d’Artagnan’s remains found? Scientists share details of shocking dig in the Netherlands
Photo: remains found in a church in the Netherlands (rkmaastricht.nl)
A skeleton has been found in Maastricht, the Netherlands, which may belong to French musketeer Charles Ogier de Batz de Castelmore, the Chevalier d’Artagnan, according to NOS.
This historical figure inspired Alexandre Dumas’s world-famous literary hero, but a definitive answer will come from DNA analysis, with results expected soon.
For centuries, d’Artagnan’s burial site remained unknown, and the discovery of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul was potentially one of the most significant in the Netherlands.
D’Artagnan died on June 25, 1673, during the siege of Maastricht, when Louis XIV’s French army attempted to capture the city.
Remains discovered during restoration work
The discovery was made possible by subsidence of the church floor in February. During restoration work, the remains were found underneath.
“Next to his body lay a French coin. Moreover, the location of the grave indicates it belonged to an important person: the skeleton was under a spot where the altar once stood, and at that time only royalty or other significant figures were buried beneath the altar,” said Deacon Jos Walke, present at the excavation.
In addition, remnants of a musket ball were found near the ribs, matching historical accounts of d’Artagnan’s injury.
The skeleton has been removed from the church and is now held at the Archaeological Institute in Deventer. A laboratory in Munich is currently comparing the DNA of the remains with that of a descendant of the historical figure.
