6 Facts About The Man In The Iron Mask

Most famous prisoner without identity
The most famous real-existing prisoner in the history of unknown identity. There are several versions about his life and identity, or who he was and why he spent 34 years in isolation is a complete mystery. It is not known how he looked because he spent most of his life under the the iron mask.

He was not allowed to speak
He was not allowed to communicate with anyone other than the personal guardian and only in ‘exceptional, emergency situations’. If he ever tries to start a conversation on any subject, he immediately had to be killed.

Quietest prisoner
During the stay in prison (later moved and the most famous French prison, the Bastille) our unidentified man was one of the quietest prisoners. Unlike the others, he never rebelled, and was recorded that it stated that it responds only to God and the king, and no one more.

Slept with iron mask
He never took off iron mask or helmet that has been standard equipment of knights, so he does not reveal the true identity. Moreover, he even slept with in iron mask.

Buried with the iron mask
19 November 1703, after 34 years in prison, he died with an iron helmet. Sources say that he was buried with the iron mask on his head. Realized numerous adaptations of films and TV series on this subject (most famous is “The Man in the Iron Mask”, with Leonardo DiCaprio), but about who was this phantom man can only guess.

48 theories
There are several dozens of theories ranging from the seventeenth century (some say that there were 48). The best-known theory is that the man in the Iron Mask was the twin brother of Louis XIV who is imprisoned in order to avoid possible challenges to the throne holder. There is also speculation that he was an unwanted son of Anne of Austria.