March 26, 2026, 4:00 p.mMarch 26, 2026, 4:00 p.m
He was the fourth of the “Three Musketeers”: The French hero D’Artagnan is world famous. He died near Maastricht over 350 years ago. And it is precisely there that the discovery of a grave is now causing speculation.
Does this grave belong to the famous French musketeer D’Artagnan?Image: REUTERS
The discovery of a centuries-old skeleton in Maastricht is causing great excitement in the Netherlands: a church and an archaeologist believe it is possible that it is the remains of the legendary French musketeer D’Artagnan. Where the hero was buried has been a great mystery since his death more than 350 years ago.
The grave was discovered during repairs to the Sint-Petrus-en-Pauluskirche in Wolder in the south of the Netherlands. There is evidence that D’Artagnan was killed nearby during the siege of Maastricht in July 1673. Historians believe it is very likely that he was buried in Wolder. The French army had set up camp in the village at the time.
Grave under altar
In February, the floor of the Wolder church was broken up. The grave was located exactly where the altar used to stand, said deacon Jos Valke on Dutch radio station L1. “Only royal or other important people were buried under the altar back then.” A bullet was also found near the ribs and a French coin.
Charles de Batz de Castelmore, Count of Artagnan, was a close confidante of the French King Louis XIV. He led the Musketeers, the king’s personal bodyguard. D’Artagnan became world famous through the 1844 novel “The Three Musketeers” by the French author Alexandre Dumas. Along with Aramis, Athos and Porthos, he was the so-called fourth Musketeer. Numerous films and a musical were released based on the adventure novel.
Hopes for a DNA sample
A DNA sample from the skeleton has now been sent to a laboratory in Munich. There it is compared with the DNA of a descendant of D’Artagnan. The result is expected in a few weeks.
The archaeologist Wim Dijkman, who was involved in the excavation, is still very cautious: “So far there is nothing to suggest that it could be him. But I’m waiting for the results of the DNA test first.” (dab/sda/dpa)