Samandiriel
Fallen Angel
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2005
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Mistress Was Poisoned - But by Whom?
By Kerstin Gehmlich
PARIS (Reuters) - Scientists trying to solve a medieval murder mystery that has puzzled historians for 550 years say France's first officially recognized royal mistress was poisoned and probably murdered.
But who did it remains a riddle.
Dysentery was given as the official cause of death of Agnes Sorel, the beautiful mistress of French King Charles VII who died a painful death in northern France in 1450.
But rumors quickly spread that she was killed and fingers were pointed at Charles's son, the future Louis XI.
French scientists analyzing fragments of Sorel's hair more than half a millennium later have now added evidence to mere speculation.
They have concluded that the 28-year-old mistress was killed by a huge dose of mercury which she could have taken herself but which was probably placed in her food by one of her many enemies.
"She died of poisoning," said pathologist Philippe Charlier of the CHRU institute in northern Lille, who led the six-month investigation. "But that does not necessarily mean she was murdered. It could have been a medical accident."
Charlier said body samples showed Sorel had a worm infection and was treated with mercury, a common remedy at the time. But the amount of the substance found in an armpit hair -- 10,000 times the normal medical dose -- suggested foul play.
"With this dose, she must have died about 72 hours later," Charlier told Reuters. "You die conscious. You can really feel yourself rotting away. It's atrocious and very painful."
Charlier said the theory of accidental poisoning was unlikely for a mistress with so many enemies.
"It was very easy to get mercury at the time," he said. "It wasn't even that expensive. Everyone could have bought and used it. But not everyone had access to the food of Agnes Sorel."
JEALOUSY AND INTRIGUE
Historians describe Sorel as a witty beauty, who introduced the fashion of the off-shoulder gown to court -- sometimes not only revealing a plunging neckline but also a bare breast to the shock of the establishment.
Charles showered Sorel with jewelry, offered her large estates and legitimized the three children she bore him. In 1444, Sorel became the first acknowledged mistress of a French king, scandalizing many and causing jealousy and intrigue.
The future King Louis XI, son of Charles's wife Marie d'Anjou, is said to have been furious over Sorel's influence on his father. He once chased Sorel through the palace with a sword and historians identify him as a murder suspect.
But Charlier said the killer of the blonde mistress could also have been the person closest to her medical cabinet.
"Looking at the link to the pharmaceutical preparation, one should maybe look at her doctor. He could have done it."
Charlier and his colleagues got a chance to analyze Sorel's remains when her tomb was opened last year before being moved to a new location in Loches, central France. The scientists also found Sorel's fourth child, a still-born, in her tomb.
Charlier said his findings should inspire historians to relaunch their murder investigation.
"Our result strongly points to murder by poisoning. We have a solution. (Historians) now have to find the culprit," he said.
I think it's Miss Peacock, in the library with the candlestick.
By Kerstin Gehmlich
PARIS (Reuters) - Scientists trying to solve a medieval murder mystery that has puzzled historians for 550 years say France's first officially recognized royal mistress was poisoned and probably murdered.
But who did it remains a riddle.
Dysentery was given as the official cause of death of Agnes Sorel, the beautiful mistress of French King Charles VII who died a painful death in northern France in 1450.
But rumors quickly spread that she was killed and fingers were pointed at Charles's son, the future Louis XI.
French scientists analyzing fragments of Sorel's hair more than half a millennium later have now added evidence to mere speculation.
They have concluded that the 28-year-old mistress was killed by a huge dose of mercury which she could have taken herself but which was probably placed in her food by one of her many enemies.
"She died of poisoning," said pathologist Philippe Charlier of the CHRU institute in northern Lille, who led the six-month investigation. "But that does not necessarily mean she was murdered. It could have been a medical accident."
Charlier said body samples showed Sorel had a worm infection and was treated with mercury, a common remedy at the time. But the amount of the substance found in an armpit hair -- 10,000 times the normal medical dose -- suggested foul play.
"With this dose, she must have died about 72 hours later," Charlier told Reuters. "You die conscious. You can really feel yourself rotting away. It's atrocious and very painful."
Charlier said the theory of accidental poisoning was unlikely for a mistress with so many enemies.
"It was very easy to get mercury at the time," he said. "It wasn't even that expensive. Everyone could have bought and used it. But not everyone had access to the food of Agnes Sorel."
JEALOUSY AND INTRIGUE
Historians describe Sorel as a witty beauty, who introduced the fashion of the off-shoulder gown to court -- sometimes not only revealing a plunging neckline but also a bare breast to the shock of the establishment.
Charles showered Sorel with jewelry, offered her large estates and legitimized the three children she bore him. In 1444, Sorel became the first acknowledged mistress of a French king, scandalizing many and causing jealousy and intrigue.
The future King Louis XI, son of Charles's wife Marie d'Anjou, is said to have been furious over Sorel's influence on his father. He once chased Sorel through the palace with a sword and historians identify him as a murder suspect.
But Charlier said the killer of the blonde mistress could also have been the person closest to her medical cabinet.
"Looking at the link to the pharmaceutical preparation, one should maybe look at her doctor. He could have done it."
Charlier and his colleagues got a chance to analyze Sorel's remains when her tomb was opened last year before being moved to a new location in Loches, central France. The scientists also found Sorel's fourth child, a still-born, in her tomb.
Charlier said his findings should inspire historians to relaunch their murder investigation.
"Our result strongly points to murder by poisoning. We have a solution. (Historians) now have to find the culprit," he said.
I think it's Miss Peacock, in the library with the candlestick.
