The dramatic unearthing occurred at the St. Peter and Paul Church in Wolder, a district of Maastricht, during routine maintenance repairs. Workers noticed the floor collapsing near the altar, a location historically reserved for royalty or highly significant individuals. Upon excavating the site, they found a grave containing human remains alongside artifacts that perfectly match historical accounts of the musketeer's demise. As reported by the BBC, the skeleton was accompanied by a French coin dated 1660 and fragments of a lead musket ball found at chest level, a detail that sent shockwaves through the historical community.
The skeleton believed to be of d’Artagnan, found under the altar table in St. Peter and Paul Church in Wolder, Maastricht, Netherlands. (Stichting 6213HL/Gamma-Rapho)
Clues Pointing to the Real d'Artagnan
Deacon Jos Valke, who assisted with the excavation, emphasized the significance of the find and its location within the church.
"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," Valke stated.
The presence of the musket ball is particularly compelling, as historical records document that d'Artagnan was struck in the throat or upper chest by enemy fire during the siege of Maastricht in June 1673.
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Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and d'Artagnan as illustrated in the 1894 Calmann-Lévy edition of The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. (Public Domain)
The real d'Artagnan (Charles de Batz de Castelmore) was a Gascon nobleman born around 1611 who rose to serve as captain-lieutenant of the Musketeers of the Guard under King Louis XIV, the famed Sun King. During the brutal siege of Maastricht in 1673, the French army sought to capture the heavily fortified Dutch city. According to historical records, the summer heat and the urgency of the ongoing conflict made it impractical to transport the fallen captain's body back to France. He was therefore buried locally, and Wolder was the French headquarters where Louis XIV himself attended daily mass — with some historians arguing the church there to be a fitting, if long-forgotten, tomb for such a loyal servant of the crown.
Scientific Confirmation Underway
While the circumstantial evidence is remarkably strong, researchers are taking rigorous steps to definitively confirm the identity of the remains. Archaeologist Wim Dijkman, who has spent 28 years researching the musketeer's possible grave, described the effort as a "top-level investigation." The remains have been carefully removed from the church and transferred to an archaeological institute in Deventer for detailed analysis covering age, geographic origin, and biological sex.
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The statue of d'Artagnan in Aldenhofpark, Maastricht, stands near where he fell in battle in 1673. (Kleon3 / CC BY-SA 4.0)
Crucially, DNA analysis is currently being conducted at a specialist laboratory in Munich, Germany. Scientists extracted genetic material from the jawbone and plan to compare it with DNA from known living descendants of d'Artagnan's family line. "I'm always very cautious, I'm a scientist. But I have high expectations," Dijkman noted, capturing the careful optimism that surrounds this extraordinary project. The results are expected within the coming months and are being eagerly awaited by historians and literary enthusiasts alike.
The Legacy of a 17th-Century Hero
If the DNA results are positive, they will bring an end to more than 350 years of speculation regarding the final resting place of this iconic historical figure. D'Artagnan's life of espionage, military command, and unwavering service to the French crown made him a legend even before Alexandre Dumas immortalized him in his 17th-century adventure novels. The discovery not only enriches our understanding of the Franco-Dutch War but also bridges the gap between beloved fiction and tangible, verifiable history.
For now, the world awaits the final scientific verdict. The unearthing of these bones beneath a quiet Dutch church serves as a powerful reminder that history is never truly buried. As the investigation continues, the spirit of the real d'Artagnan - courageous, loyal, and enduring - seems to have finally stepped out from the pages of literature and back into the light of day.
Top image: Statue of d'Artagnan by Gustave Doré. Bronze, 1883. Place du Général-Catroux, Paris. Source: I, Jibi44/CC BY 2.5
References
Contributors, W. 2026. Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Batz_de_Castelmore_d%27Artagnan
Dijkman, W. (cited in ) 2026. Skeleton of Three Musketeers hero d'Artagnan may have been found. The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/24/skeleton-three-musketeers-hero-dartagnan-found-netherlands
News, G. 2026. Skeleton found in Dutch church may be famous musketeer D'Artagnan [Video]. YouTube/Guardian News. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnL7ece1d0g
Sherwood, H. 2026. Skeleton of Three Musketeers hero d'Artagnan may have been found. The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/24/skeleton-three-musketeers-hero-dartagnan-found-netherlands
Valke, J. (cited in ) 2026. Remains Of Legendary Musketeer D'Artagnan Unearthed In Maastricht. Available at: https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/remains-of-legendary-musketeer-dartagnan-unearthed-in-maastricht-535126
