Lost remains of French musketeer d'Artagnan possibly found in Dutch church
The Jerusalem Post • • world
Key Points:
- Workers discovered a grave with human remains beneath the floor of St. Peter and Paul Church in Maastricht, possibly belonging to the 17th-century French musketeer Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan.
- DNA samples from a jawbone found at the site have been sent to Germany for testing against d'Artagnan's descendants, while bones were also taken to Deventer to determine the skeleton's age and gender.
- Archaeologist Wim Dijkman emphasized the need for scientific certainty before confirming the identity, noting the investigation is thorough and ongoing.
- Clues supporting the potential identification include a coin dated to 1660, a lead bullet fragment, and the burial location under the church altar, consistent with historical accounts of d'Artagnan's burial in consecrated ground.
- D'Artagnan, a real historical figure and inspiration for Alexandre Dumas' "The Three Musketeers," was killed by a musket ball during the 1673 siege of Maastricht, near where the church now stands.
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