New Findings – Noble Baby Likely Died of “Noble Paleness”

For a long time there was a mystery about the age and identity of a child mummy from the Starhemberg Crypt in Hellmonsödt Parish Church. Several coffins of deceased Starhembergers are laid to rest there – only one was unnamed. Thanks to the initiative of a local couple, the mystery is said to have solved the mummy in 2018. According to the couple, the mummy would be Gregor Starhemberg, who died in 1567.

German-Austrian research team
According to a current study – conducted by a German-Austrian research team led by Andreas Nerlich of the Munich Klinik Bogenhausen – it is most likely Reichard Wilhelm (1625 to 1626). Using radiocarbon dating, the researchers were able to determine that the child lived in the 16th or 17th century. The analyzes also revealed that the toddler was only 10 to 18 months old.

Above average thickness
The decisive factor for the researchers, however, was that the crypt was renovated around 1600 and the child was probably only buried afterwards. So it cannot be about little Gregor or about Gundaker (1589). The young Reichard Wilhelm was buried in a precious hooded silk coat in the simple wooden coffin. Pigments in the hair follicles indicate dark hair. The experts also noted that the child was overweight.

pneumonia as the cause of death
A “noble pallor”, which at that time distinguished the nobility from the tanned population who worked in the open, could yet be identified. But this lack of sun had serious consequences for Reichard Wilhelm. He suffered from a vitamin D deficiency, which led to rickets. And the cause of death is believed to have been clarified. CT scans provided evidence of pneumonia. According to recent findings, children with rickets are much more prone to pneumonia.