Triboulet

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Triboulet (1479 – 1536) was a microcephalic jester of kings Louis XII and Francis I of France.

He appears in Victor Hugo's Le Roi s'amuse and its opera version, Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto: "Rigoletto" was a blend of "Triboulet" and French rigole, intending to deflect the censorship that Hugo's work had received. A triboulet, a jester dressed entirely in red, is a character associated with the carnival of Monthey in Switzerland.

[edit] Attributed Famous Quotes

• Triboulet once came to the Monarch with a complaint.

Triboulet: "A noble had 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?"

• Once, Triboulet could not contain himself, and slapped the monarch on the bum. The monarch lost his temper and threatened to execute Triboulet. A little 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!"

[edit] External links

• (French) Biographie