Lost remains of French musketeer d’Artagnan may have been found in Dutch church

The possible remains of Charles de Batz de Castelmore d’Artagnan, the historical figure behind the fictional musketeer, have been discovered in Maastricht, Netherlands. The skeleton was found in a grave beneath the floor of St Peter and Paul Church after part of the floor subsided in February. Church officials and an archaeologist are conducting DNA testing on a jawbone fragment to compare it with descendants and confirm the identity. D'Artagnan, a captain-lieutenant of the musketeers for King Louis XIV, was killed during the French siege of Maastricht in 1673. The church was previously identified as a potential burial site for the 17th-century soldier.

A skeleton discovered during church repairs in Maastricht, Netherlands, may be the remains of Charles de Batz-Castelmore, the real-life d'Artagnan who inspired the Three Musketeers. The skeleton was found under the altar in consecrated ground, accompanied by a French coin from the era and a bullet near the chest, aligning with historical accounts of d'Artagnan's death during the siege of Maastricht in 1673. A retired archaeologist, Wim Dijkman, who has been searching for d'Artagnan's burial site for 28 years, was called to investigate. The skeleton has been moved to an archaeological institute for analysis. DNA samples from the skeleton are being compared with those of d'Artagnan's descendants to confirm the identification.

Possible remains of Charles de Batz de Castelmore, the Count d'Artagnan, have been discovered under St Peter and Paul Church in Maastricht, Netherlands. D'Artagnan, a close aide to King Louis XIV and inspiration for Alexandre Dumas's "Three Musketeers," died during the Siege of Maastricht in 1673. The skeleton was unearthed during renovations by deacon Jos Valke, who believes the location of the burial, a bullet found in the grave, and a coin from 1660 suggest it is d'Artagnan. While archaeologist Wim Dijkman awaits DNA confirmation, samples have been sent to Germany for analysis and bones are being assessed in Deventer to determine age and sex. The discovery could potentially confirm the long-rumored burial site of the legendary musketeer.