The Man with the Iron Mask

The great mystery of the man with the iron mask has haunted France for over three centuries. In this 1870 historical study, Marius Topin examines the facts, myths, and theories surrounding one of history's most enduring enigmas. The prisoner arrived at the Bastille in 1698 under the watch of the sinister gaoler Saint-Mars, his face hidden behind a mask of black velvet (not iron, as legend would have it). For five years he lived in complete isolation, dying in 1703 yet his identity was never revealed. Topin methodically explores every theory: was he the legitimate heir to the throne, a condemned nobleman, or simply a minor court official whose secrets died with him? Drawing on contemporary documents and the infamous lettre de cachet that sealed his fate, this book separates fact from the fiction that has grown up around the legend. This is essential reading for anyone captivated by historical puzzles and the shadowy intrigues of Louis XIV's court.