Unsolved: History's Most Mysterious Figures

Video by KNOW (KnowNow).

The title of "most mysterious person in history" is subjective, but several figures have captured the imagination of historians and the public due to their enigmatic lives or lack of verifiable information. Here are a few contenders:

1. The Man in the Iron Mask
- A prisoner held in France during the reign of Louis XIV, always concealed by a mask (sometimes described as iron). His identity remains unknown, though theories suggest he might have been Louis XIV's twin brother, a disgraced noble, or a political adversary. Immortalized by Voltaire and Alexandre Dumas, he is one of France's greatest historical enigmas.

2. D. B. Cooper
- A hijacker who, in 1971, parachuted out of a plane over the U.S. with $200,000 in ransom money and vanished. Despite extensive searches and investigations, his true identity and fate remain unknown. Cooper is the only unsolved case of air piracy in U.S. history and has inspired countless theories and pop culture references.

3. The Zodiac Killer
- A serial killer active in the 1960s and 70s in California. The killer taunted authorities with cryptic messages and ciphers, some of which remain unsolved. His identity has never been confirmed. He remains one of the most infamous unidentified criminals in modern history.

4. The Babushka Lady
- A mysterious woman seen filming the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1963. She never came forward, and her identity remains unknown despite her proximity to one of history's most scrutinized events. Her footage, if it exists, could provide critical insights into the assassination.

5. Kaspar Hauser
- A German youth who appeared in Nuremberg in 1828, claiming to have lived in total isolation. His origins and the circumstances of his life and mysterious death remain a topic of debate. He is often referred to as the "Child of Europe" and inspired numerous theories about his royal connections.

6. Amelia Earhart
- A pioneering aviator who disappeared in 1937 while attempting to circumnavigate the globe. Despite extensive searches, the fate of her plane and the details of her disappearance remain unresolved. Earhart's story continues to inspire and baffle, with theories ranging from crash landings to capture by foreign powers.

7. Jack the Ripper
- An unidentified serial killer who terrorized London's Whitechapel district in 1888. The killer's identity has never been confirmed, despite numerous suspects and theories. Jack the Ripper's grisly crimes and cryptic letters have cemented his place as one of history's greatest mysteries.

These figures intrigue us because they left behind questions that may never be answered, fueling speculation and fascination for generations.

Which of these mysteries captivates you most?