Rennes-le-Chateau, Mr Marius Fatin, a well-known mason.
According to this league, the castle is important due to the fact that it is
there that Sigebert IV hid himself after he escaped after his father' s
assassination. His descendants, the counts of Rhedae and the Dukes of Razès
lived there too. This was written in the fourth parchment signed by Blanche de
Castille found by Saunière in the Visigoth pillar in his Church. The parchment,
according to the same source, was put there by the priest Bigou in 1788-1789.
Before that date it was with the will of François-Pierre, Baron d'Hautpoul de
Rennes and registered by the public notary Captier on 23 November 1644 in Espéraza.
Saint Dagobert II was the grandson of Dagobert I. This last one succeeded to
keep the Francs kingdom created by Clotaire II united until his death in 639.
His successors divided the kingdom and Dagobert II, for instance, was only the
King of Austrasia. After the death of his father, Sigebert III, in 656 his
adopted son, Childéric I, reigned from 656 to 662. Childéric II followed him
from 662 to 676. Finally Dagobert II climbed on the throne but he was
assassinated in 679 as well as his son Sigebert IV according to the official
history. The assassination was ordered by the palace Master Pépin d'Héristal.
The Merovingian dynasty continued formally with Thierry IV and Childéric III
who was removed in 751 and this was the end of the dynasty. According to the
parchment found by Saunière, and this could be true according to some
historians, Sigebert IV escaped and arrived in the Razes on the 17 of January
681 where he took refuge with his grand father. Dagobert II had as a second wife
Gisèle, the daughter of Béra II the count of Razès. The Merovingian line
included, after Sigebert IV (676-758) also known as the "Plant-Ard" -
from whom Mr Plantard took his name!-: Sigebert V (695-768), Bera III (715-771),
Guillemon, Bera IV (755-836), Bera V (794-860), Hildéric I and finally Sigebert
VI known as "Ursus". From this lineage came the Blanchefort family who
gave three centuries later a Templar Grand Master, Bertrand de Blanchefort. The
Pope who destroyed the Templars, Clement V, came from the same family. According
to the parchment found by Saunière the lineage did not stop with Sigebert VI
but continued up to this date although nobody claimed the French throne. (o)
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