17th Century
| 1621 | Guercino paints first version of Et In Arcadia Ego | ||
| 6 | Aug | 1623 | pontificate Urban VIII |
| 1627 | Nicolas Poussin paints his first version of the Shepherds of Arcadia | ||
| 1639 | Nicolas Poussin paints his second version of Shepherds of Arcadia | ||
| 1640 | rebuilding of the church of St. Mary Magdalene in Rennes | ||
| 14 | May | 1643 | death of Louis XIII, reign of Louis XIV, le Roi Soleil |
| 15 | Sep | 1644 | pontificate Innocent X |
| 23 | Nov | 1644 | Registering of the testament of Francois Pierre d'Hautpoul by notary Captier of Espéraza. |
| 1645 | a shepherd called Ignace Paris falls in a cave in search of a sheep and comes out with a large number of gold coins in his hat. He tells people he has discovered a room full of gold but when he refuses to tell where he is stoned to death on the charge of theft. | ||
| 1646 | baron Blaise d'Hautpoul has the church of Rennes-le-Château restored, supported by the bishop of Alet Nicolas Pavillon | ||
| 1651 | Bishop of Alet Nicolas Pavillon gives a diamond the size of an egg to the city of Toulouse for fighting the plague. | ||
| 1653 | discovery of the tomb of Childeric I in the Church of Saint Brice in Tournai. The treasure buried with him consists of a richly ornamented sword, a torse-like bracelet, jewels of gold and cloisonné enamel with garnets, gold coins, a gold bulls head and a ring with the inscription CHILDERICI REGIS (of Childeric the king), which identifies the tomb. Most special find are 300 golden bees, that Napoleon I later uses to decorate his mantle for the coronation as Emperor of the French | ||
| 7 | Apr | 1655 | pontificate Alexander VII |
| Apr | 1656 | Abbé Louis Fouquet, the brother of Nicolas Fouquet, superintendent of finances to King Louis XIV of France, sent a a letter to his brother describing his meeting with Nicolas Poussin. He and I discussed certain things, which I shall with ease be able to explan to you in detail – things that will give you, through Monsieur Poussin, advantages which even kings would have great pains to draw from him, and which, according to him, it is possible that nobody else will ever be able to rediscover in the centuries to come. And, what is more, these are things so difficult to discover that nothing now on this earth can prove of better fortune nor be their equal. | |
| 1659 | François Charles Fouquet is nominated bishop of Narbonne (brother of Nicolas Fouqet, Treasurer under Louis XIV) | ||
| 1659 | Signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenées, the Rousillon is given back to France | ||
| 1660 | the church of Notre Dame de Marceille in Limoux is transferred from the diocese of Alet to the diocese of Narbonne | ||
| 19 | nov | 1665 | death of Nicolas Poussin in Rome |
| nov | 1661 | Blaise d'Hautpoul goes to court against Nicolas Pavillon, bishop of Alet to prevent the Kings troops to search his grounds and mines | |
| 1662 | the possessions of Blaise d'Hautpoul include Rennes, St. Just, Le Bézu, Les Bains, Montferrand, Montazels, Moissan, Dent, Sainte Eugénie, Lavadieu and Belfort de Voisins | ||
| 20 | Jun | 1667 | pontificate Clement IX |
| 29 | Apr | 1670 | pontificate Clement X |
| 1670 | Mgr. François Charles Fouquet allegedly has a St. Antoine tableau by David Teniers the Younger overpainted with a St. Augustine by Ambroise Frédeau | ||
| 1673 | death of Mgr. François Charles Fouquet, Louis XIV starts 4 years of trials to remove the Jansenist bishop Nicolas Pavillon from the diocese of Alet but doesnt succeed | ||
| 21 | Sep | 1676 | pontificate Innocent XI |
| 8 | Dec | 1677 | death of Nicolas Pavillon bishop of Alet |
| 1678 | Colbert, Louis XIVs new treasurer erects La Compagnie des Mines de Blanchefort, to prospect the lands of the Hautpouls | ||
| 1685 | Louis XIV buys the original of the second version of Shepherds of Arcadia from C.A. Herault. He puts it on display in his private quarters | ||
| 5 | Oct | 1689 | pontificate Alexander VIII, birth of François dHautpoul Rennes, marquis de Blanchefort |
| 12 | Jul | 1691 | pontificate Innocent XII |
| 1694 | entry in the parish registry of the burial of a high ranking individual in the church of Rennes-le-Château registered by Abbé Vernat |
18th Century
| 23 | Nov | 1700 | pontificate Clement XI |
| 1705 | death of Dame Anne Delsol, aged 75, (whose husband Marc Antoine Dupuy was the brother in law of Henry dHautpoul) buried in the church of Rennes-le-Château au Tombeau des Seigneurs (Tomb of the Lords) (parish registry 1694-1726) The tombeau, according to the parish register is located dans leglise de ce lieu au Tombeau des Seigneurs qui est au pres du Balustre (the same wooden pillar in which a glass tube with parchment was found in July 1887) | ||
| 1713 | birth of Marie de Nègre d'Ables, daughter of François de Nègre d'Ables de Niort ancien capitain dans le régiment dOrléanais (+1726) and Toinette de Gaychier (+1724) | ||
| 1715 | death of Louis XIV, reign of Louis XV, le Bien Aimé | ||
| 8 | May | 1721 | pontificate Innocent XIII |
| 1724 | death of Messire Henry du Venret buried in the church of Rennes-le-Château au Tombeau des Seigneurs (Tomb of the Lords) (parish registry 1694-1726) | ||
| 1724 | Abbé Bernard becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 29 | May | 1724 | pontificate Benedict XIII |
| 12 | Jul | 1730 | pontificate Clement XII |
| May | 1732 | Abbé Bernard Mongé of Niort-de-Sault is murdered by François de Montroux, uncle and appointed tutor of Marie de Nègre | |
| 17 | Nov | 1732 | Marriage of François d'Hautpoul (43) and Marie de Nègre (18) |
| 1734 | Birth of Marie daughter of Marie de Nègre and François Hautpoul | ||
| 1735 | Birth of Elizabeth daughter of Marie de Nègre and François Hautpoul | ||
| 1736 | Abbé Jean Bigou becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château, succeeding Abbé Verger | ||
| 1737 | Birth of Joseph son of Marie de Nègre and François Hautpoul | ||
| 8 | Mar | 1739 | Death of Joseph d'Hautpoul, aged 17 months. He is buried in the cemetery of Rennes "near the big cross". This marks the end of the male line of the Hautpouls-Rennes family. |
| 1739 | Birth of Gabrielle daughter of Marie de Nègre and François Hautpoul | ||
| 1740 | Church furnishings of Rennes are renewed, the Tombeau des Seigneurs (Tomb of the Lords) is sealed up | ||
| 17 | Aug | 1740 | pontificate Benedict XIV |
| 1748 | Admiral George Baron Anson commissions the Shepherds Monument at Shugnborough Hall, UK | ||
| 26 | Sep | 1752 | Marie d'Hautpoul Rennes marries her cousin Joseph Marie d'Hautpoul-Félines |
| 15 | May | 1753 | sudden death of François d'Hautpoul-Rennes, seigneur of Rennes-le-Château, Marquis de Blanchefort in the house of Grégoire de Fourn. He is buried in the Cathédrale St-Martin in Limoux, his heart is buried in Notre Dame de Marceille. Both tombs are no longer there |
| 1753 | Marie de Nègre sells the Seigneuries of Niort and Roquefeuil to pay her late husbands debts | ||
| 6 | Jul | 1758 | pontificate Clement XIII |
| 1767 | Marriage of Gabrielle d'Hautpoul-Rennes and Paul Vincent de Fleury | ||
| 19 | May | 1769 | pontificate Clement XIV |
| 10 | May | 1774 | death of Louis XV, reign of Louis XVI |
| 1774 | Abbé Antoine Bigou becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 15 | Feb | 1775 | pontificate Pius VI |
| 1776 | death of Abbé Jean Bigou in Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 17 | Jan | 1781 | death of Marie de Nègre d'Ables, Dame d'Hautpoul, Marquise Blanchefort. The death certificate, signed by Antoine Bigou states she is buried but not where |
| 1790 | Elisabeth Hautpoul Mademoiselle de Rennes flees the Revolution to Toulouse where she stays with her sister Gabrielle | ||
| 1790 | Death of Gabrielle d'Hautpoul | ||
| 1791 | Abbé Jean Antoine Camp becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 31 | Jul | 1791 | start of the French Revolution |
| 1791 | Antoine Bigou leaves Rennes to hide in Quillan | ||
| 1 | Sep | 1792 | last bishop of Alet, Charles de la Cropte de Chanterac flees to Spain |
| 10 | Aug | 1792 | fall of Louis XVI |
| Sep | 1792 | clandestine emigration of Antoine Bigou and Abbé Cauneille (priest of Rennes-les-Bains) to Spain following the last bishop of Alet-les-Bains Charles de la Cropte de Chanterac | |
| 9 | Oct | 1792 | Charles de la Cropte de Chanterac arrives in Sabadell where he stays in the Maison Meca |
| 21 | Jan | 1793 | execution of Louis XVI |
| 21 | Mar | 1794 | death of Abbé Antoine Bigou in Collioure |
| 5 | Apr | 1794 | execution of Danton |
| 28 | Jul | 1794 | execution of Robespierre |
| 1797 | Elisabeth Hautpoul returns to Rennes, signing over the Château Hautpoul to her stewards Michel Captier and Julie Avignon. Elisabeth lives in a single bedroom | ||
| 10 | Nov | 1799 | end of the First Republic, Napoleon Bonaparte declares himself First Consul |
19th Century
| 17 | Jan | 1800 | oppression of royalist revolt in the Vendee |
| 14 | Mar | 1800 | pontificate Pius VII |
| 1803 | Abbé Marsan becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château, after having had no priest since 1791. This is a result of Napoleons Concordat | ||
| 1804 | Napoleon Bonaparte declares himself Emperor of the French people | ||
| 1805 | Abbé Rouger becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 1812 | tragic end of Napoleon Is Russian campaign | ||
| 1814 | abdication of Napoleon I, exile to Elba | ||
| 20 | Mar | 1815 | Napoleon I returns to power, start of the One Hundred Days |
| 18 | Jun | 1815 | defeat of Napoleon I at Waterloo, second abdication and exile to St Helena |
| 1815 | reign of Louis XVIII | ||
| 1816 | Michel Captier and Julie Avignon buy the possessions of Elisabeth Hautpoul | ||
| 20 | May | 1820 | Death of Elisabeth Hautpoul aged 85 |
| 1820 | Abbé Sabarthes becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 1822 | Louis de Coma is born in Foix | ||
| 1823 | Abbé Sadourny becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 28 | Sep | 1823 | pontificate Leo XII |
| 1824 | death of Louis XVIII, reign of Charles X | ||
| 31 | Mar | 1829 | pontificate Pius VIII |
| 19 | Jul | 1830 | the Virgin Mary appears to Catherine Labouré in the Rue du Bac in Paris |
| 29 | Jul | 1830 | abdication of Charles X, reign of Louis Philippe de Bourbon, le Roi Citoyen (the citizen king) |
| 2 | Feb | 1831 | pontificate Gregory XVI |
| 1832 | French historian Jean Pierre Jacques Auguste de Labouisse-Rochefort publishes Voyages à Rennes-les-Bains, written in 1803. Labouisse-Rochefort compares the landscape of Rennes-les-Bains with Arcadia | ||
| 1832 | Jean Pierre Jacques Auguste de Labouisse-Rochefort becomes accepted as a member of the illustrious Arcadian Academy of Rome | ||
| 1832 | Abbé Pagès becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 1834 | Abbé Blanc becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 1836 | Abbé Pons becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 16 | Nov | 1837 | birth of Jean-Jacques Henri Boudet in Quillan |
| 1840 | birth of Edmond Boudet, brother of Henri Boudet | ||
| 16 | Jun | 1846 | pontificate Pius IX |
| Sep | 1846 | the Virgin Mary appears to Mélanie Calvet in La Salette | |
| 24 | Feb | 1848 | 2nd revolution in Paris, Louis Philippe abdicates and the Second Republic is proclaimed |
| 10 | Dec | 1848 | Louis Napoleon elected President de la République |
| 1851 | Coup d'État of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon III), proclamation of the Second Empire | ||
| 11 | Apr | 1852 | Bérenger Saunière is born in Montazels as the first of 7 children of the Major |
| 1855 | Alfred Saunière is born in Montazels as the second of 7 children of the Major | ||
| 1856 | Louis de Coma starts construction of the Carol Estate, a copy of Getshemane funded with money from the Comte de Chambord (4.000 Fr) | ||
| Feb | 1858 | the Virgin Mary appears to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes | |
| 1860 | a piece of gold weighing over 50 kilos is found near Bézu | ||
| 25 | Dec | 1861 | Henri Boudet is ordained a priest |
| 1 | Jan | 1862 | Henri Boudet becomes the curé of Durban |
| 16 | Jun | 1862 | Henri Boudet becomes the curé of Caunes (Minervois) |
| 1 | Nov | 1866 | Henri Boudet becomes the cure of Frestes |
| 1867 | Château Hautpoul is sold to the Dalbiès family of Couiza | ||
| 12 | Aug | 1868 | birth of Marie Dénarnaud |
| 21 | May | 1870 | Napoleon III capitulates |
| 31 | Aug | 1870 | French Republic is proclaimed, start of the Third Republic |
| 17 | Feb | 1871 | Thiers President de la République |
| 1 | Jul | 1872 | death of Jean Vié curé of Rennes-les-Bains |
| 1872 | Henri Boudet becomes curé of Rennes-les-Bains | ||
| 1873 | Thiers resigns, Maréchal de Mac-Mahon President de la République after a failed attempt to restore the monarchy by Henry V, Comte de Chambord | ||
| 1873 | start of the great depression | ||
| Feb | 1876 | the Virgin Mary appears to Estelle Faguette in Pellevoisin, her case for cannonisation is later defended at the Vatican by Eugène Huguet | |
| 20 | Feb | 1878 | pontificate Leo XIII |
| 1879 | Abbé Cézac becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château, resignation of Mac-Mahon, July Grévy President de la République | ||
| 1879 | A new sacristie is built against the Church at Rennes | ||
| 16 | Jul | 1879 | Bérenger Saunière becomes chaplain of Alet-les-Bains |
| 1880 | discovery of a Neolithic graveyard, proving mens presence in the area for at least 3.000 years | ||
| 1880 | Henri Boudet finishes his book La Vraie Langue Celtique et le Cromlech de Rennes-les-Bains (The True Celtic Language and the Stone Circle of Rennes-les-Bains) | ||
| 1881 | Mgr. Billard becomes Bishop of Carcassonne | ||
| 1881 | Abbé Mocquin becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 1881 | Antoine Gélis is assaulted in his house by two masked men | ||
| 16 | Jun | 1882 | Bérenger Saunière becomes curé of Le Clat |
| 8 | Feb | 1884 | Papal Encyclical Nobilissima Gallorum Gens (To the Most Noble French Nation, On the Religious Question in France), addressed to the Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops of France, mentioning that France was alienating itself from its past Catholic Traditions and that it had to do all it could to restore those values |
| 1884 | Abbé Croc becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 1855 | Louis de Coma completes construction of the Carol Estate or Monastère de Carol | ||
| 1 | Jun | 1885 | Bérenger Saunière becomes curé of Rennes-le-Château and writes: La croix du milieu existe, mais il ny a pas dallées |
| 4 | Oct | 1885 | Bérenger Saunière preaches against the Republicans. He supposedly asked his parishioners to vote for the Union of the Right, dedicated to the reversal of the anticlerical legislations of the Republican Government and towards the restoration of the French Monarchy (this Party was comprised of a coalition of the Conservatives, the Bonapartists and the Monarchists) with the Monarchists being the most successful part of the coalition during the 1885 elections winning the most Seats |
| 30 | Oct | 1885 | Mgr. Billard receives a complaint from René Goblet, the Minister of Religion relating to the reprehensible behaviour of four clerics during the electoral period of 1885 and asking for their transfers |
| 15 | Nov | 1885 | Mgr. Billard responds by stating that Saunière has no intention of attacking the Government, but has the right as the Defender of Religion to read an article from La Semaine Religieuse de Carcassonne, to give advice to the voters of his parish in the presence of anti-Christian anti-Concordat programmes of several candidates of the deputation |
| 2 | Dec | 1885 | Bérenger Saunière is suspended because of his anti-republican speech, René Goblet, the Minister of Religion, writes to Mgr Billard stating that he has suspended four priests in the Rennes-le-Château region: B. Saunière, curate at Rennes-le-Château, Tailhan, curate at Roullen, Jean, curate at Bourriège and Delmas, vicar at Alet |
| 2 | Dec | 1885 | an article appears in La Semaine Religieuse de Carcassonne, criticising the suspension of the four priests by the Minister of Religion, mentioning: To the long list of priests who became victim of a systematic persecution since the last electoral period, are to be added the names of four priests of the diocese: Jean – Tailhan – Delmas- Saunière. M. the Prefect of the Aude has notified them a Ministerial decision that suppresses their salary, from 1st December 1885. Their Bishop opposed in vain a firm and dignified justification to the accusations carried against them, there was sorrow to see that M. the Minister of Religion didnt take any account of it. The blabbers triumphed. Can they understand the gravity of their fault, seeing the consequences in their respective dioceses of their malevolent denouncement…? |
| 1886 | Henri Boudet's book La Vraie Langue Celtique et le Cromlech de Rennes-les-Bains (The True Celtic Language and the Stone Circle of Rennes-les-Bains) is published by Francois Pomie, the printer to the Bishop of Carcassonne, 500 copies are produced for a fee of 5382 gold francs. Of the 500 copies, only 98 are sold, 100 are being given to libraries and institutions and a further 200 given away by Boudet as gifts to friends and interested people who visit Rennes-les-Bains to take the cure | ||
| May | 1886 | Bérenger Saunière receives a touching love letter from an anonymous lady | |
| 1 | Jul | 1886 | Bérenger Saunière returns to Rennes le Château as curé |
| 1886 | Bérenger Saunière gives a valuable chalice to his friend Abbé Grassaud | ||
| 27 | Jul | 1887 | Bérenger Saunière installs a new altar in his church from the firm Maison Monna in Toulouse for 770FF. The altar is paid for by Madame Cavailhé de Coursan. The old altar is transported to the presbytery. It will later serve in his personal chapel at Villa Bethania after his suspension by Mgr. Beausejour. |
| Jul | 1887 | Antoine Captier, carilloneur of the church finds a small glass tube with a rolled up parchment in a Wooden Baluster that he gives to Bérenger Saunière | |
| 30 | Sep | 1887 | Bérenger Saunière installs new stained glass window blue apples 1350 FF |
| Dec | 1887 | Grévy resigns, Sadi Carnot President de la République | |
| 1888 | Emergency reparations are carried out in the churched. The conseil de fabrique lends the priest 518FF | ||
| 1889 | Mgr. Billard visits Rennes-le-Château, thanks Bérenger Saunière asking him to continue his good works | ||
| 27 | Jan | 1889 | attempt at Coup d'État of Georges Boulanger |
| May | 1889 | Bérenger Saunière is nominated curé desservant dAntugnac | |
| 1890 | Louis de Coma is nominated Abbé of the Church of Mary Magdalene in Baulou | ||
| Jan | 1890 | the village council of Rennes-le-Château approves Bérenger Saunière's request to refurbish the public square before his church | |
| Jun | 1890 | Bérenger Saunière no longer curé desservant d'Antugnac | |
| Feb | 1890 | Bérenger Saunière is visited by Archduke Johann von Habsburg | |
| Aug | 1890 | Bérenger Saunière orders a new pulpit | |
| 21 | Nov | 1890 | Bérenger Saunière stays with Alexandrine Marre-Dénarnaud |
| Dec | 1890 | Archduke Johann von Habsburg is reported missing by the New York Times | |
| 1891 | Mgr. Billard inherits 1.200.000FF of Victorine Sabatier of Coursan. | ||
| 1 | Jun | 1891 | Gaudissard becomes curé of Antugnac |
| 21 | Jun | 1891 | 24 children of Rennes-le-Château do a mission tour through the village with all parishers present, carryring a statue of Notre Dame the Lourdes that is later installed in the gardens of the Vierge. The statue is placed on an upside-down visigoth pillar of the former church altar and is inscribed: Mission 1891 |
| 9 | Sep | 1891 | Saunière Journal: carrelage de la nef et du remplacement de la chaire |
| 21 | Sep | 1891 | Saunière Journal: Lettre de Granes. Découverte dun tombeau, le soir pluie (Letter from Granes. Discovery of a tomb, rain in the evening) |
| 22 | Sep | 1891 | Work in the church is suspended |
| 28 | Sep | 1891 | Saunière Journal: voyage à Carcassone |
| 29 | Sep | 1891 | Saunière Journal: Vu curé de Névian-Chez Gélis-Chez Carrière-Vu Cros et Secret |
| 30 | Sep | 1891 | Saunière Journal: Mort de Boulanger |
| 6 | Oct | 1891 | Saunière Journal: Visite de 4 confrères |
| 14 | Oct | 1891 | Saunière Journal: entente avec les nouveaux maçons, the works in the church continue but with a new group of workers |
| 20 | Oct | 1891 | Bérenger Saunière pays for a new pulpit 750 FF |
| 20 | Oct | 1891 | Bérenger Saunière pays a bas-reliëf for the front porch 150 FF |
| 4 | Dec | 1891 | start installation of the new front porch (until the 20th) |
| 29 | Dec | 1891 | Saunière Journal: Vais au Bal, douleur des reins Sauniere often goes to this place to collect rocks for his grotto |
| Feb | 1892 | Bérenger Saunière has a debt of FFR 105 with a certain Leontine et Adolphine and has FFR 80,65 in his fonds secrets (savings) | |
| 2 | Mar | 1892 | Bérenger Saunière allegedly visits Paris. He attends mass at Saint-Sulpice, gives two of the parchments to abbe Bieil and Emile Hoffet and orders three reproductions of paintings from the Louvre |
| 19 | Apr | 1892 | Saunière Journal: retour de Carcassonne – Drame le soir – Marie rentre chez elle |
| 22 | Apr | 1892 | Saunière Journal: beau temps – Marie continue à mapporter les repas |
| 1892 | Bérenger Saunière and his servant Marie Dénarnaud are seen digging in the churchyard and cemetery in the middle of the night on may ocassions. | ||
| Dec | 1892 | Bérenger Saunière makes various trips for longer periods of time | |
| 1893 | Bérenger Saunière buys new confessional 700 FF | ||
| 17 | Jan | 1893 | Mgr. Billard buys the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Marceille. He buys it on personal account and pays it out of his own pockets |
| 24 | Jun | 1894 | Assasination of Sadi Carnot, Casimir-Perier President de la Republique (former general councillor of the Aube) |
| 1894 | Bérenger Saunière puts an iron door in front of the cemetery 220.80 FF. | ||
| 12 | Mar | 1895 | official complaint filed by the villagers against Bérenger Saunière's nightly excavations in the churchyard, Saunière stops his excavations |
| 14 | Jul | 1895 | fire in Rennes-le-Château, Bérenger Saunière refuses access to his well |
| 1895 | resignation of Perier, Félix Faure President de la République | ||
| 1896 | end of the great depression | ||
| 3 | Jan | 1897 | death of Abbé Emile Cayron, curé de Saint Laurent de la Cabrerisse |
| 11 | Feb | 1897 | the Cross of the Calvaire is erected |
| 4 | Mar | 1897 | Monsieur Castex starts the painting inside the church with 4 workers |
| 6 | Jul | 1897 | Eglise Madeleine inaugurated by Mgr. Billard. Also present: R. P. Mercier. |
| 24 | Sep | 1897 | Antoine Gélis retreats to Grèves near Carcasonne where he requests his cousin Maurice Malot to find him a house to retire. Probably during this visit he writes a document containing the location of several hding places in his church and house in Coustaussa. |
| 28 | Sep | 1897 | Antoine Gélis deposits 1,200 gold francs with Abbé Gayda of Trèbes |
| 11 | Oct | 1897 | Félicie Malot stays with Antoine Gélis to help him pack for retirement |
| 12 | Oct | 1897 | An unknow man visits Antoine Gélis in his sacristie |
| 24 | Oct | 1897 | Antoine Gélis receives a letter from his cousin Maurice Mallot to inform him that a house will be ready for his retirement in Grèzes on November 1st |
| 1 | Nov | 1897 | In the night from Oct 31st to Nov 1st Antoine Gélis curé of Coustassa is brutally murdered. His body is put down in the traditional burial position of a templar |
| 4 | Nov | 1897 | Judge Raymond Jean searches the church and house of Antoine Gélis and finds 12,000 gold francs with the help of a document describing the hiding places. This document has been found attached to Gélis' travel papers of 24th September |
| May | 1898 | Bérenger Saunière allegedly rents a horsecar in Lyon | |
| Dec | 1898 | Bérenger Saunière buys terrains around his church in the name of Marie Dénarnaud | |
| Feb | 1899 | resignation of Faure, Emile Loubet President de la République | |
| 16 | Oct | 1899 | the function of personnat as proposed by Mgr. Billardis refused to Bérenger Saunière by the Diocese after investigations into his life |
| Dec | 1899 | Bérenger Saunièrereceives a letter that his shipment of 50 liters of rum from Jamaica is late. |
20th Century
| 1900 | the village council approves Saunière's request to build a caveau to bury him and all future priests of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| May | 1901 | start of the construction of Villa Bethania (finished in 1905) | |
| Jul | 1901 | start of the building of a caveau (crypt) for Bérenger Saunière and the future priests of Rennes-le-Château | |
| 3 | Dec | 1901 | death of Mgr. Billard in the Monastery of Prouilhe, whilst in the process of being suspended for having administered the assets of his diocese in the most irregular fashion and for having contracted staggering debts, which were completely unjustified |
| 1902 | Mgr. Beuvain de Beauséjour becomes bishop of Carcassonne | ||
| 1902 | Bérenger Saunière loses sight on one eye, which is replaced with a glass eye | ||
| 1903 | Tomb of les Pontils built by Jean Galibert at Serres | ||
| 20 | Jul | 1903 | death of Pope Leo XIII (at the age of 93) |
| 24 | Jul | 1903 | construction work is suspended for a week to receive Bérenger Saunière's family |
| Aug | 1903 | Bérenger Saunière has financial troubles and is unable to pay for the works | |
| 4 | Aug | 1903 | pontificate Pius X (after cardinal Rampolla has been vetoed by the Habsburgs) |
| 1903 | start of the construction of Le Tour Magdala (finished in 1906) | ||
| 28 | Aug | 1903 | The architect Tiburce Caminade writes a letter to Bérenger Saunière that he needs another 4.5 cubic metres of stones to finish le Tour et la Tourelle, he can't perform miracles |
| 19 | Sep | 1905 | Alfred Saunière dies from the effects of abuse of alcohol |
| 1905 | split of church and state in France | ||
| 1906 | Pope Pius X condemns the split between church and state, resignation of Loubet, Armand Fallières President de la République | ||
| 1906 | Lazarists leave Notre Dame de Marceille | ||
| 1906 | Bulletin SESA appears with a transcript of the tomb of Marie de Nègre d'Ables | ||
| 19 | Nov | 1906 | Mgr. Beauséjour visits Rennes-le-Château |
| 1907 | Bérenger Saunière starts to build a very serious collection of stamps amounting up to 100.000 pieces at the time of his death | ||
| 24 | Mar | 1907 | Bérenger Saunière signs rental agreement for the presbytery for 5 years 20 FF per year |
| 5 | May | 1907 | death of Edmund Boudet (at the age of 67) |
| 1908 | Workmen discover a giant mass-grave while working on the access road to town. It is several hundreds meters long and contains sic to eight layers of skeletons from the time of the Albigensian Crusade | ||
| 1908 | much of the year is dedicated to Bérenger Saunière's vast library in de Tour Magdala, Henri Badet, a books expert from Castenaudary is hired for 3 months to help him organize his collection | ||
| 9 | Jan | 1909 | sudden death of Gaudissard, curé at Atignac (at the age of 49) |
| 15 | Jan | 1909 | Bérenger Saunière receives replacement to Coustouges, with one weeks notice |
| 28 | Jan | 1909 | Bérenger Saunière resigns as curé of Rennes-le-Château |
| 9 | Jul | 1909 | Abbé Marty arrives to replace Bérenger Saunière |
| 22 | Apr | 1910 | Bérenger Saunière orders a buste of himself to be made by maison Monna de Toulouse for 1.600 FFR |
| 27 | May | 1910 | Mgr. de Beauséjour starts official investigations into Bérenger Saunière's finances |
| 16 | Jul | 1910 | Bérenger Saunière fails to show up before the bishops court |
| 23 | Jul | 1910 | Bérenger Saunière suspended for one month |
| 5 | Nov | 1910 | Bérenger Saunière finally appears in court and is sentenced to 10 days in a monastery and having to produce the sources of his wealth a month later |
| 5 | Dec | 1910 | Bérenger Saunière refuses to reveal sufficient evidence for the sources of his spending and is sentenced, he is no longer allowed to say masses |
| 14 | Nov | 1911 | Louis de Coma is found dead lying in his bed, the Carol estate becomes property of the church |
| 1 | Feb | 1911 | Bérenger Saunière is relieved of the priesthood suspens a divinis |
| Apr | 1911 | Bérenger Saunière retreats to the Monastery of Prouilhe for 10 days to serve his sentence | |
| 1912 | Eglise Notre-Dame de Marceille is made a Basilique by Pius X | ||
| 1913 | Credit Foncier de France estimates Bérenger Saunière's posessions to be worth 18.000 Francs, resignation of Fallières, Raymond Poincaré President de la République | ||
| 1914 | the remaining 102 copies of The True Celtic Language.. are destroyed, with Boudets consent. This is said to have been at the insistence of the Bishop de Beausejour, and deprived Boudet of his income | ||
| 30 | Apr | 1914 | Henri Boudet leaves Rennes-les-Bains to return to his family home in Axat |
| 28 | Jun | 1914 | Archduke Franz Ferdinand is killed in Sarajevo, marking the start of World War I |
| 1914 | Abbé Rivière of Espéraza succeeds Abbé Marty as priest of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 3 | Sep | 1914 | pontificate Benedict XV |
| 1 | Feb | 1915 | sudden death of Abbé Rescanière, successor of Henri Boudet in Rennes-les-Bains (at the age of 47) |
| 30 | Mar | 1915 | death of Henri Boudet from intestinal cancer (at the age of 78) |
| 1916 | Bérenger Saunière goes on a pilgrimage to Lourdes | ||
| 17 | Jan | 1917 | Bérenger Saunière is found by Marie Dénarnaud, lying on the Belvedere. He has been lying there for some time, after he has suffered a stroke on his way to the Tour Magdala. |
| Jan | 1917 | Bérenger Saunière requests to confess feeling his end is very near after a heart attack. Young Abbé Jean Rivière of Esperaza who is summoned to hear his confession refuses Saunière the extreme unction while alive. This last will only be administered to him post-mortem | |
| 22 | Jan | 1917 | Bérenger Saunière dies after a series of heart attacks. His last words are said to be "Jean 23" (Jean Vingt-Trois) |
| 24 | Jan | 1917 | Bérenger Saunière is buried at 10:00 am by Abbé Rivière curé par intérim de Rennes-le-Château |
| 25 | Mar | 1917 | Marie Dénarnaud extends the rent of the presbytery with another 9 years |
| 12 | Jun | 1917 | Marie Dénarnaud pays for Saunières coffin |
| 1917 | Madame James de Montazels, a niece of Bérenger Saunière allegedly inherits the parchments, other say Saunière's archives where transferred to his doctor Paul Courrent just before his death | ||
| 1918 | End of World War I | ||
| 18 | Feb | 1920 | Paul Deschanel President de la République |
| 1920 | Alexandre Millerand President de la République | ||
| 6 | Feb | 1922 | pontificate Pius XI |
| 1924 | Gaston Doumergue President de la République | ||
| 1929 | a half melted golden statuette is found in the region of Rennes-le-Château | ||
| 1929 | German author Otto Rahn settles in Lavelanet and spends three months to systematically explore the ruins of Montségur and the surrounding mountain grottoes | ||
| 1931 | Paul Doumer President de la République | ||
| 1931 | Pamphlet version of Elise Tisseyres 1906 article deposited in the municipal library of Carcassonne by a Marty | ||
| 1931 | Otto Rahn discovers chambers deep in the grottoes of Sabarthes of which the walls are covered with symbols characteristic of the Knights Templar side by side with emblems of the Cathars. One intriguing image carved into the stone wall of a grotto is clearly a drawing of a lance. This depiction immediately suggests the bleeding lance that appears over and over again in the Arthurian legends | ||
| 1932 | Albert Lebrun President de la République | ||
| 1934 | Otto Rahn publishes Kreuzzug gegen Gral (Crusade Against the Grail) | ||
| 1936 | Otto Rahn joins the Waffen SS Heritage Bureau the Ahnenerbe (not voluntarily according to some) | ||
| Jun | 1936 | Otto Rahn and the SS travel to Iceland for research. | |
| 1937 | Otto Rahn publishes Luzifers Hofgesind (Lucifers Court) | ||
| 1937 | Otto Rahn falls in disgrace with the Nazis and is temporarily put to work in Dachau. It is said he is a homosexual or Jewish | ||
| 2 | Mar | 1939 | pontificate Pius XII |
| 13 | Mar | 1939 | Otto Rahn is found dead in the Tyrolean mountains. It is said he has committed suicide. |
| 1940 | Maréchal Philippe Pétain Head of State (during the second world war) | ||
| 16 | Mar | 1944 | the German Nazis fly swastika and Celtic cross patterns over the ruins of Montségur 700 years after its fall |
| 1946 | Charles de Gaulle President de la République | ||
| 1946 | The Château Hautpoul is sold to Monsieur Fatin | ||
| 22 | Jul | 1946 | Marie Dénarnaud sells the entire property to the Corbu family and lives with them from that day |
| 1947 | Vincent Auriol President de la République | ||
| 1948 | the library of Emile Hoffet is allegedly acquired by the International League of Antiquarian booksellers | ||
| 29 | Jan | 1953 | death of Marie Dénarnaud in Rennes-le-Château |
| 1954 | René Coty President de la République | ||
| 15 | Mar | 1955 | the Villa Bethania is transformed in a hotel and opens as the Hotel La Tour |
| 12 | Jan | 1956 | Noel Corbu publishes the story of Sauniere in regional paper Depeche du Midi |
| 1956 | Monastère de Carol in Baulou is destroyed with dynamite by Henri Baure by order of the diocese before he can buy the domain | ||
| 28 | Oct | 1958 | pontificate of Angelo Roncalli or John XXIII |
| 21 | Jun | 1963 | pontificate Paul VI |
| 1965 | Madame James de Montazels allegedly sells Saunière's parchments to Captian Roland Stanmore en Sir Thomas Frazier. Charles de Gaulle becomes President de la République de France | ||
| 2 | Jul | 1966 | the International League of Antiquarian booksellers (who allegedly bought Saunière's library, send a letter to Mr Fatin, woner of the Château Hautpoul and archeologist in Rennes-le-Château claiming that they have found 2 documents in Emile Hoffets library, signed by Blanche de Castille, attached to the testament of Francois Pierre dHautpoul, registered by notaire Captier in Esperaza, 23rd November 1644. The documents prove that Dagobert II left a son Sigisbert IV that came to Rennes-le-Château in 681. |
| 1967 | Gérard de Sède publishes l'Or de Rennes ou la vie insolite de Bérenger Saunière | ||
| 1969 | Georges Pompidou President de la République |