{"id":4822,"date":"2026-03-25T22:56:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T22:56:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=4822"},"modified":"2026-03-25T22:56:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T22:56:41","slug":"skeleton-of-famed-soldier-who-inspired-the-three-musketeers-possibly-found-in-dutch-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=4822","title":{"rendered":"Skeleton of famed soldier who inspired “The Three Musketeers” possibly found in Dutch church"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A skeleton which could belong to d’Artagnan, the French soldier who inspired the novel “The Three Musketeers,” has been discovered in a church in the Dutch city where he died centuries ago, local media reported Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The skeleton was found in Maastricht, in the nave of a modern church whose origins date back to at least the 13th century, during repairs related to a partial floor collapse in February, reported L1 Nieuws, a media outlet in the province of Limburg.<\/p>\n

Charles de Batz de Castelmore, known as d’Artagnan, the famous musketeer of Kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV, spent his life in the service of the French crown.<\/p>\n

The Gascon nobleman inspired Alexandre Dumas’s hero in “The Three Musketeers” in the 19th century, a character now known worldwide thanks to the novel and numerous film adaptations.<\/p>\n

D’Artagnan was killed during the siege of Maastricht in 1673, and there is a statue honoring the musketeer in the city. His final resting place has remained a mystery ever since. <\/p>\n

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\"D'Artagnan,<\/span>

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D’Artagnan, illustration from “The Three Musketeers,” by Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870). Paris edition, 1849.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo by DeAgostini\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

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A French coin was found near the skeleton in Maastricht, according to Deacon Jos Valke, who was present during the initial excavation.<\/p>\n

“Furthermore, the location of the grave indicates that this was an important person: the skeleton was found where the altar used to be, and only royalty or other important figures were buried under an altar at that time,” he told L1 Nieuws.<\/p>\n

Valke told the outlet that there are other clues that suggest the skeleton belongs to the famous French musketeer. <\/p>\n

“The bullet that killed him lay at chest level. Exactly as described in the history books. The evidence is very strong,” he told L1 Nieuws.<\/p>\n

The skeleton has been removed from the church and is now in an archaeological institute in Deventer, in eastern Germany, the outlet reported.<\/p>\n

A DNA sample was taken from the skeleton on March 13 and is currently being analysed in a laboratory in Munich.<\/p>\n

Archaeologist Wim Dijkman has been searching for d’Artagnan’s remains for 28 years.<\/p>\n

“I’m always very cautious, I’m a scientist. But I have high expectations,” he told L1 Nieuws.<\/p>\n

Dijkman told the outlet that DNA tests should be complete within the next few weeks. <\/p>\n

“At the moment, all kinds of analyses and investigations are underway domestically and abroad,” \u00a0he told L1 Nieuws. “It has really become a top-level investigation. We want to be absolutely certain that it is d’Artagnan.”<\/p>\n

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