Man in the Iron Mask, playing the cello in prison

There are conflicting theories as to who this man was. One is that he was Count Ercole Antonio Mattioli (Matthioli or Marchioly, 1640-1703), an Italian diplomat, arrested as Eustache Dauger in 1669, imprisoned by Louis XIV for 34 years, who died in the Bastille. Another theory, according to Voltaire, is that he was the older, illegitimate brother of Louis XIV -- this later formed part of Alexandre Dumas Three Musketeers saga, in which the man is Louis twin brother

1640 1669 1703 Alexandre Bastille Captivity Cello Conflicting Dumas Ercole Eustache Illegitimate Imprisoned Mattioli Musketeers Prisons Saga Theories Theory Voltaire

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