Laurence Gardner
Encyclopedia
Laurence Gardner was a writer and lecturer in the "alternative history" genre of research.
and a best seller. He used his books to propose several theories, including a belief that Jesus
and Mary Magdalene
had married and had children, whose descendants included King Arthur
and the House Of Stuart
. In Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark he claimed that the Ark of the Covenant
was a machine for manufacturing "monatomic gold" - a supposed elixir which could be used to extend life. His books also included theories about Freemasonry, the Knights Templar
, The Holy Grail and proposed connections between Atenism
and Judaism
.
Gardner referred to himself
as "Chevalier Labhran de Saint Germain", and "Presidential Attache to the self-styled
European Council of Princes" also "Prior of the self-styled
Celtic Churches Sacred Kindred of Saint Columbia". He also claimed to be Jacobite
Historiographer Royal of the Royal House of Stewart
. He was a supporter of Michael Lafosse
, in particular his claims to be descended from the House of Stuart
, which Gardner claimed was descended from Jesus Christ.
Historians and scholars regard him as a conspiracy theorist
, and treat his work as pseudohistory
. Michel Lafosse's claims have been dismissed.
Laurence Gardner was also known in the United States for his radio phone-ins.
It was announced on his personal website that he had died on 12 August 2010 after a prolonged illness.
His book, "The Origin of God", was published in November 2010 as a publish on demand book from the Dash House Publishing Company set up by his widow. It is described as "a biographical exploration of the deiform character variously known as Yahweh, Allah, or simply The Lord. It seeks to uncover and evaluate his original identity..."
, London
, he was married to Angela and they had one child together and two children from a previous marriage. He was a stockbroker before taking up writing. Gardner was also an accomplished painter, working alone and with Canadian artist Peter Robson.
Career
Laurence Gardner's first book Bloodline of the Holy Grail was published in 1996. The book was serialized in the Daily MailDaily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
and a best seller. He used his books to propose several theories, including a belief that Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
had married and had children, whose descendants included King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
and the House Of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
. In Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark he claimed that the Ark of the Covenant
Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant , also known as the Ark of the Testimony, is a chest described in Book of Exodus as solely containing the Tablets of Stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed...
was a machine for manufacturing "monatomic gold" - a supposed elixir which could be used to extend life. His books also included theories about Freemasonry, the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
, The Holy Grail and proposed connections between Atenism
Atenism
Atenism, or the Amarna heresy, refers to the religious changes associated with the eighteenth dynasty Pharaoh Amenophis IV, better known under his adopted name, Akhenaten...
and Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
.
Gardner referred to himself
False titles of nobility
False titles of nobility are supposed titles of nobility that have been fabricated and are not recognised by any government and were not so recognised in the past, even in countries in which titles of nobility once existed or still exist. They have received an increasing amount of press attention,...
as "Chevalier Labhran de Saint Germain", and "Presidential Attache to the self-styled
Self-styled orders
Pseudo-chivalric orders or self-styled orders are organizations which falsely claim to be chivalric orders. Most self-styled orders arose in or after the mid-eighteenth century and many have been created in the present day, though most are short-lived and endure no more than a few decades.A...
European Council of Princes" also "Prior of the self-styled
Self-styled orders
Pseudo-chivalric orders or self-styled orders are organizations which falsely claim to be chivalric orders. Most self-styled orders arose in or after the mid-eighteenth century and many have been created in the present day, though most are short-lived and endure no more than a few decades.A...
Celtic Churches Sacred Kindred of Saint Columbia". He also claimed to be Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
Historiographer Royal of the Royal House of Stewart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
. He was a supporter of Michael Lafosse
Michael Lafosse
Michel Roger Lafosse , subsequently known as Michael James Alexander Stewart of Albany, claims to be a descendant of Charles Edward Stuart and the legitimate Jacobite claimant to the throne of the former Kingdom of Scotland.Since 1979 he has referred to himself as "HRH Prince Michael James...
, in particular his claims to be descended from the House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
, which Gardner claimed was descended from Jesus Christ.
Historians and scholars regard him as a conspiracy theorist
Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
, and treat his work as pseudohistory
Pseudohistory
Pseudohistory is a pejorative term applied to a type of historical revisionism, often involving sensational claims whose acceptance would require rewriting a significant amount of commonly accepted history, and based on methods that depart from standard historiographical conventions.Cryptohistory...
. Michel Lafosse's claims have been dismissed.
Laurence Gardner was also known in the United States for his radio phone-ins.
It was announced on his personal website that he had died on 12 August 2010 after a prolonged illness.
His book, "The Origin of God", was published in November 2010 as a publish on demand book from the Dash House Publishing Company set up by his widow. It is described as "a biographical exploration of the deiform character variously known as Yahweh, Allah, or simply The Lord. It seeks to uncover and evaluate his original identity..."
Personal life
Gardner was born in HackneyLondon Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he was married to Angela and they had one child together and two children from a previous marriage. He was a stockbroker before taking up writing. Gardner was also an accomplished painter, working alone and with Canadian artist Peter Robson.