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Louis XVI relic tested for DNA

By T.K. Randall
October 15, 2010 · Comment icon 3 comments

Image Credit: A.F Callet
A decorative gunpowder gourd is thought to contain the dried blood of French King Louis XVI.
Scientists conducted DNA tests on the blood and found that it belonged to a blue-eyed male from the time of Louis XVI's death by guillotine.
Sick of taxes, a lack of rights and living in poverty, French revolutionists condemned Louis XVI to the guillotine on the morning of January 21, 1793. After a short but defiant speech and a menacing drum roll, one of the last kings of France lost his head as a crowd rushed the scaffold to dip handkerchiefs into his blood as mementos.


Source: Wired | Comments (3)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by rashore 14 years ago
Well this could be interesting... It is incredible that some artisan took time to create such an object purely in anticipation of the beheading. Or maybe it was just carved after the blood got in there. Still a stunning piece of work.
Comment icon #2 Posted by lotsocats100 14 years ago
Very interesting story. I wonder if they'll be able to get a sample of the Dalphin's heart to compare the blood samples to. That would be cool.
Comment icon #3 Posted by mrs_stumpilious 14 years ago
Wow! That's amazing. Thanks for the post. By the way, tomorrow will be the anniversary of Marie Antionette's death. Here's a link with a short video: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-long-march


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