Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney and feudal baron of Roslin (c. 1345 Рc. 1400), was a Scottish nobleman. He is sometimes identified by another spelling of his surname, St. Clair. He was the grandfather of William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness, the builder of Rosslyn Chapel. He is also noted for the modern legend that he undertook early explorations of Greenland and North America in about the year 1398. According to a biography published a few decades after his death, he died in battle against English forces around the year 1400.^{[citation needed]} Roslin Castle (sometimes spelt Rosslyn) is a castle near the village of Roslin in Midlothian, Scotland, to the south of the Scottish capital city Edinburgh. ... Events Miracle of the Host Births October 31 - King Fernando I of Portugal (died 1383) Agn̬s of Valois, daughter of John II of France (died 1349) Eleanor Maltravers, English noblewoman (died 1405) Deaths April 14 - Richard Aungerville, English writer and bishop (born 1287) September 16 - John IV, Duke of... Events Henry IV quells baron rebellion and executes The Earls of Kent, Huntingdon and Salisbury for their attempt to have Richard II of England restored as King Jean Froissart writes the Chronicles Medici family becomes powerful in Florence, Italy Births December 25 - John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley, Lord Lieutenant of... This article is about the country. ... Look up Noble in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Noble can refer to: Nobility, a hereditary caste Nobel Prize, awarded to people who have made outstanding contributions to society Noble gas, chemical elements in group 18 (old-style Group 0) of the periodic table Noble metal, metals that are resistant to... William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness, 3rd Earl of Orkney(until 1470), Baron of Roslin (1410-1484) was a Scottish nobleman and the builder of Rosslyn Chapel. ... Rosslyn Chapel. ... North American redirects here. ... Events Glendalough monastery, Wicklow Ireland destroyed. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Events Henry IV quells baron rebellion and executes The Earls of Kent, Huntingdon and Salisbury for their attempt to have Richard II of England restored as King Jean Froissart writes the Chronicles Medici family becomes powerful in Florence, Italy Births December 25 - John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley, Lord Lieutenant of...

Life

Henry was son and heir of William Sinclair, Lord of Rosslyn, and Isobel of Strathearn, a daughter of Maol Ísa, Earl of Orkney. Henry's maternal grandfather had been deprived of much of his lands (the earldom of Strathearn being completely lost to the King of Scots). Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Maol Íosa V of Strathearn (also Maol Íosa of Orkney) was the last of the native Gaelic family of Strathearn mormaers. ...

On his father's death in 1358, Henry succeeded as Laird of Rosslyn. Events Jacquerie. ...

Three cousins: Alexander de L'Arde, Lord of Caithness; Malise Sparre, Lord of Skaldale; and Henry, were rivals for the succession to the earldom of Orkney. On August 2, 1379 at Marstrand, near Tønsberg, Norway, King Haakon VI of Norway invested and confirmed Henry as the Norwegian Earl of Orkney over a rival claim by his cousin Malise Sparre. is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1379 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... Haakon VI Magnusson (appr. ... Earl of Orkney - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

In 1389, Henry attended the coronation of king Eric of Pomerania in Norway, and pledged his oath of fealty. Historians have speculated that in 1391, Earl Henry and his troops slew Malise Sparre near Scalloway, Tingwall, Shetland. Eric of Pomerania A caricature of the king, the only contemporary likeness of him in existence Eric of Pomerania, Erik af Pommern, Erik VII (Danish title), Erik av Pommern (Eirik III) (Norwegian title) Erik av Pommern (Eric XIII) (Swedish title) or Eryk Pomorski (Polish title), was adopted by Margaret I... For other uses, see Shetland (disambiguation). ...

The Sinclair voyage to America?

Little else is known about Sinclair's life. Much has been written through conjecture, however, about his possible career as an explorer. In particular, starting in 1784, he was identified by Johann Reinhold Forster as possibly being the Prince Zichmni described in letters allegedly written around the year 1400 by the Zeno brothers of Venice, in which they describe a voyage throughout the North Atlantic under the command of Zichmni.^[1] 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Johann Reinhold Forster Johann Reinhold Forster and Georg Forster in Tahiti, by John Francis Rigaud (1742-1810), 1780. ... Zichmni is the name of an explorer-prince appearing in a 1558 book by Nicolo Zeno of Venice, allegedly based on letters and a map written around the year 1400 by the authors ancestors, the brothers Nicolo and Antonio Zeno. ... Events Henry IV quells baron rebellion and executes The Earls of Kent, Huntingdon and Salisbury for their attempt to have Richard II of England restored as King Jean Froissart writes the Chronicles Medici family becomes powerful in Florence, Italy Births December 25 - John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley, Lord Lieutenant of... The Zeno brothers refers to the brothers Nicolò and Antonio Zeno (fl. ... For other uses, see Venice (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Atlantic (disambiguation) The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ...

The authenticity of the letters (which were allegedly rediscovered and published in the early 16th century), the exact course of the voyage, as well as whether or not it even occurred, are challenged by historians. Most regard the letters (and the accompanying map) as a hoax by the Zenos, who published them. Moreover, the identification of Zichmni as Henry Sinclair is very controversial, although it is taken for granted among supporters of the theory. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... A hoax is an attempt to trick an audience into believing that something false is real. ...

The most controversial theories speculate that Henry/Zichmni traveled not only to Greenland but to present-day Nova Scotia, where he may have founded a settlement among the Micmac Indians, and perhaps as far south as present-day Massachusetts and Rhode Island. According to these theories, his expedition may have been responsible for the building of the Newport Tower and the carving of the Westford Knight. Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Regional Municipality Official languages English (de facto) Government Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament House seats 11 Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867... The Mikmaq (also Míkmaq, Micmac; in Quebec, Migmaq) are a First Nations people indigenous to northeastern New England, Canadas Maritimes and the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... The Newport Tower The Newport Tower is a round stone tower located in Touro Park in Newport, Rhode Island. ... The Westford Knight, shown along Depot Street in Westford, Massachusetts A detail of the rock, showing the sword. The shield has been painted on, supposedly to indicate an underlying carving The Westford Knight is alternately perceived as a carving, a natural feature, or a combination of both, found on a...

The theory that Henry Sinclair explored North America is based on several separate propositions:

1. That the letters and map ascribed to the Zeno brothers and published in 1558 are authentic.
2. That the voyage described in the letters as taken by Zichmni around the year 1398 actually reached North America.
3. That Zichmni is Henry Sinclair.

The Theory also hinges on the contention that there are stone carvings of American plants in Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland, plants supposedly not seen by Europeans until Columbus.^[2] The Chapel was built by Henry Sinclair's grandson William Sinclair and was completed in 1486. Columbus made his first voyage in 1492. This is seen by authors Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas as being compelling evidence for the theory that Henry sailed to America.^[2] Others suggest that the plants are not American at all. January 7 - French troops led by Francis, Duke of Guise take Calais, the last continental possession of the Kingdom of England July 13 - Battle of Gravelines: In France, Spanish forces led by Count Lamoral of Egmont defeat the French forces of Marshal Paul des Thermes at Gravelines. ... Events Glendalough monastery, Wicklow Ireland destroyed. ... Rosslyn Chapel. ... Events Tízoc, Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan dies. ...

Sinclair's Voyage and the Knights Templar

Intertwined with the Sinclair voyage story is the claim that Henry Sinclair was a Knight Templar and that the voyage either was sponsored by or conducted on the behalf of the Templars, though the order was suppressed almost a century before Henry's lifetime.^[3] For other uses, see Knights Templar (disambiguation). ...

Knight and Lomas speculate that the Knights Templar discovered under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem a royal archive dating from King Solomon's times that stated that Phoenicians from Tyre, by orders of Solomon, voyaged to a westerly continent following a star called "La Merika". According to Knight and Lomas, the Templars learned that to sail to that continent, they had to follow a star by the same name, which became the origin of the name "America". Sinclair supposedly followed this route, seeking refuge from the suppression of the Templars.^[4]

The theory also makes use of the supposed Templar connection to explain the name Nova Scotia ("New Scotland" in Latin), basing themselves on the 18th century tale that some Templars escaped the suppression of their order by fleeing to Scotland of Robert the Bruce^[5] and fought in the Battle of Bannockburn.^[6] However, this story was invented by Fr. Hay c.1700 and is not supported by any evidence. Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Regional Municipality Official languages English (de facto) Government Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament House seats 11 Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867... This article is about the country. ... Robert I, King of Scots, usually known as Robert the Bruce (July 11, 1274 – June 7, 1329, reigned 1306 – 1329), was, according to a modern biographer (Geoffrey Barrow), a great hero who lived in a minor country. ... Combatants Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of England Commanders Robert Bruce Edward II Strength about 6,500 20,000 Casualties unknown but light about 9,000 The Battle of Bannockburn (Blàr Allt a Bhonnaich in Gaelic) (June 24, 1314) was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence. ...

Claims persist that Rosslyn Chapel contains Templar imagery. Andrew Sinclair speculates that the grave slab now in the crypt is that of a Templar knight^[7]: According to author Robert Lomas, the chapel also has an engraving depicting a knight templar holding the sword over a head of an initiate, supposedly to protect the secrets of the templars.^[8] Rosslyn Chapel was built by Sir William St Clair, last St Clair Earl of Orkney, who was the grandson of Henry. According to Lomas, Sir William, the chapel builder, is also the direct ancestor of the first Grand Master of Masons of Scotland, also named William St Clair (Sinclair).^[9]

According to Lomas, the Sinclairs and their French relatives the St. Clairs were instrumental in creating the Knights Templar. He claims that the founder of Templars Hugh de Payns was married to a sister of the Duke of Champaine (Henri de St. Clair), ^[10] who was a powerful broker of the first Crusade and had the political power to nominate the Pope, and to suggest the idea and empower it to the Pope. It is believed that that St Clair was the ninth of the first members, that his name was secret (i.e. he was a sleeper), and that the position of sleeper continued in the Sinclair family line. Hughes or Huges de Payens or de Pains or de Payns (c. ...

However, a biography of Hugues de Payen by Thierry Leroy ^[11] identifies his wife and the mother of his children as Elizabeth de Chappes. The book draws its information on the marriage from local church cartularies dealing chiefly with the disposition of the Grand Master's properties, the earliest alluding to Elizabeth as his wife in 1113, and others spanning Payen's lifetime, the period following his death and lastly her own death in 1170.

Criticisms of this theory

One primary criticism of this theory is that if either a Sinclair or a Templar voyage reached the Americas, they did not, unlike Columbus, return with a historical record of their findings. There is no documentation to support the theory, and apart from the carvings in the Rosslyn Chapel, there is no physical evidence that could prove that Templars or Sinclair had explored the Americas. Advocates of the theory contend that this lack of documentation can be explained by a strong motivation of the Sinclair voyagers to keep their activities secret.^[12] Historians deride this. They also question the authenticity of the Westford Knight, claiming that it is not clearly inscribed, and may be a hoax or a result of erosion that makes it appear to resemble a knight. Finally, they argue that the carvings in Rosslyn Chapel may not be of American plants at all, and according to one historian are nothing more than stylized carvings of wheat and strawberries.^[13] Rosslyn Chapel. ... The Westford Knight, shown along Depot Street in Westford, Massachusetts A detail of the rock, showing the sword. The shield has been painted on, supposedly to indicate an underlying carving The Westford Knight is alternately perceived as a carving, a natural feature, or a combination of both, found on a... A hoax is an attempt to trick an audience into believing that something false is real. ...

Historians Mark Oxbrow, Ian Robertson,^[14] Karen Ralls and Louise Yeoman^[15] have each made it clear that the Sinclair family had no connection with the mediaeval Knights Templar. Karen Ralls has shown that among those testifying against the Templars at their 1309 trial were Henry and William Sinclair - an act inconsistent with any alleged support or membership.^[16][17]

Alternative histories

In the 1980s, modern alternative histories of Earl Henry I Sinclair and Rosslyn Chapel began to be published. Popular books (often derided as pseudo-history) such as The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln (1982) and The Temple and the Lodge by Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh (1989) appeared. Books by Timothy Wallace-Murphy and Andrew Sinclair soon followed from the early 1990s onwards. Book cover of The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail 2005 illustrated hardcover edition. ... Author Michael Baigent Reuters Michael Baigent, born March 1948 in Christchurch, New Zealand, is an author and conspiracy theorist who co-wrote (with Richard Leigh) a number of books that question mainstream perceptions of history and many commonly-held versions of the life of Jesus. ... Richard Leigh is the name of: Richard Leigh (author) (born 1943), co-author of The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail Richard Leigh (songwriter) (born 1951), American country music songwriter Richard Leigh (martyr) (1561–1588), Catholic martyr Richard Leigh (poet) (1649–1728), English poet Richard Leigh (musician), free-improvising musician... Henry Lincoln (born 1930) is the most popular pseudonym of Henry Soskin, an English writer and actor. ...

References

1. ^ Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
2. ^ ^{a b} Knight & Lomas, The Hiram Key, Fair winds Press. ISBN 1-59233-159-9.
3. ^ "The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: New Light on the Oak Island Mystery" by Steven Sora, Atlantis Rising Magazine #20, 1999
4. ^ Simon Jenkins, The Guardian, Friday January 20, 2006
5. ^ Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas, The Second Messiah: Templars, the Turin Shroud and the Great Secret of Freemasonry, Fair Winds Press, 2001. ISBN 1-931412-76-6
6. ^ Scotsman.com Heritage & Culture - Myths & Mysteries, 10 Nov 2005.
7. ^ Scotsman.com Heritage & Culture - Myths & Mysteries, 10 Nov 2005
8. ^ Origins of Freemasonry on www.robertlomas.com
9. ^ Origins of Freemasonry on www.robertlomas.com
10. ^ The claim that Hugues de Payens married Catherine St. Clair was made in Les Dossiers Secrets d'Henri Lobineau (1967), "Tableau Généalogique de Gisors, Guitry, Mareuil et Saint-Clair par Henri Lobineau" in Pierre Jarnac, Les Mystères de Rennes-le-Château, Mélanges Sulfureux (CERT, 1995).
11. ^ Thierry Leroy, Hugues de Payns, chevalier champenois, fondateur de l'ordre des templiers (Troyes: edition de la Maison Boulanger, 1997).
12. ^ In The Hiram Key many references are made to entrusted secrets, which the authors claims were encoded in the architecture of the Sinclair's Rosslyn Chapel.
13. ^ Historian Mark Oxbrow, quoted in "The ship of dreams" by Diane MaClean, Scotsman.com, 13 May, 2005
14. ^ "The Da Vinci Connection", Sunday Herald, 14 November 2004
15. ^ "Historian attacks Rosslyn Chapel for 'cashing in on Da Vinci Code'", Scotsman.com, 03-May-06
16. ^ Karen Ralls, The Templars and the Grail, Quest Books; 1st Quest edition (2003), p.110. ISBN 0-8356-0807-7; The Knights Templar in England, p. 200f.
17. ^ Processus factus contra Templarios in Scotia, 1309, being the testimony against the Templars by Henry and William St Clair, translation available in Mark Oxbrow, Ian Robertson, Rosslyn and the Grail, p. 245-256.

For the actor of the same name see Christopher Knight Christopher Knight is a historian and author who researches freemasonry, often co-authoring these books with Robert Lomas. ... Robert Lomas is a British writer and business studies academic. ... Rosslyn Chapel. ...

Further Reading

• "From Jamestown to Texas: A History of Some Early Pioneers of Austin County the Colonial Capitol...", by Betty Smith Meischen, iUniverse, 2002, ISBN 0-595-24223-5
• "Second Messiah: Templars, the Turin Shroud and the Great Secret of Freemasonry", by Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, Fair Winds Press, August 1, 2001, ISBN 1-931412-76-6
• "Prince Henry Sinclair: His Expedition to the New World in 1398", 1974 and 1995, by Frederick J. Pohl, Clarkson N. Potter, New York, ISBN 1-55109-122-4.

• Earl Henry Sinclair's fictitious trip to America by Brian Smith, First published in New Orkney Antiquarian Journal, vol. 2, 2002
• "Of course the Chinese didn't discover America. But then nor did Columbus" by Simon Jenkins, January 20, 2006 article in The Guardian mentioning the La Merika theory among others
• "The ship of dreams" by Diane MacLean, May 13, 2005, Scotsman.com
• Prince Henry Sinclair Society of North America This society celebrates the visit of Prince Henry Sinclair from Orkney to America in 1398.
• "The Sinclair Voyage to America" Renaissance Magazine #12, 1999
• "The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: New Light on the Oak Island Mystery" by Steven Sora, Atlantis Rising Magazine #20, 1999
• Brief biography in support of theory
• Report of 1997 symposium declaring the 1398 expedition Not Proven