The Helena independent., 1894-11-29
MAN OF IRON MASK.
Identity Of tho Famous Prisoner Of the
Bsstllo Said to Have Been
Established.
BEEN lOENTIFlED MANY TIMES.
This Time II Is Claimed There Can 30 no
Doubt Of lt.-Trumph OF History
Over Legend.


history eventually triumphs over IL.
Truth In history Is like chip floating
IN the current OF stream; nc times
the waves sweep over and submcrge II,
but II rises again TO the surface The
next number of the Paris Revue His
turique, the leading French magazine of
history, VIII contain an article which
seems to establish at last beyond dis
putc the identity OF that famous pris-
oner known ms "rhe Man with the Iron
Mask" This unmyels at last one Of
the apparently hopeless mysteries OF
history,
Since this mysterious captive died.
have been written about him 10 mn a
library The 1rst account OF his Inn
nearly two centuries aEn, enough books
prlsonment WAS printed al Amsterdam
Ia l,i6, and WAS in the form VI an all
legory, the scene of which WAS laid In
Persia In 1851 thc great Nolmire, who
hgG the best nose Tor interesting news
Of any man in the eighteenth century.
revived The tale in his age of I.nuia
XIV, published at lierlin I'm l15l He
ndded much interesting Information
which ho obtained ut first hand, for
during his life he was intimately uc-
quainted with most OF the persunages
Of this romantic drama. But N0ltuirc
never allowed the truth 60 stand in
bis way when he had the foundation
for an interesting story, which accounts
tor his entertaining fiction regarding
the identity OF the Mask, that by some
aas been accepted as fact.
Nultaire says that the queen, wife
Of Louis Nil, after giving birth TO
Louis XIV. was delivered AT subse-
qucnt hour of "A second son. whose
birth the king resolved to conceal To
avoid a dispute about a succession 10
the throne IL being the opinion of GER
tain legal authorities that the first born
of twins has doubtful claim To any in
heritance depending upon birth. With
this view the child was confided 20 a
nurse, and afterward to governor.
who took him TO his seat In Burgundy,
where, growing 10 manhood. the child
discovered the secret Of his birth, and
was forthwith placed In confinement
with a mask To conceal his features.
which We're the exact counterpart OF
his brother. the kings. Unfortunately
for the truth OF the tale, Noltaire had
no proofs 10 back 1t up, Napoleon |
was inclined 10 believe Noltaire's story,
and had a thorough but unsuccessful
search made of the national archives
In order To verify IL,
Since Noltalre's time many theories
have been advanced as To the identity
of the mysterious MAN OF the Iron
Mask" but they have all failed for
lack OF substantial proof upon some
material point. The prisoner has been
identified during the past two eentur-
les as!
The Duke of vermandois, natural son
OF Louis XIV and the beautiful Louise
de la Nalliere
The elder brother OF Louis XIV. son
OF Anne of Austria and the Duke of
buckingham.
Son Of Anne OF Austria and Cardinal
Mazarin
A soldier OF fortune named Marechlel,
who is alleged 10 have headed a con-
spiracy 10 assasslnate the king and
his ministers
Gen. de Bulonde who raised the siege
VI Cuneo unnecessarily and comprom-
sed the success OF one OF Louis XIV's
campaigns.
The unknown captive is described as
tall and OF distinguished bearing. The
mask he wore was Of black velvet, the
chin piece being fitted with steel springs
which enabled him to eat without re-
moving II.
And now the identity of this man of
mystery and hero of fiction Is fixed.
This mysterious prisoner now proves
10 have been Count Hercule Antoine
Mattioli, secretary OF state to Charles
~, Duke OF Mantua. Here is the story
OF his treachery and how he was pun
ished for II by the king OF France:
During his campaigns In Savoy and
Piedmont Louis XIV. became master Of
The fortress Of Pignerol and cast COW
etous eyes upon the city of Casale on
the river Po, thirty-eight miles east Of
Turin, whose possession was of the
greatest Importance to him. as II gave
access 20 the whole of Lombardy. Ca
lale was the capital Of the Duchy of
Montferrat, one OF the provinces ruled
over by Charles ". OF Gonzaga, Duke
OF Mantua, young man who was
Nquandering his revenues in dissipation.
The court Of Versailles conceived, as q
ast resort. the plan ~ buying CHsale
outright from It's ruler. and the Abhe
d 'Egtrades, ambassador ut France to
the republic NJ Venice. succeeded in
gaining the Influence OF Count Mattioli,
Charles Tvs secretary pf state. who In
turn obtained the consent of his master.
The Mantuan minister went 10 Paris,
where Louis XIV loaded him with fav-
ors and gifts and Dec S the deed was
signed
The terms of the treaty were;
l. That the Duke of Mantun should
~ -. " go. .n'l,,,t
"a - vi ti ~ t,,iro ~
Mantun should have command ~ H.
3. That Immediately after tn rXecu-
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