history
Found the Most Famous Musketeer? Possible Remains of d'Artagnan Discovered in a Church in Maastricht
The story of the fearless musketeers – young d'Artagnan and his loyal friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis – has fascinated readers of Alexandre Dumas's famous novel, as well as viewers of countless film and TV adaptations, for over two centuries.
TL;DR
- Archaeologist Wim Dijkman claims to have found the tomb of d'Artagnan in Maastricht, Netherlands.
- The tomb, located in front of the altar in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, contained a skeleton, a musket ball, and a bronze coin minted in 1660.
- These findings align with historical records stating d'Artagnan died from a throat wound during the 1673 Siege of Maastricht.
- French historian Odile Bordaz had long theorized that d'Artagnan's body was likely buried near the French camp rather than returned to France.
- Dijkman is awaiting DNA and strontium isotope analysis to definitively confirm the skeleton's identity.
- The church deacon noted that the death report indicated d'Artagnan was laid to rest on consecrated ground, making the spot under the altar highly significant.