Triboulet

Nicolas Ferrial (1479–1536), also known as Le Févrial or Triboulet, was a jester for kings Louis XII and Francis I of France.[1]

Portrait, c.1550
The Triboulet of Hugo's Le Roi s'amuse (The Fool and Death by Sarah Bernhardt)
A triboulet at the Monthey carnival

He appears in Book 3 of François Rabelais' Pantagrueline chronicles. He also appears in Victor Hugo's Le Roi s'amuse and its operatic version, Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto, whose name is a blend of "Triboulet" and French rigoler (to laugh), intended to deflect the censorship that Hugo's work had received after its publication.

Biography

Ferrial was born in France in 1479, and it is believed that he suffered from microcephaly,[2] 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.

Once, Triboulet slapped Francis I on the buttocks, to the enjoyment of the surrounding nobles. The monarch lost his temper and threatened to execute Triboulet. The monarch calmed down, and promised to forgive Triboulet if he could think of an apology more insulting than the offending deed. Triboulet responded: "I'm so sorry, your majesty, that I didn't recognize you! I mistook you for the Queen!"[3] 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 said (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." Laughing, the king ordered that Triboulet not be executed but instead be banished from the realm. Triboulet actually did die of old age in 1536.[4][5]

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?"

References
  1. Dorian, John (1858). The History of Court Fools. London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street.
  2. Martin, Andrew. "The Man Who Slapped A King's Butt, Insulted The Queen And Lived To Tell About It". Medium. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  3. Frieda, Leonie (2018). Francis I: The Maker of Modern France. Orion Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1474605588. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  4. "TRIBOULET : le fou des rois". Triboulet (in French). 23 October 2014. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  5. "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.

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