Legendary captain who inspired 'The Three Musketeers' may have been found under church altar

Archaeologists whitethorn person uncovered the remains of Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan, the legendary French musketeer who inspired Alexandre Dumas' "The Three Musketeers."

The skeleton was recovered successful beforehand of an altar astatine St. Peter and Paul Church successful Maastricht, the Netherlands, section officials said Wednesday.

Workers recovered the quality remains successful February aft the level caved in, Reuters reported.

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Researchers are present investigating DNA from the jawbone to spot if it lines up with d'Artagnan's descendants. 

The religion has agelong been considered a imaginable burial tract for d'Artagnan, according to officials.

Archaeologists successful the Netherlands are investigating whether recently discovered remains could beryllium to d'Artagnan, the famed musketeer linked to Alexandre Dumas' novel. (John Thys/AFP via Getty Images; Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Speaking to Reuters, archaeologist Wim Dijkman said the excavation has go a "top-level investigation."

He added, "We privation to beryllium perfectly definite — oregon arsenic definite arsenic ​possible — whether it is the celebrated musketeer, who was killed present adjacent Maastricht."

Fox News Digital reached retired to Dijkman for further comment.

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Born successful 1611, d'Artagnan served nether King Louis XIV — known arsenic the "Sun King" — and roseate to skipper of the Musketeers of the Guard, an elite subject unit.

He was killed connected June 25, 1673, adjacent Maastricht, aft being changeable successful the pharynx during a French siege.

The remains were discovered aft the religion level collapsed, opening a spread that led archaeologists to a burial perchance tied to d'Artagnan. (De Agostini via Getty Images; REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw)

It's believed that d'Artagnan was buried nearby, arsenic it would person been impractical to transport his assemblage backmost to France successful the summertime heat.

Jos Valke, a deacon of the church, told Reuters that further clues besides pointed to d'Artagnan.

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These included a coin from 1660 and a fragment of a pb slug adjacent the burial.

Valke noted that d'Artagnan was supposedly buried successful consecrated ground, according to a modern letter.

"When you adhd it each up … it seems plausible to us."

"Well, ⁠under ​an altar — it couldn't beryllium overmuch holier than that," ​he said.

Valke added, "When you adhd it each up, then, it seems plausible to us. But of course, thing ​is definite yet."

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Dumas published "The Three Musketeers" successful serial signifier opening successful May 1844, immortalizing d'Artagnan successful fiction. 

Published successful publication signifier aboriginal that year, it has since been wide work and adapted into films, plays and TV shows.

"We privation to beryllium perfectly definite — oregon arsenic definite arsenic ​possible — whether it is the celebrated musketeer, who was killed present adjacent Maastricht," said an archaeologist. (John Thys/AFP via Getty Images)

The find is 1 of galore important archaeological finds successful the Netherlands successful caller years.

Last summer, officials showcased a medieval sword with uncommon symbols that was recovered successful a stream by Dutch operation workers.

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In 2024, archaeologists successful North Holland recovered a creepy, centuries-old level made of carnal bones successful a red-light district.

Reuters contributed reporting.