La folie des grandeurs

In 17th century Spain, Don Salluste de Bazan is the finance minister of Charles II, King of Spain, but his deceitful, hypocritical, and greedy ways have made him hated by the people he exploits. After being accused of having an illegitimate child with one of the queen's maids of honor, he is stripped of his duties and retired to a monastery. Determined to take revenge, he uses his attractive nephew, Caesar, who has become a brigand, to cuckold the king and force him to repudiate the queen. Don Salluste manipulates his former valet, Blaze, who has feelings for the queen, to compromise her, but Blaze's own generosity and reforms eventually outsmart him. In the end, Blaze outwits Don Salluste, exposing his schemes and saving the queen, while Don Salluste is sent to the Barbary coast.