The Real People That Inspired "Beauty and the Beast"
I kind of got on this real-life Disney and “Beauty and the Beast” kick this week, so I’m going to roll with it. Many myths and fairytales are often based on real people, but Disney makes them legendary. Even the obscure. I mean, did you really know the story “The Snow Queen” before “Frozen”? I freely admit it, I did not. And if I hadn’t heard of it at 43, I doubt seriously the majority of youth in this country had either.
But “Beauty and the Beast” (“La Belle et la Bête” in French) is a legend in It’s own right. Numerous movies and TV series has kept this favorite French fairytale alive for generation after generation. I think it’s even better because it’s a true story.
Petrus Gonsalvus (Pedro Gonzalez) was born in the Canary Islands in 1537. Pedro suffered from hypertrichosis (aka Ambras Syndrome) - a genetic disorder that covered his entire body, including face, with hair. Later it would often be referred to as “Werewolf Syndrome” or “Wolf People”. Older and undocumented persons with this condition may have been the source of the werewolf legend in the medieval times; especially as these individuals would only go out at night to avoid as many people as possible. There are only about 50 known cases in the world, so obviously it would have been extremely rare in Pedro’s time. He may, in fact, be the first person to ever be documented with the condition.
At the age of ten, Pedro was taken by a noble (possibly even his father) to the court of the French King Henry II and presented to him as a GIFT. This may have been the most fortunate thing that could have happened to him. Superstition and ignorance were still rampant in Europe at that time. Pedro was placed in the Royal Zoo, caged like a curiosity or an animal as other people with genetic rarities were. But after Pedro began to read and write, Henry recognized that Pedro was very intelligent and freed him, giving him a respectable position in the castle. He was known as a good conversationalist and spoke fluent French, Italian and Latin. He became a favorite in the King’s court and continued to advance in a number of positions.
For obvious reasons, Pedro didn’t have a list of ladies interested in him. Not a single one actually, even though it was said the blondish-brown hair on his face was as soft as sable. As a member of court, however, the nobleman over Pedro at the time was within his rights to arrange a marriage for him. It’s not clear whether he did this out of compassion for Pedro, or because he was interested in having some little Pedro’s that he could then give as gifts to other nobles, the same as Pedro had come to him. At some point, Pedro was sent to the Regent of the Netherlands who eventually sent him to the court of the Duke of Parma.
(Below: Pedro and Catherine)
As his bride, the nobleman chose a woman named Catherine, possibly the daughter of another court member or noble. Either way, all reports are that Catherine was considered quite a beauty. Naturally, she was not pleased with the match and Pedro had to really work to get her to see past his affliction. But just like winning over the King and court, Pedro actually got Catherine to fall in love with him. They had seven children, at least four of which inherited his hypertrichosis. As expected, some were given away as gifts, considered “not quite human”.
(Below: one of the Gonzalvus children, Antoinetta)
Even with all of the odds working against them, Pedro and Catherine were very much in love, lived their lives fully and happily, in good standing in the community, and even had a large family. And WE got one of the best loved stories of history!
TRIVIA! - The real castle where all of this took place was the Royal Chateau de Blois (sadly pronounced “Blah”) in the Loire Valley of France. Very nearby, and very similar in architecture is the Chateau de Chambord. Chambord was the castle inspiration for Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” animated movie. Originally a hunting lodge (Gaston would be so jealous!), King Francois I and Leonardo da Vinci collaborated on the architecture. (Below: Chateaus des Blois, Chambord and Beast)
For a very interesting documentary on Pedro, I recommend the Smithsonian Channel’s video HERE.
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