A skeleton believed to be that of the musketeer d'Artagnan has been found in the Netherlands
In one of Maastricht’s churches, archaeologists have discovered the unusual skeleton of an unidentified man who is believed to be the famous French musketeer D’Artagnan. The burial site of this renowned musketeer has long remained a mystery, and this discovery may shed light on his fate.
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After d’Artagnan’s death, it was unknown what happened to his body or where he was buried. He died in 1673 during the siege of Maastricht in the course of the Dutch War. It is noted that his body was likely not transported to France afterward, as fighting was still ongoing, so he was buried on the spot.
It was in the historic city of Maastricht that archaeologists stumbled upon a skeleton that may belong to the musketeer. The remains were found near a church in Volder, a district of Maastricht, where the French army had once set up camp. It is therefore assumed that the musketeer was buried there.
Previously, these were only hypotheses, but in 2026, they were confirmed. In February of this year, a section of the church floor caved in, and the remains were discovered during repair work.
According to Deacon Jos Walke, who was present during the excavation, this find could be a real discovery. “The skeleton was lying where the altar used to be. In those days, only kings or other important figures were buried under the altar,” the deacon said.
It is known that a musket ball was found in the skeleton’s chest, and a French coin was also found in the grave. DNA samples from the remains have already been sent to a laboratory in Munich, where they are being compared with samples from a descendant of the musketeer.
Archaeologist Wim Deikman, who also participated in the excavations, commented on the likelihood that the remains truly belong to the famous musketeer. “I’m being very cautious for now. So far, nothing contradicts the possibility that it could be him. But I’m waiting for the results of the DNA analysis,” he noted.
Charles Ogier de Batz de Castelmore was the Count of D’Artagnan and the right-hand man of King Louis XIV. D’Artagnan was also known as the commander of the Musketeers, an elite military unit of the French king. He died in 1673 during the siege of Maastricht.
In France, D’Artagnan is considered a national hero. After his death, D’Artagnan became famous again following the publication of the novel “The Three Musketeers,” written by French author Alexandre Dumas in 1844.
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