Priory of Sion

Popularized by The Da Vinci Code and brought into public light by Holy Blood, Holy Grail (HBHG); the existence of the Priory of Sion is almost as enigmatic as the Grail itself.  The authors of HBHG interviewed, at the time, Grand Master of the Priory; Pierre Plantard.  Through the interviews with Plantard, the HBHG team made the assertion that the Priory existed to restore the blood line of the Merovingian to the throne of France.  They also held the secrets to the Holy Grail.

On the flip side of the coin, the list of Grand Masters of the Priory is as fantastical as the history of the group.  Add in Plantard was found guilty in a French court of law for fraud relating to the Priory and you have a huge secret society mess on your hands.  Do they exist, did they exist, and is the Priory a fraud or not?  Maybe the links here will help you to form your own opinion.