SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Now for an update about a centuries-old mystery. The remains of the real-life d'Artagnan, the swashbuckling swordsman who longed to join the Three Musketeers in the famous novel, they may have been found. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports.
ELEANOR BEARDSLEY, BYLINE: In 1844, when Alexandre Dumas published his novel "Les Trois Mousquetaires," it became an overnight success. The adventures of Athos, Porthos, Aramis and d'Artagnan - yes, there were actually four musketeers - captured imaginations and became myth.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
BEARDSLEY: In the 20th century, the films followed. Every era cast its leading man as the noble, brave and loyal leading musketeer.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE THREE MUSKETEERS")
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As character) Who are you?
GENE KELLY: (As d'Artagnan) Tell Richelieu the name's d'Artagnan.
(SOUNDBITE OF RAPIER RIPPING TROUSERS)
KELLY: (As d'Artagnan) Ah.
BEARDSLEY: Gene Kelly played d'Artagnan in the 1948 Hollywood version. The real musketeers were founded in the 1600s by Louis XIII as the personal guard of the French kings.
(SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, "LA VERITABLE HISTOIRE DE D'ARTAGNAN")
UNIDENTIFIED NARRATOR: (Speaking French).
BEARDSLEY: This French documentary, "The Real D'Artagnan" on channel ARTE, says only the best horsemen and fighters made the cut. And d'Artagnan, whose real name was Charles de Batz Castelmore, was a legend in Dumas' novel and reality. He was a favorite of Louis XIV and in 1673 led the Sun King's siege of the Dutch city of Maastricht. The walled city fell, but so did d'Artagnan. Here's French historian Odile Bordaz speaking in the 2020 ARTE documentary.
(SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, "LA VERITABLE HISTOIRE DE D'ARTAGNAN")
ODILE BORDAZ: (Speaking French).
BEARDSLEY: "We know that d'Artagnan's body was brought back to his camp," she says, "and that Louis XIV celebrated a Mass for him. But it's a mystery what happened to his body." Until now.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (Speaking Dutch).
BEARDSLEY: Last week, a skeleton was found under the floor tiles of a Maastricht church built on the spot where Louis XIV's camp once stood. Archaeologist Wim Dijkman says they're now eagerly awaiting the DNA results from d'Artagnan's descendants.
WIM DIJKMAN: (Speaking Dutch).
BEARDSLEY: "This is a top priority because we want to be absolutely sure if this is the famous musketeer who died at Maastricht," he says.
CECILE REBILLARD: (Speaking French).
BEARDSLEY: Mother of three Cecile Rebillard (ph) is following the news from Paris.
REBILLARD: (Speaking French).
BEARDSLEY: "We all read Dumas," she says. "It's something that's transmitted from generation to generation. So finding d'Artagnan's skeleton is great. It brings the fiction to life."
She walks away with a smile and the musketeer mantra known to every French schoolchild on her lips.
REBILLARD: (Speaking French).
BEARDSLEY: "All for one and one for all."
Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.
(SOUNDBITE OF DE LA SOUL SONG, "GREYHOUNDS") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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