An early unknown case of human identification by teeth. William II Villehardouin

摘要

Forensic Dentistry helps to identify living or dead persons by their teeth. There are early records of cases that teeth played such an important role (Popea, Charles the Bold, etc). The aim of this article is to make better known another generally unknown primitive application of Forensic Dentistry in a battle that changed history. The battle of Pelagonia took place in September of 1259 A.D. It was between the Empire of Nicaea (Iznik) and the Despotate of Epirus, Kingdom of Sicily and the Principality of Achaea. The Empire of Nicaea was victorious. Many knights were killed, other fled or taken captives. William II Villehardouin, Prince of Achaia, fled and found later under a haystack near the city of Kastoria. He was recognised by his big and protruded anterior teeth that differentiated him from the other Frenchmen and taken captive. This battle was the beginning of the end for the Principality of Achaea, the strongest French State in Greece with important political and cultural consequences.