King Louis XVI’s Blood Found Inside of a Squash Scientists
believe they have finally proven that a two century old, blood
stained handkerchief found inside a hollowed out squash is that
of Louis XVI, who met his demise by way of the guillotine in
Paris in 1793 after being found guilty of treason. Researchers
say that the authenticity of theÂ blood found in an old gourd
which displayed the text “On January 21, Maximilien Bourdaloue
dipped his handkerchief in the blood of Louis XVI after his
decapitation,â has been difficult to prove, since there is no
DNA from relatives to compare it to. However, scientists
recently discovered the mummified head of Louisâ predecessor,
Henri IV, which uncovered a rare genetic signature shared by the
two men, despite over seven generations of separation between
them. “This study shows that (the owners of the remains) share a
genetic heritage passed on through the paternal line. They have
a direct link to one another through their fathers,” said French
forensic pathologist Philip