Princess Belle-Etoile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Princess Belle-Étoile |
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Chéri saves a dove from drowning
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| Folk tale | |
| Name | Princess Belle-Étoile |
| Also known as | Le Princesse Belle-Étoile et le Prince Chéri |
| Data | |
| Aarne–Thompson grouping | ATU 707 (The Dancing Water, the Singing Apple, and the Speaking Bird; The Bird of Truth, or The Three Golden Children, or The Three Golden Sons) |
| Region | France |
| Published in | Contes Nouveaux, ou Les Fées à la Mode, by Madame D'Aulnoy |
| Related | The Dancing Water, the Singing Apple, and the Speaking Bird; Ancilotto, King of Provino; The Tale of Tsar Saltan; The Boys with the Golden Stars |
Princess Belle-Etoile is a classic fairy tale from France. It was written by Madame d'Aulnoy. She got some ideas for her story from an older tale called Ancilotto, King of Provino.
This story is part of a group of tales known as Aarne-Thompson type 707. These tales often feature a special "dancing water," a "singing apple," and a "speaking bird."
Contents
The Story of Princess Belle-Etoile
Once, a queen became very poor. She sold sauces to support herself and her three daughters. One day, an old woman asked them for a nice meal. The family shared what they had. The old woman was actually a fairy. She promised that their next wish, made without thinking of her, would come true.
For a while, they kept thinking of the fairy when they wished. But one day, the king rode by. The oldest daughter, Roussette, wished to marry the king's admiral and make sails for all his ships. The second daughter, Brunette, wished to marry the king's brother and make enough lace to fill a castle. The youngest, Blondine, wished to marry the king himself. She also wished to have two sons and a daughter. These children would have golden chains around their necks and stars on their foreheads. Jewels would even fall from their hair!
A royal helper told the king about their wishes. The king then called the sisters. Soon, the marriages took place. A wonderful wedding feast appeared as if by magic. The women realized it was the fairy's gift. Roussette tried to hide the golden dishes. But they turned into plain earthenware when she got home.
A Cruel Plan
The king's mother was very angry that her sons married ordinary women. Roussette also felt jealous of her sisters. Sadly, Brunette gave birth to a son and then passed away. Blondine had her two sons and a daughter, just as she wished.
But the king's mother and Roussette had a cruel plan. They replaced Blondine's babies with three puppies. They took all the children, including Brunette's son. They gave them to a maid. The maid could not bring herself to harm the babies. Instead, she put them in a boat. She also placed necklaces with them, hoping someone would find and care for them. Blondine, the queen, was sent back to her mother's home.
The Children's Journey
Fairies watched over the boat. It drifted until it met a pirate ship. The captain of the ship had no children. He brought the babies to his wife. They soon saw that jewels fell from the children's hair. The captain realized he would be rich without being a pirate. So, he stopped his old ways.
They named the princess Belle-Etoile, which means "Beautiful Star" in French. Her older brother was Petit-Soleil, meaning "Little Sun." Her younger brother was Heureux, meaning "Happy." Their cousin, Brunette's son, was named Chéri, meaning "Darling." He did not have the golden chain or star, but he was very handsome.
A Quest for Truth
As Belle-Etoile and Chéri grew up, they cared for each other deeply. They thought they were brother and sister, which made them sad about their feelings. One day, Belle-Etoile overheard the pirate and his wife talking. She learned where they had come from. She told her brothers and cousin. They then told the pirate and his wife that they wanted to leave. The pirate begged them to stay. But Heureux convinced him that they needed to know about their birth.
They sailed away on a wonderful ship. It arrived at the castle of their father, the king. The king was amazed by them. They only asked for a house to live in.
The Queen mother soon realized these children were her grandchildren. She sent the maid who had put them in the boat. The maid told Belle-Etoile that she needed "dancing water." This water would keep her from ever looking old. Belle-Etoile told this story. Chéri immediately set out to find it, even though she didn't want him to go.
He found a special spring. There, he saved a dove from drowning. The dove then gathered many burrowing animals. They dug up the dancing water for Chéri. He returned with it and freed the dove. The dove flew away, a little grumpy.
More Magical Items
The maid returned with a story about a "singing apple." Chéri again set out. This time, a kind stranger helped him find the apple. By helping a wounded dove, he learned about the dragon guarding it. He learned that mirrors could scare the dragon away. Chéri returned with the singing apple.
The maid came back one more time. She told them about a "little green bird" that knew everything. Belle-Etoile was very worried. She knew this bird could tell them who their parents were. Chéri set out again. But as he got close to the bird, a rock opened. He fell into a hall and turned into stone.
Belle-Etoile became very ill because Chéri was gone. Petit-Soleil went to find Chéri, but he also turned to stone. Then Heureux went, and the same thing happened to him.
The Bird of Truth
Belle-Etoile then set out herself. She rescued a dove from the snow. The dove told her not to climb the mountain where the bird sat. Instead, she should sing below it to lure it down. She did this, and the bird came to her. It told her how to free her brothers and all the other prisoners.
Meanwhile, the Queen Mother had convinced the king to end his marriage to Blondine. She wanted him to marry someone else. Roussette convinced the queen to invite Blondine to the new wedding. The king invited the four children too. He left a gentleman to wait for them. The gentleman told them the king's story when they arrived.
Belle-Etoile and her brothers came to the wedding. They brought their treasures. They told how they were left in the boat. They showed their golden chains and stars to the king. Finally, the king asked the green bird who these children were. The bird announced that they were the king's own children and nephew.
The Queen Mother, Roussette, and the maid were all punished for their actions. Instead of marrying someone new, the king married his daughter Belle-Etoile to Chéri.
Similar Stories
Many other fairy tales share parts of Princess Belle-Etoile. For example, "The Dancing Water, the Singing Apple, and the Speaking Bird" and "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" also feature sisters marrying kings. They also show one sister being mean to another.
Sometimes, the king's mother-in-law is the one who causes trouble. This happens in "The Boys with the Golden Stars" and even in Perrault's version of "Sleeping Beauty". These stories show that being jealous or unkind can lead to big problems.
