The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde · Chapter
The Three Clever Kings explained
Old King Roland, dying without a son, proposes that his three nephews—Aldovrand, Aldebert, and Alderete—each try being king in turn.
What happens
Old King Roland, dying without a son, proposes that his three nephews—Aldovrand, Aldebert, and Alderete—each try being king in turn. Aldovrand quickly abdicates, finding kingship too burdensome, and becomes a goose-boy. Aldebert, eager to please but indecisive, is manipulated by his ministers and also abdicates to become a tinker. Alderete, the youngest, flees before even being crowned and becomes a sweep's apprentice. The Prime Minister and Chancellor search for a ruler but all three cousins prefer their simple trades to the crown.
Themes in this chapter
The Pursuit of Knowledge and Happiness
Each cousin rejects the crown to find personal satisfaction in simple trades, suggesting happiness lies in choosing one's own path.
Power and Its Corruption
The burdens and conflicts of ruling—ministers quarreling, public discontent—highlight how power can corrupt or overwhelm.
Characters to notice
- King Roland
Old King Roland, dying without a son, devises the plan for his nephews to rule in turn.
- Aldovrand
The eldest nephew, briefly king, abdicates to become a goose-boy, finding peace in simplicity.
- King Aldebert
The second nephew, crowned king but easily swayed by conflicting advice, abdicates to become a tinker.
- King Alderete
The youngest nephew, who flees before being crowned and becomes a sweep's apprentice.
- Master Farmer
The farmer who hires Aldovrand as a goose-boy.
Key passages
“My dear nephews, I feel that my days are now drawing to an end, and one of you will have to be King when I am dead. But there is no pleasure in being King.”
Old King Roland tells his nephews that being king is not enjoyable, foreshadowing their eventual rejections of the throne.
Sets up the central conflict between duty and personal happiness.
“Here, let one of my cousins be King, for I will not bear this longer. It is much more trouble than it is worth, so Aldebert or Alderete may try it and see how they like it, but as for me, I have had enough of it.”
Aldovrand throws down his crown in frustration, declaring kingship too troublesome and abdicating.
Illustrates Aldovrand's quick disillusionment with power.
“I am sure you are each of you quite right; but I think I am scarcely fit to be a King. Indeed I think you had better find my cousin Alderete, and let him be crowned, and I will seek my fortune elsewhere.”
Aldebert, overwhelmed by conflicting advice from his ministers, abdicates and decides to leave.
Shows Aldebert's indecisiveness and inability to govern.
“No indeed; go and ask my cousins, who are both much cleverer than I. I really don’t do for it at all, but I make a very good tinker, and I like that much better.”
Aldebert refuses to return to kingship, preferring his new trade as a tinker.
Emphasizes the theme that personal fulfillment outweighs royal duty.