Affair of the Poisons.
At the time, poisoning was a popular way of inheriting wealth and status. It had even acquired the name "inheritance powder." What brought the
affair to light was the trial of Marquise de Brinvilliers, who conspired with her lover to murder her father and siblings. The sensational trial came
to the attention of the King who feared he too may be poisoned. Thus, he initiated an investigation to be conducted by his chief of police.
The police rounded up anyone who was suspected of selling poisons. One such person, Catherine
Deshayes Monvoisin, confessed under threat of torture and implicated several important people in the French Court. Included in the confession
were tales of a satanic cult where Black Mass was conducted by the notorious priest Étienne Guibourg. A nude woman would offer her body up to act as
the altar in these rituals, and babies were sacrificed. Along with Guibourg, she confessed to killing hundreds of children.
One of the worshippers belonging to the cult was a mistress of the King, Marquisse de Montespan. She feared she was losing the King's favour to a
younger rival, and so attended three of the "masses" and hoped to regain her status by acting as the nude altar.
We have noted the Dauger may well have been involved with this group. He was broke and needed money, opening up a trade in these poisons. He also
seems to have changed his name to Auger and called himself a physician. We know he was present during at least one Black Mass, on Good Friday no
less, as this was the main reason he was denied his inheritance. He was also possibly involved in murder with homosexual undertones. For this he may
have been arrested and imprisoned. Monvoison was declared a witch and burned at the stake. Guibourg died in prison three years later.
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org...
en.wikipedia.org...
The Man in the Iron Mask, page 1
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Topic started on 27-3-2009 @ 04:01 AM by TheComte
The Story
During the reign of Louis XIV of France, there was a state prisoner who was required to wear a mask in public and when around outside visitors. No one should learn of his identity. Contrary to the popular nickname, the mask was made of black velvet, as was attested to by Lieutenant Etienne du Junca in his notebooks. A Lieutenant in the Bastille, Du Junca records the arrival of a new governor of the prison in 1698: Bénigne d'Auvergne de Saint-Mars. Du Junca writes that Saint-Mars "brought with him, in a litter, a longtime prisoner, whom he had in custody in Pignerol, and whom he kept always masked, and whose name has not been given to me, nor recorded."
Pignerol, another French prison, had been Saint-Mars' charge between the years of 1665 to 1681. So, the mysterious prisoner had been in custody at least 17 years prior to his arrival at the Bastille, and maybe as much as 33 years. In fact, Saint-Mars always took the Man in the Mask with him whenever he moved to a different prison. From 1681 to 1687 they were at the prison fortress of Exiles, then on to the island of Sainte-Marguerite, before arriving at the Bastille in 1698.
The earliest records we do have of the Man in the Mask date from 1669. According to a letter from the King's minister the Marquis de Louvois to Saint-Mars, then at Pignerol, the name of the man was Eustache Dauger.
So what's the mystery? Louvois gave the prisoner's name and occupation. Why the mask and why all the doubt about his identity?
Several things don't add up. First of all, Louvois' letter was discovered by historians to be in two different handwritings. The text of the letter is in one script, while the name is inserted in another. This suggests that the name was added later, probably by Louvois himself. But why? There was a man, whose full name was Eustache Dauger de Cavoye, who was involved in some pretty shady stuff that may have been enough to get him thrown in prison. But his death is recorded in the late 1680s while the Man in the Mask supposedly died in 1703. Also, the Man in the Mask was buried under the name of Marchioly, not Dauger. So, what gives?
Du Junca notes in his writings how well the Man in the Mask is treated. He was allowed to attend Mass on Sundays and holidays as long as he wore the mask. Later legends said the prisoner was treated lavishly, waited on hand and foot. This is most likely false as the furnishings in his cell were provided by the prison at a time when the rich could furnish their own cells. So, he wasn't rich. It follows that he wasn't treated like royalty. However, according to du Junca, he had no complaints.
Even though his identity and crime were state secrets, the fact that he was a prisoner was not. Word spread far and wide about the masked prisoner. Soon there were many fantastic stories circulating, including that the masked was made of iron and had a hinged jaw. As we have seen, this was not true. Most of the stories were not true, and that makes it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction in this case.
So who was the Man in the Mask?
The Main Suspects
1) Antonio Ercole Matthioli
Matthioli was an Italian diplomat and politician. Apparently he was involved in some scandal and double cross involving the sale of Casale, a fortress near the border of France and Italy. Drawing the ire of at least five countries, and nearly starting a war, Louis XIV kidnapped him and sent him to Pignerol with instructions that "no person shall know what has become of this man." It is known that Matthioli eventually went mad in captivity, and may have voluntarily donned the mask. It was an Italian custom among the rich to cover their faces when going out in the sun.
Matthioli was certainly in some of the prisons at the same time as our Man in the Mask. And, our prisoner was buried under the name of Marchioly, possibly a corruption of Matthioli. However, fairly reliable records show that Matthioli died in 1694, and so couldn't have been accompanying Saint-Mars to Bastille in 1698. Also, letters to Saint-Mars in 1697 warn him to never tell anyone what his "longtime prisoner" has done. Matthioli's crimes were well known, no secrecy was needed. Therefore, it is doubtful that Matthioli is our Man in the Mask.
2) Eustache Dauger de Cavoye
Mentioned earlier, this is the name Louvois gives the prisoner. He was allegedly involved with all sorts of sordid affairs including enacting the Black Mass, homosexual activities, even the murder of a pageboy. Because of this disgrace, his mother wrote him out of her will, and he was left with a meager yearly allowance when she died. Later, Dauger was linked to a scandal known as The Affair of the Poisons. This was a cabal of the rich that was accused of being involved with Black Mass and committing assassinations with poison. The source of the poisons was allegedly Dauger, who was hard up for cash to support his playboy-like lifestyle. Some of his customers were close to the King, and so the story is he suppressed the investigations and imprisoned Dauger.
As noted above, the death of Dauger de Cavoye does not coincide with the death of Dauger, the Man in the Mask. Plus, we know that de Cavoye died in Prison Saint-Lazare. Also, there is no evidence that Dauger de Cavoye was ever held at the Bastille. It doesn't seem likely that Dauger de Cavoye is our Man in the Mask.
3) A Royal Relative
Most are familiar with Alexander Dumas' classic novel The Vicomte of Bragelonne in which he writes that the prisoner is the twin brother of the King. Voltaire also espoused a similar theory, but in it the prisoner is the illegitimate half-brother of the King. Both versions are most likely fiction. As noted the prisoner was treated well but not lavishly, so it is highly doubtful that he was that close to the King. However, there is one possible theory.
Other Theories
1) Moliere
Some suggest that the famous playwright's death was faked in 1673 and he was imprisoned behind the mask until his real death 40 years later.
2) Napolean's Forefather
One theory, no doubt encouraged by Napolean, was that the prisoner was indeed of royal lineage, and that he was allowed to wed in prison. Not long afterward, a child was born and taken to Corsica to be raised by his mother's family. The family's name: Bonaparte.
3) A Black Politician
Having an affair with the Queen was evidently enough to get one thrown in prison. If that person happened to be black then he would be recognizable and therefore needed to wear the mask.
4) An Amalgamation of Two Prisoners' Stories
Another plausible theory is one in which the stories and lives of two prisoners, Dauger de Cavoye and Matthioli, were mixed together to form the legend of the Man in the Iron Mask.
There are many more theories and legends about the prisoner's identity. Too many to continue listing them. If you are interested I've included some source links at the bottom of the post. One thing is for sure, the debate rages on. We will probably never know the true identity of the Man in the Iron Mask. So, what do you think? Let's hear your theories and opinions on this mysterious prisoner, and let's leave Dicapprio out of it.
Sources
www.straightdope.com...
en.wikipedia.org...
www.essortment.com...
french-history.suite101.com...
[edit on 27
[edit on 27-3-2009 by TheComte]
During the reign of Louis XIV of France, there was a state prisoner who was required to wear a mask in public and when around outside visitors. No one should learn of his identity. Contrary to the popular nickname, the mask was made of black velvet, as was attested to by Lieutenant Etienne du Junca in his notebooks. A Lieutenant in the Bastille, Du Junca records the arrival of a new governor of the prison in 1698: Bénigne d'Auvergne de Saint-Mars. Du Junca writes that Saint-Mars "brought with him, in a litter, a longtime prisoner, whom he had in custody in Pignerol, and whom he kept always masked, and whose name has not been given to me, nor recorded."
Pignerol, another French prison, had been Saint-Mars' charge between the years of 1665 to 1681. So, the mysterious prisoner had been in custody at least 17 years prior to his arrival at the Bastille, and maybe as much as 33 years. In fact, Saint-Mars always took the Man in the Mask with him whenever he moved to a different prison. From 1681 to 1687 they were at the prison fortress of Exiles, then on to the island of Sainte-Marguerite, before arriving at the Bastille in 1698.
Fortress on the island of Sainte-Marguerite
Sainte-Marguerite Cell window
The Bastille
The earliest records we do have of the Man in the Mask date from 1669. According to a letter from the King's minister the Marquis de Louvois to Saint-Mars, then at Pignerol, the name of the man was Eustache Dauger.
Louvois instructed Saint-Mars to prepare a cell with multiple doors which were to prevent anyone from the outside listening in. Dauger was also to be told that if he spoke of anything other than his immediate needs he would be killed. Saint-Mars was to see Dauger only once a day in order to provide food and whatever else he needed. But, according to Louvois, the prisoner should not require much since he was "only a valet".
So what's the mystery? Louvois gave the prisoner's name and occupation. Why the mask and why all the doubt about his identity?
Several things don't add up. First of all, Louvois' letter was discovered by historians to be in two different handwritings. The text of the letter is in one script, while the name is inserted in another. This suggests that the name was added later, probably by Louvois himself. But why? There was a man, whose full name was Eustache Dauger de Cavoye, who was involved in some pretty shady stuff that may have been enough to get him thrown in prison. But his death is recorded in the late 1680s while the Man in the Mask supposedly died in 1703. Also, the Man in the Mask was buried under the name of Marchioly, not Dauger. So, what gives?
Du Junca notes in his writings how well the Man in the Mask is treated. He was allowed to attend Mass on Sundays and holidays as long as he wore the mask. Later legends said the prisoner was treated lavishly, waited on hand and foot. This is most likely false as the furnishings in his cell were provided by the prison at a time when the rich could furnish their own cells. So, he wasn't rich. It follows that he wasn't treated like royalty. However, according to du Junca, he had no complaints.
Even though his identity and crime were state secrets, the fact that he was a prisoner was not. Word spread far and wide about the masked prisoner. Soon there were many fantastic stories circulating, including that the masked was made of iron and had a hinged jaw. As we have seen, this was not true. Most of the stories were not true, and that makes it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction in this case.
So who was the Man in the Mask?
The Main Suspects
1) Antonio Ercole Matthioli
Matthioli was an Italian diplomat and politician. Apparently he was involved in some scandal and double cross involving the sale of Casale, a fortress near the border of France and Italy. Drawing the ire of at least five countries, and nearly starting a war, Louis XIV kidnapped him and sent him to Pignerol with instructions that "no person shall know what has become of this man." It is known that Matthioli eventually went mad in captivity, and may have voluntarily donned the mask. It was an Italian custom among the rich to cover their faces when going out in the sun.
Matthioli was certainly in some of the prisons at the same time as our Man in the Mask. And, our prisoner was buried under the name of Marchioly, possibly a corruption of Matthioli. However, fairly reliable records show that Matthioli died in 1694, and so couldn't have been accompanying Saint-Mars to Bastille in 1698. Also, letters to Saint-Mars in 1697 warn him to never tell anyone what his "longtime prisoner" has done. Matthioli's crimes were well known, no secrecy was needed. Therefore, it is doubtful that Matthioli is our Man in the Mask.
2) Eustache Dauger de Cavoye
Mentioned earlier, this is the name Louvois gives the prisoner. He was allegedly involved with all sorts of sordid affairs including enacting the Black Mass, homosexual activities, even the murder of a pageboy. Because of this disgrace, his mother wrote him out of her will, and he was left with a meager yearly allowance when she died. Later, Dauger was linked to a scandal known as The Affair of the Poisons. This was a cabal of the rich that was accused of being involved with Black Mass and committing assassinations with poison. The source of the poisons was allegedly Dauger, who was hard up for cash to support his playboy-like lifestyle. Some of his customers were close to the King, and so the story is he suppressed the investigations and imprisoned Dauger.
As noted above, the death of Dauger de Cavoye does not coincide with the death of Dauger, the Man in the Mask. Plus, we know that de Cavoye died in Prison Saint-Lazare. Also, there is no evidence that Dauger de Cavoye was ever held at the Bastille. It doesn't seem likely that Dauger de Cavoye is our Man in the Mask.
Documents have survived indicating that Dauger de Cavoye was held at Saint-Lazare in Paris at about the same time that Dauger, the man in the mask, was taken into custody in Pignerol, hundreds of miles away in the south.
3) A Royal Relative
Most are familiar with Alexander Dumas' classic novel The Vicomte of Bragelonne in which he writes that the prisoner is the twin brother of the King. Voltaire also espoused a similar theory, but in it the prisoner is the illegitimate half-brother of the King. Both versions are most likely fiction. As noted the prisoner was treated well but not lavishly, so it is highly doubtful that he was that close to the King. However, there is one possible theory.
Hugh Ross Williamson argues that the man in the iron mask was actually the father of Louis XIV. According to this theory, the 'miraculous' birth of Louis XIV in 1638, after Louis XIII had been estranged from his wife for over twenty years, implies that Louis XIII was not the father.
The suggestion is that the King's minister, Cardinal Richelieu, had arranged for a substitute, probably an illegitimate son or grandson of Henry IV, to become intimate with the Queen, and father an heir. At the time, the heir-apparent was Louis XIII's brother Gaston d'Orléans, who was also Richelieu's enemy. If Gaston became King, Richelieu would quite likely have lost both his job as minister and his life, so it was in his interests to thwart Gaston's ambitions. Louis XIII also hated Gaston and might thus have agreed to the scheme.
Supposedly the father then left for the Americas, but in the 1660s returned to France with the aim of extorting money for keeping his secret, and was promptly imprisoned. This theory would explain both the secrecy surrounding the prisoner, whose true identity would have destroyed the legitimacy of Louis XIV had it been revealed, and (because of the King's respect for his own father) the comfort of the terms of his imprisonment.
Other Theories
1) Moliere
Some suggest that the famous playwright's death was faked in 1673 and he was imprisoned behind the mask until his real death 40 years later.
2) Napolean's Forefather
One theory, no doubt encouraged by Napolean, was that the prisoner was indeed of royal lineage, and that he was allowed to wed in prison. Not long afterward, a child was born and taken to Corsica to be raised by his mother's family. The family's name: Bonaparte.
3) A Black Politician
Having an affair with the Queen was evidently enough to get one thrown in prison. If that person happened to be black then he would be recognizable and therefore needed to wear the mask.
4) An Amalgamation of Two Prisoners' Stories
Another plausible theory is one in which the stories and lives of two prisoners, Dauger de Cavoye and Matthioli, were mixed together to form the legend of the Man in the Iron Mask.
There are many more theories and legends about the prisoner's identity. Too many to continue listing them. If you are interested I've included some source links at the bottom of the post. One thing is for sure, the debate rages on. We will probably never know the true identity of the Man in the Iron Mask. So, what do you think? Let's hear your theories and opinions on this mysterious prisoner, and let's leave Dicapprio out of it.
Sources
www.straightdope.com...
en.wikipedia.org...
www.essortment.com...
french-history.suite101.com...
[edit on 27
[edit on 27-3-2009 by TheComte]
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