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Overview

In Laurentine’s Fairy-Queen Godmother, a poor mother enters the fairies’ city seeking alms. Its queen offers gold and asks to become godmother to the expected child, while allowing the child to be brought up in the parents’ law. The parents agree. The queen knows when the birth occurs without a messenger, brings a mule laden with gold and carries the child away after the christening. She raises Pretty-Rose in a mountain dwelling alongside her other goddaughter, the little dog Rose, and gives the girl a diamond-like gleam on her forehead.

Rose later assists Pretty-Rose’s escape with a visiting prince. The girl loses her gleam and sends the dog back to seek its restoration. Although Rose fears punishment, the queen welcomes her, restores the gift and promises to provide the wedding preparations. She arrives with diamond, gold and silver dresses for three days, reassures her goddaughter about her rivals and leaves after the feast. Her final reminder about Pretty-Rose’s poor family prompts generous assistance to them. The ending makes her a continuing benefactor despite the escape, rather than an enemy slain by the prince.

Fairy citySupernatural awareness of childbirthFoster-parent relationshipGift of forehead radianceRestoration after escapeWedding garments
01

Origins & earliest records

Wentworth Webster, Basque Legends, The Fairy-Queen Godmother, pp. 59–63. Laurentine states she learned it from her mother.

02

Records & interpretation

Complete attributed historical narrative preserves both the escape and the reconciled wedding outcome. Webster’s suggested French origin is identified as his comparison, not a verified exclusive origin.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Basque Legends: The Fairy-Queen Godmother, pp. 59–63

    Laurentine, from her mother; collected and translated by Wentworth Webster · 1879, second edition

    Full tale and relevant footnotes read; unexplained silver dress noted as a possible omission rather than a transformation.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Primary historical collected narrativeWebster: The Fairy-Queen GodmotherResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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