Discussion Surrounding the Identification of Henry IV’s Alleged Skull: Advanced Study

On Sunday, 13th March 2011, at half past eight in the evening, the French public national television
channel France 5 broadcasted a documentary relating the investigation which had led to the “formal”
identification of Henry IV’s skull. It had been conducted by a team of scientists led by Doctor Philippe
Charlier, a forensic medical examiner - a well-known anthropologist.
Throughout the programme, many factors were introduced and proved the identification. And yet,
taking a scientific step back and looking at things from a distance with historical knowledge, these
factors seem to be questionable. A new perspective which sowed the seeds of doubt on the
showcasing of absolute certainty.