Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Tribulet, who makes your kings and queens give times 2 mult when scored.
That is fitting of Court Jesters generally, as most of them served under kings, queens and nobles.
But the real Triboulet… is a bit complicated, because there are two of them… or three.
The first was the jester and playwright of Rene of Anjou, a french duke in the mid 1400s.
But the 2nd and 3rd Triboulet served King Louis XII, and then King Francis I, after Louis died. And those latter two, are often thought to be the same person.
Now while most Jester performances are lost to time, occasionally theres one so sensational that it becomes iconic, perhaps even exaggerated as the story spreads via word of mouth. So while theres no hard evidence this actually happened, heres how his story goes - and how it relates to the card.
Triboulet was doing his usual shenanigans, but decided to step it up today, and slapped the King on the butt!
This… was a bit too far for the King, So the King said “Jester that is enough! I should have you hanged! Though you will be allowed to live if you can give me a more offensive answer.”
Quick with witty words, Triboulet replied:
“I'm sorry your majesty, I mistook you for the Queen!”
He was spared, and now in Balatro, Triboulet gives bonuses only to kings and queens.
And that sneery face he’s making? It's the same in this statue of him.
Tribulet, who makes your kings and queens give times 2 mult when scored.
That is fitting of Court Jesters generally, as most of them served under kings, queens and nobles.
But the real Triboulet… is a bit complicated, because there are two of them… or three.
The first was the jester and playwright of Rene of Anjou, a french duke in the mid 1400s.
But the 2nd and 3rd Triboulet served King Louis XII, and then King Francis I, after Louis died. And those latter two, are often thought to be the same person.
Now while most Jester performances are lost to time, occasionally theres one so sensational that it becomes iconic, perhaps even exaggerated as the story spreads via word of mouth. So while theres no hard evidence this actually happened, heres how his story goes - and how it relates to the card.
Triboulet was doing his usual shenanigans, but decided to step it up today, and slapped the King on the butt!
This… was a bit too far for the King, So the King said “Jester that is enough! I should have you hanged! Though you will be allowed to live if you can give me a more offensive answer.”
Quick with witty words, Triboulet replied:
“I'm sorry your majesty, I mistook you for the Queen!”
He was spared, and now in Balatro, Triboulet gives bonuses only to kings and queens.
And that sneery face he’s making? It's the same in this statue of him.
