The La Merika Theory is the theory that America wasn't first discovered by Columbus but by Freemasons (possibly The Knights Templar), and that the name La Merika (The Star) is what led to the later name of the continent America. This is one of many theories which are discussed in Pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact. America is usually meant as either: A set of continents and islands (the Americas) between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, usually subdivided into: North America Central America and the Caribbean South America The United States of America. ... Columbus is a latinized version of the Italian surname Colombo, which means Dove. ... American Square & Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ... The Seal of the Knights — the two riders have been interpreted as a sign of poverty or the duality of monk/soldier. ... The expression pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact refers to interactions or claims of interactions between Native American peoples and peoples of other continents — Europe, Africa, Asia, or Oceania — before the historically recorded European discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. ...

Proof for the Theory

The Theory is based on old graveyards in Nova Scotia which use an ancient measuring system of Rods and which contain grave stones which incorporate Masonic devices such as Crusader Crosses and Pentagrams. The name Nova Scotia is itself significant as it is Latin meaning New Scotland - significant because Scotland is believed to have been a hiding place of some Templars who escaped the Purge of their order by Philip the Fair (Philippe le Bel, 1307). Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (One defends and the other conquers) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant Governor Myra A. Freeman Premier John Hamm (PC) Area 55,283 km² (12th) Land 53,338 km² Water 1,946 km² (3. ... A rod is a unit of length, equal to 5. ... A pentagram, pentacle, pentalpha, or pentangle A pentagram is a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes. ... Latin is the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages with Official Status1 English Scottish Gaelic Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Philippe IV, recumbent statue on his tomb, Royal Necropolis, Saint Denis Basilica Philip IV (French: Philippe IV; 1268–November 29, 1314) was King of France from 1285 until his death. ...

The Templar fleet should have left La Rochelle with and the venetian sailor Antonio Zeno around 90 years after the end of the Order of the Templars to America. Nicolo Zeno (a descendant of Antonio Zeno) published a manuscript and a map of this voyage in 1558. Location within France La Rochelle is a city or commune of western France, and a seaport on the Atlantic Ocean (population 76,584 in 1999). ... The Zeno brothers refers to the brothers Nicolò and Antonio Zeno (fl. ... The Zeno brothers refers to the brothers Nicolò and Antonio Zeno (fl. ... The Zeno brothers refers to the brothers Nicolò and Antonio Zeno (fl. ...

Theories speculate that Henry Sinclair (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. Henry Sinclair, 1st Earl of Orkney, Baron of Roslin, and Lord of Shetland (c. ... 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. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (One defends and the other conquers) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant Governor Myra A. Freeman Premier John Hamm (PC) Area 55,283 km² (12th) Land 53,338 km² Water 1,946 km² (3. ... 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. ... State nickname: Bay State Other U.S. States Capital Boston Largest city Boston Governor Mitt Romney (R) Official languages English Area 27,360 km² (44th)  - Land 20,317 km²  - Water 7,043 km² (25. ... State nickname: The Ocean State, Little Rhody Other U.S. States Capital Providence Largest city Providence Governor Donald Carcieri (R) Official languages None Area 4,005 km² (50th)  - Land 2,709 km²  - Water 1,296 km² (32. ... 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 Road 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 a supposed carving, natural feature, or combination of both, found on a glacier boulder in Westford...

The theory that Henry Sinclair explored North America is based on three separate propositions: Henry Sinclair, 1st Earl of Orkney, Baron of Roslin, and Lord of Shetland (c. ...

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 taken by Zichmni around the year 1398 actually reached North America.
3. That the Zichmni is Henry Sinclair.

Also in Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland there are stone carvings of American plants, supposedly not seen until Columbus, such as Aloe Vera. As the Chapel was completed in 1486 and Columbus made his first voyage in 1492 this would seem to be compelling evidence for it being true. Advocates also note the "Westford Knight" - a stone effigy of a knight bearing the arms of Clan Gunn upon his shield. Some speculate that the Scottish Templars shared information of the voyage with their Portuguese brethren, and that the knowledge found its way to Columbus' Portuguese navigators. A map of the world by Johannes Kepler A map is a simplified depiction of a space, a navigational aid which highlights relations between objects within that space. ... The Zeno brothers refers to the brothers Nicolò and Antonio Zeno (fl. ... Events January 7 - French troops led by Francis, Duke of Guise take Calais, the last continental possession 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. ... 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 Glendalough monastery, Wicklow Ireland destroyed. ... South wall of Rosslyn, showing the Victiorian addition. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages with Official Status1 English Scottish Gaelic Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Species about 400 See list Aloe is a genus of plants belonging to family Asphodelaceae, with about 400 species. ... Events Tízoc, Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan dies of poisoning. ... The Westford Knight, shown along Depot Road 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 a supposed carving, natural feature, or combination of both, found on a glacier boulder in Westford... Clan Gunn is a Scottish clan associated with northeastern Scotland, including Caithness and Sutherland as well as the Orkney Islands. ...

Notably, the sails of Columbus' ships were emblazoned with the Templar cross.

Criticisms of this Theory

When Columbus stumbled on America he reported his findings, something that these Masonic 'Voyagers' failed to do. The theory also comes in for criticism that since there is no documentary evidence for it - just a graveyard in Nova Scotia. Also historians question the authenticity of the Westford Knight claiming that it is not clearly inscribed, and may be a hoax or erosion that co-incidently seems to look like a knight. The Westford Knight, shown along Depot Road 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 a supposed carving, natural feature, or combination of both, found on a glacier boulder in Westford... A hoax is an attempt to trick an audience into believing that something false is real. ...