The King, the Squirrel and the Grass Snake

Original title: Le Roi, l'Écureuil et la Couleuvre

“To shine too brightly is to challenge the sun.”

• 2011
• •
• Ended

• Drama

★ 8.0 TMDB Rating · 1 votes

"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.

Created by

Laurent Heynemann

Seasons

1

Episodes

2

Episode length

~1h 35m

First aired

Mar 5, 2011

Networks

France 3

Original language

French

Origin

France