# The Three Clever Kings explained — The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde

> Chapter companion for The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde by Mary De Morgan.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_necklace_of_princess_fiorimonde_se/chapters/the-three-clever-kings
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_necklace_of_princess_fiorimonde_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_necklace_of_princess_fiorimonde_se/chapters