A great monarch could have died because of a tiny bacteria: scientists have examined the remains of Louis IX

But the experts found DNA of the microorganism Capnocytophaga sputigena. Usually this bacterium lives in the oral cavity, and if a person is healthy, is not dangerous. But if the immune system weakens, it leads to numerous complications. If the harmful organism got into the bloodstream, it is fraught with septicaemia. There’s a good chance that Louis the Saint fell victim to this tiny enemy.