Yet this is modern-day France, and the tumultuous tale concerns President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The public has been riveted by Sarkozy's divorce from his ex-wife, Cecilia, and his wedding three-and-a-half months later to model Carla Bruni. The Sarkozy saga took another twist this weekend when his 21-year-old son, Jean, burst onto the political scene to do his father's dirty work - publicly rescinding the first family's support for a mayoral candidate who had been a favourite of the ex-first lady.

The candidate, Mr David Martinon, is in the uncomfortable position of staying on as Sarkozy's press secretary, while being forced to drop out of the mayoral race in the leafy Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine.

Mr Sarkozy's critics see Mr Martinon's rapid promotion and demotion as a sign the president feels free to follow his every whim and to wield absolute power over his collaborators.

'Sarkozy behaving like The Sun King'
In short, they gripe, Mr Sarkozy is behaving like The Sun King, as King Louis XIV was known in the 17th Century, and his family and advisers are the royal court.

'How does the royal court function?' complained Mr Francois Bayrou, a centrist politician who came in third in the presidential race in April and May. 'Through favouritism and falls from grace.'

Mr Lucienne Button, the Socialist mayoral candidate for Neuilly, remarked: 'On the whims of His Majesty Sarkozy, we are still witnessing palace intrigues.'

The Sun King, Louis XIV, had Madame de Maintenon, the second wife and untitled queen who influenced his decision-making. For years, Mr Sarkozy had his second wife Cecilia, who reportedly helped him choose many Cabinet ministers.

Ms Cecilia was a champion of Mr David Martinon, a diplomat, and reportedly encouraged Mr Sarkozy to name him as the Elysee Palace press secretary and send him to campaign for the mayor's race in Neuilly - symbolic terrain, because Mr Sarkozy cut his own political teeth as mayor there. French media often call Neuilly Mr Sarkozy's 'fiefdom.'

But Mr Sarkozy and Ms Cecilia divorced in October. And many in Neuilly did not appreciate Mr Martinon because he was 'parachuted' in from Paris to run for office.

Mr Jean Sarkozy - the spitting image of his father, despite his wavy shoulder-length blond hair - had been campaigning for Mr Martinon. Amid signs the run was struggling, Mr Jean Sarkozy and several other supporters withdrew their backing on Sunday.

Martinon out of race
Mr Martinon officially pulled out of the race on Monday. He also offered to resign as Mr Sarkozy's press spokesman, but Mr Sarkozy turned down his offer. Mr Martinon seems to have an uncanny ability to roll with Mr Sarkozy's punches: he managed to keep his job last autumn even after the president publicly called him an 'imbecile' before storming out of an interview with American television network CBS.

Mr Sarkozy's conservative party, the UMP, said the president didn't get involved in the drama of the weekend. But observers say it would have been impossible for Mr Jean Sarkozy to take part in such a coup without his father's support.

Mr Jean Sarkozy, whose mother is Mr Sarkozy's first wife, Marie-Dominique Culioli, is the second of Mr Sarkozy's three sons. He did not immediately say who he would support in the race, but his role leaves him open to take a position in the Neuilly City Hall.

The UMP party said on Monday that it could not rule out he might run for mayor - though that is an unlikely prospect, as it would leave the president open to charges of nepotism.

The president's critics often accuse him of wielding too much power, pointing out that he has taken over functions that traditionally belonged to the prime minister and that he wants to change the constitution to strengthen the presidency. The refrain from critics - Mr Sarkozy as monarch - has crescendoed as his popularity has tumbled.

Sarkozy's approval rating down
A poll released on Monday by the CSA agency for Le Parisien newspaper suggested that Sarkozy's approval rating is only 42 per cent, down six points from a month ago.

While the French say purchasing power is their No. 1 concern, many also were uncomfortable with Mr Sarkozy's high-profile courtship of Ms Bruni - including the couple's use of a private jet on vacation and their exchange of lavish presents, not to mention their constant presence in the tabloid media. The two married on Feb 2.

Mr Segolene Royal, the Socialist who was Mr Sarkozy's runner-up in the presidential election, says Mr Sarkozy's openness about his love life harkens back to the royal spectacle at Versailles, where hundreds of people once traipsed through the king's chambers to pay him homage from morning to night.

She told Europe-1 radio last month: 'Nicolas Sarkozy has chosen to make the events of his private life into public events, like Louis XIV did.' -- AP