As a historical romance, The Three Musketeers relates the adventures of four fictional characters who lived under the French kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV of the 17th and early 18th centuries. The story begins with D’Artagnan arrival in Paris and his involvement in three duels with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis — the three musketeers. When D’Artagnan serves an apprenticeship before he can become a musketeer. The escapades of the four are played out against a background of court intrigue involving the powerful cardinal Richelieu.