The King, the Squirrel and the Grass Snake
“To shine too brightly is to challenge the sun.”
"The king, the squirrel and the grass snake" is a two‑part French historical drama set in 17th‑century Paris, following the intense rivalry between Nicolas Fouquet, the brilliant and flamboyant Superintendent of Finances, and Jean‑Baptiste Colbert, the calculating administrator determined to bring him down. As Fouquet rises in power, wealth, and prestige—building the magnificent château of Vaux‑le‑Vicomte and securing Mazarin’s favor—his influence begins to alarm the young Louis XIV. Colbert seizes the opportunity to undermine his rival, weaving a political trap that will reshape the future of the kingdom. Through court intrigues, shifting alliances, and the growing authority of the Sun King, the film portrays the fall of a man who shone too brightly and the birth of absolute monarchy in France.
Details
First Aired: 3/5/2011
Languages: French
Created by: Laurent Heynemann
Type: Miniseries
Production
France 3Companies: Nelka Films, TV5 Monde, CinéCinéma
Countries: France
Seasons
Season 1
Set at the dawn of Louis XIV’s reign, the story follows the quiet but fierce rivalry between two men: Nicolas Fouquet, brilliant, dazzling, a patron of the arts, and Jean‑Baptiste Colbert, methodical, patient, and determined to reshape the kingdom in his own way. At first indispensable to France, Fouquet shines through his intelligence and spectacular lifestyle, enough to spark the young king’s suspicion. As he builds Vaux‑le‑Vicomte and expands his influence, Colbert weaves a relentless strategy to bring him down. After the famous fête at Vaux, Louis XIV decides to assert his authority: Fouquet is arrested, tried, and becomes the symbol of a monarchy tightening its grip. Through this clash, the two films portray the birth of absolute power and the fall of a man who dared to shine brighter than the king.
