The King, the Squirrel and the Grass Snake

The second part depicts Fouquet’s gradual downfall. After the lavish celebration at Vaux — perceived by Louis XIV as a personal affront — the king decides to assert his authority with a decisive blow. Colbert intensifies his campaign, gathering evidence, forging alliances, and manipulating circumstances to ensure Fouquet’s condemnation. Arrested by d’Artagnan, Fouquet faces a political trial shaped by royal vengeance, state interests, and fierce power struggles. This episode portrays Louis XIV establishing himself as an absolute monarch, Colbert as a cold and calculating strategist, and Fouquet fighting to preserve his honor against a judicial machine already set against him.