Verifying the head of King Henry the Fourth of France

After nine months of testing, researchers in France verified the head of King Henry Four, who was assassinated in 1610 at the age of 57.

The research results are published on BMJ Medical Journal website on December 15.

King Henr's artwork.

The body of King Henry was buried in the Basilica of Saint Denis near Paris but in the wake of the French Revolution in 1793 the royal tombs were dug up.

The revolutionaries beheaded King Henry and then the head disappeared.

Scientific tests helped to verify the authenticity of a marinated head, suspected to be the king's head.

In the early analysis of King Henry the Fourth, they discovered the characteristics that appeared in the portraits of this king at birth, including the scar on his right nose. They also found the broken bone in the upper left jaw.

The radiocarbon assay confirmed that the head dates back to the 17th century. Researchers also compared this marinated head with a post mortem report describing the specific embalming process for the king's body. this.

Expert Frank Ruehli of the University of Zurich and the Swiss Mummy project said the study was reliable but that the results would be more convincing if French scientists obtained evidence of DNA.

In 2011, France will organize mourning for King Henry the Fourth. His complete body will be buried with other kings and queens in Saint Denis' Basilica.