The real "Man in the Iron Mask" was an unidentified prisoner of state during the reign of King Louis XIV.

Dumas used the mystery as a centerpiece for the climax of his musketeer saga. 10 Facts About The Man in the Iron Mask | History Hit

Arrested in 1669 as "Eustache Dauger," he was held for 34 years in several prisons, including the Bastille , where he died in 1703.

The Man in the Iron Mask refers to both a real historical mystery and the title of the final volume in Alexandre Dumas's d'Artagnan Romances . Published in 1847, the novel concludes the adventures of the Three Musketeers by weaving a fictionalized version of a true-life enigma. The Historical Figure

While legend (and Voltaire) suggested an iron mask, historical records indicate it was more likely made of black velvet and only worn during travel or public appearances to ensure total anonymity.

Modern historians frequently point to a lowly valet named Eustache Dauger . Other candidates include Italian diplomat Ercole Antonio Mattioli and disgraced French officials. Dumas's Novel and Adaptation