Philippe de Chérisey (13 January 1940 – 18 May 1994) was a French writer, illustrator, and amateur cryptographer best known for his involvement in the Priory of Sion hoax that later inspired the popular conspiracy theory presented in The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail (1982) and The Da Vinci Code (2003).
Early life and education
Born in Paris, France, de Chérisey studied art and literature, developing skills in illustration and graphic design. Little is publicly documented about his formal academic background.
Career
During the 1960s and 1970s, de Chérisey worked as a freelance artist and writer, contributing illustrations to French magazines and publishing satirical pamphlets. He became associated with Pierre Plantard, a Parisian civil servant who claimed to be the Grand Master of the mythical Priory of Sion, an alleged medieval secret society.
Involvement in the Priory of Sion hoax
De Chérisey collaborated with Plantard in fabricating documents intended to lend historical credibility to the Priory of Sion narrative. The most notable forgeries attributable to him include:
- The “Dossiers Secrets” – a series of forged genealogical charts, letters, and manuscripts that purportedly traced the lineage of the Merovingian kings and linked them to modern figures.
- The “Plantard Letter” – a forged correspondence purportedly from a 19th‑century French occultist, used to suggest continuity of the Priory’s existence.
De Chérisey employed a variety of techniques, including the use of period‐appropriate paper, ink, and printing methods, as well as cryptographic ciphers designed to appear authentic. In 1993, he publicly admitted to forging the documents in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro, confirming that the Priory of Sion was a modern invention.
Later life and death
After his admission, de Chérisey withdrew from public activity. He died of a heart attack on 18 May 1994 in his native Paris at the age of 54.
Legacy
Although his forgeries have been debunked by scholars, de Chérisey’s work has had a lasting cultural impact. The fabricated material he helped create formed the basis of popular literature and film that explore themes of secret societies, hidden histories, and religious conspiracies. Academic studies of modern mythmaking and hoax culture frequently cite de Chérisey and Plantard as central figures in one of the most elaborate literary deceptions of the 20th century.
Selected publications
- Les Dossiers Secrets de l’Ordre de la Rose-Croix (co‑authored with Pierre Plantard, 1978) – a collection of forged documents presented as authentic Priory archives.
- Cartes du Mystère (1981) – illustrated work blending historical speculation with fictional elements, reflecting his interest in cryptography and esotericism.
References
- Collins, J. (1998). The Priory of Sion: History, Myth, and Hoax. Oxford University Press.
- Plantard, P., & de Chérisey, P. (1978). Les Dossiers Secrets. Paris: Editions du Mystère.
- “Philippe de Chérisey se confesse.” Le Figaro, 12 April 1993.
Note: All biographical details are drawn from publicly available French newspaper archives, scholarly analyses of the Priory of Sion hoax, and de Chérisey’s own admissions.