Triboulet
Nicolas Ferrial, also known as Le Févrial or Triboulet (1479–1536) was a jester of kings Louis XII and Francis I of France.
He appears in Book 3 of François Rabelais' Pantagrueline chronicles. He also appears in Victor Hugo's Le Roi s'amuse and its opera version, Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto, a blend of "Triboulet" and French rigoler (to laugh), intended to deflect the censorship that Hugo's work had received after its publication.
Life[]
Ferrial was born in France in 1479, and it is believed that he suffered from microcephaly, negatively impacting him neurologically and physically. Ferrial found purpose in life as the court jester for kings Louis XII and Francis I, who found him amusing in both speech and appearance. As "Triboulet," the jester was known for being extremely witty, often to the point where he would get in trouble with the royalty and nobles for going way too far with his comedic material.[1]
Famous quotes[]
Triboulet once came to the Monarch with a complaint.
- Triboulet: "A noble has threatened to hang me!"
- The Monarch: "Don't worry! If he hangs you I'll have him beheaded fifteen minutes later."
- Triboulet: "Well, would it be possible to behead him 15 minutes before?"[citation needed]
Once, Triboulet could not contain himself and slapped Francis I on the bum, to the enjoyment of the surrounding nobles. The monarch lost his temper and threatened to execute Triboulet. A bit later, the monarch calmed down a little and promised to forgive Triboulet if he could think of an apology more insulting than the offending deed. A few seconds later, Triboulet responded: "I'm so sorry, your majesty, that I didn't recognize you! I mistook you for the Queen!"[2]
Death[]
Finally, Triboulet's tongue got the better of him, and Francis I ordered that he be put to death for once again violating his order not to make jokes about the queen and her courtiers. As he had served him particularly well for many years, the king granted Triboulet the right to choose how he would die. Triboulet, with his sharp mind, said the following (translated from the original French): "Good sire, by Saint Goody Two Shoes and Saint Fatty, patrons of insanity, I ask to die from old age." Having no other choice than to laugh, the king ordered that Triboulet not be executed but instead be banished from the realm.[3][4]
References[]
- ^ Grande, Sabana (2021-07-13). "History's Finest Court Jester Was Sentenced to Death". Medium. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
- ^ Frieda, Leonie (2018). Francis I: The Maker of Modern France. Orion Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1474605588. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "TRIBOULET : le fou des rois". Triboulet (in French). 23 October 2014. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ "LA COUR : Triboulet, le fou du roi". Historia (in French). 24 January 2008. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
External links[]
Media related to Triboulet (1479–1536) at Wikimedia Commons
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- 1479 births
- 1536 deaths
- Jesters
- French comedians
- French courtiers
- Court of Francis I of France
- French people stubs