Philippe de Chérisey

Philippe Louis Henri Marie de Chérisey, the 9th Marquess de Chérisey, was born on February 13, 1923, in Lorraine, France, and passed away on July 17, 1985. A multifaceted individual, he made his mark as a writer, radio humorist, surrealist, and actor under the pseudonym Amédée.

De Chérisey is perhaps most famously associated with the Priory of Sion hoax, particularly through his creation of forged parchments featured in Gérard de Sède's 1967 publication, *L'Or de Rennes*. His involvement in this elaborate deception spanned from 1962 to 1983, where he skillfully blended elements of history and fiction.

Despite his affluent upbringing, de Chérisey pursued a career in acting against his family's wishes. He trained at the René Simon drama school in 1946, leading to his memorable role in the acclaimed 1952 film *Jeux interdits*. Known for his love of life, he was a bon viveur who enjoyed wine and spent countless hours in public libraries, driven by an insatiable curiosity.

An admirer of the surrealist movement, de Chérisey claimed to have known playwright Eugene Ionesco and was affiliated with the College of Pataphysics, although his contributions to these circles remain unsubstantiated. He aimed to challenge cultural norms and construct an alternate reality, particularly through the narrative of the Priory of Sion, where he playfully referred to himself as a prankster. His notable work, the esoteric novella *Circuit*, was initially written in 1968 but was not officially archived in the Bibliothèque nationale de France until 1971.