Who was The Man in the Iron Mask? A Myth Rooted in Truth

This article continues my research into myth and legend. This time, let's explore one of my favorite myths; that of France's man in the iron mask.

I love period literature and movies. I often wonder if I once loved in that era because I find it both fascinating and somewhat familiar. Consequently, I'm a huge fan of Alexandre Dumas and his books. One of them, The Man in the Iron Mask, has been the subject of much speculation for many decades.

Although most certainly Dumas took some liberties in theorizing his own version of the story, what can't be disputed is the fact that in 1698 someone important was apparently imprisoned in the Bastille by King Louis XIV.

The exact identity of the man was never revealed. In fact, great care was given to conceal his identity. However, imprisonment in the Bastille at that time in particular was generally reserved for people of import who had fallen out of favor.

There was another fascinating aspect to this prisoner. He was not just sentenced to prison, but also imprisoned within a mask. Exactly what the mask was made from is also a source of contention. The only known reference that can be considered reliable ascertains that it was made from black velvet.

Other accounts, however reliable they may be, describe in detail a mask of iron with "movable, hinged lower jaw held in place by springs that made it possible to eat wearing it." It seems that the masked man did indeed eat while wearing it. He also slept in the mask and eventually died with it still intact.

To make certain that the prisoner's identity remained anonymous, two of King Louis XIV's musketeers guarded him day and night. They were charged with killing him if he dared to unmask himself.

Almost immediately upon his imprisonment, dozens of theories regarding the identity of the prisoner began to float around France. Each new theory spun seemed even wilder than its predecessor.