Harvy, Herneus de Revel, Hernil, Herui, Heruis, Herveu, Herveus de Rivel, Hervi de Riveaus, Hervieu, Herviex, Hervis; Hervise de Revel, Hervise de Rivel; Hervius de Kamahalot, Hervius de Rivel, Hervius Risnel; Hervy de Revill, Hervy the Rivell, Hervy Cuyell, Hervy Risnel, Hervy Riveaus, Hervy Rivieu
An Arthurian knight named in the romance of Yder as a king and the father of one of Arthur’s Yvains.
According to the Vulgate romances, he served Uther Pendragon before Arthur, and was already of a “great age” at the beginning of Arthur’s reign. He participated in the Saxon wars, the campaign in Gaul, the war against Galehaut, the struggle against Rions (Ryons) and Nero, and the battle of the Humber.
Malory mentions him twice, the first time as doing “marvellous deeds with King Arthur” in the battle against the rebel kings at Terrabil, the second time as being chosen, on Pellinore’s advice, to fill one of the empty seats at the Round Table after the battle with the five invading kings (of Denmark, etc) at the Humber. He led the knights at Camelot and he was still serving as Arthur’s knight when he was 80 years old.
Hervi de Revel may be a character with a rich history of his own, who was either incorporated into the Arthurian cycle or whose original importance was crowded into the background by more recently added characters.
Robert Browning’s poem Hervé Riel is about a Breton sailor and hero of the late seventeenth century.
Sources
Lancelot do Lac | 1215-1220
Vulgate Lancelot | 1215-1230
Vulgate Merlin | 1220-1235
Le Livre d’Artus | Early 13th century
Post-Vulgate Suite du Merlin | 1230-1240
Arthour and Merlin | Late 13th century
Le Morte Darthur | Sir Thomas Malory, 1469-1470