Professor Turi King, the scientist who confirmed the identity of Richard III, has used advanced DNA techniques to disprove the centuries-old theory that Kaspar Hauser, a mysterious 19th-century figure, was the rightful heir to the Baden principality in Germany. Hauser, who was rumoured to have been raised in isolation and mysteriously died from a knife wound, has long been the subject of speculation regarding his royal lineage. Previous DNA tests on his hair and blood samples were inconclusive, but new methods allowing for the analysis of individual hair strands have now shown that Hauser’s mitochondrial DNA does not match that of the Baden royal family.
This discovery effectively rules out Hauser’s connection to the Baden lineage, but his true identity remains a mystery. Despite identifying his mitochondrial DNA as West Eurasian, researchers have been unable to narrow it down to a specific geographical region. Professor King’s work underscores how modern science can resolve historical mysteries, even as some aspects of Hauser’s origins continue to elude discovery.
