Skeleton Linked to D’Artagnan Found in Dutch Church
A skeleton potentially belonging to the famous French musketeer, d’Artagnan, was discovered during repairs at a church in Maastricht. The church’s origins trace back to the 13th century.
D’Artagnan, whose real name was Charles de Batz de Castelmore, served under King Louis XIII and King Louis XIV of France. He inspired Alexandre Dumas’s character in “The Three Musketeers.”
D’Artagnan died during the siege of Maastricht in 1673, with a statue commemorating him now standing in the city. His final resting place has long been unknown.
A French coin was found near the skeleton, and its location suggests it belonged to an important person. The skeleton’s position at what used to be an altar supports this theory.
Archaeologist Wim Dijkman, who has searched for d’Artagnan’s remains for 28 years, is confident in his findings. A DNA sample was taken on March 13 and is being analyzed in Munich.
Dijkman emphasizes the thoroughness of the investigation, aiming to confirm beyond doubt that this skeleton belongs to d’Artagnan.