Hervé Riel
Encyclopedia
Hervé Riel was a French fisherman of the 17th century, from Le Croisic
in Brittany
. His claim to fame is that while serving with the French Navy he was instrumental in saving the French fleet following the battle of Barfleur in 1692. He is the subject of a heroic poem by Robert Browning
, but little else is known of him or his life.
was retreating westward, in order to regain a safe harbour, pursued by the Dutch and English fleets under Russell
.
On 31 May the fleet was scattered over a wide area around the tip of the Cotentin peninsula
. 21 ships, under Pannetier, were anchored west of Cap de la Hague, while the remainder, under Tourville, were to the east.
Pannetiers squadron were between the cape and Alderney
, at the head of the notorious Alderney Race (Fr. Raz Blanchard) and were shadowed by the Dutch White squadron, under Almonde
, and the English Blue, under Ashby
. Tourville was opposed by the Red, under Russell.
As the tide started to flood, and the wind rose, Tourvilles squadron was swept east, pursued by Russell.
Pannetier, wishing to escape, thought to sail through the Race, but his navigators demurred, fearing the passage of this turbulent channel, with its dangerous lee shore, and rocky bottom offering little purchase if they needed to anchor.
At his point Herve Riel, who as a local fisherman was familiar with the passage, offered to guide the fleet through.
Pannetier agreed, and with Riels guidance, piloted the flagship (Grand, 80 guns) through the Race, followed by the rest of the squadron.
Neither Almonde nor Ashby were willing to follow; Almonde took his squadron westward around Alderney, but by the change of the tide Pannetier had too great a lead, and the chase was abandoned.
The fleet reached St Malo safely; When asked what reward he wished, Riel asked merely to visit his home nearby, to see his wife, “the belle Aurore”. The poem records, with some cynicism, “that he got, and nothing more”
, and the French flagship as the Formidable, which was not present at this battle); otherwise it presents a clear and fast-moving narrative.
Browning wrote the poem in 1871, and intended the proceeds be used to support the people of France suffering at the time in the Siege of Paris
.
It was first published in the Cornhill
magazine in March 1871, but now forms part of his collection Pacchiarotto
, published in 1876.
Le Croisic
Le Croisic is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.-References:...
in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
. His claim to fame is that while serving with the French Navy he was instrumental in saving the French fleet following the battle of Barfleur in 1692. He is the subject of a heroic poem by Robert Browning
Robert Browning
Robert Browning was an English poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic verse, especially dramatic monologues, made him one of the foremost Victorian poets.-Early years:...
, but little else is known of him or his life.
The incident
Following the battle of Barfleur, on 29 May(NS) 1692, the French fleet under TourvilleAnne Hilarion de Tourville
Anne Hilarion de Costentin, comte de Tourville was a French naval commander who served under King Louis XIV. He was made Marshal of France in 1693.-Military career:...
was retreating westward, in order to regain a safe harbour, pursued by the Dutch and English fleets under Russell
Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford
Admiral of the Fleet Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, PC was the First Lord of the Admiralty under King William III.-Naval career:...
.
On 31 May the fleet was scattered over a wide area around the tip of the Cotentin peninsula
Cotentin Peninsula
The Cotentin Peninsula, also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula, is a peninsula in Normandy, forming part of the north-western coast of France. It juts out north-westwards into the English Channel, towards Great Britain...
. 21 ships, under Pannetier, were anchored west of Cap de la Hague, while the remainder, under Tourville, were to the east.
Pannetiers squadron were between the cape and Alderney
Alderney
Alderney is the most northerly of the Channel Islands. It is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown dependency. It is long and wide. The area is , making it the third-largest island of the Channel Islands, and the second largest in the Bailiwick...
, at the head of the notorious Alderney Race (Fr. Raz Blanchard) and were shadowed by the Dutch White squadron, under Almonde
Philips van Almonde
Philips van Almonde was a Dutch Lieutenant Admiral, who served in his nation’s maritime conflicts of the 17th and early 18th centuries.Philips was the son of Pieter Jansz van Almonde, a wealthy burgher...
, and the English Blue, under Ashby
John Ashby (admiral)
Sir John Ashby was an officer of the Royal Navy, who rose to the rank of Admiral. Ashby was the fourth son of Robert Ashby and his wife Alice, who was a sister of Sir Thomas Allin. He grew up in Suffolk where his father was involved in business.-Early career:After Ashby entered the navy he was...
. Tourville was opposed by the Red, under Russell.
As the tide started to flood, and the wind rose, Tourvilles squadron was swept east, pursued by Russell.
Pannetier, wishing to escape, thought to sail through the Race, but his navigators demurred, fearing the passage of this turbulent channel, with its dangerous lee shore, and rocky bottom offering little purchase if they needed to anchor.
At his point Herve Riel, who as a local fisherman was familiar with the passage, offered to guide the fleet through.
Pannetier agreed, and with Riels guidance, piloted the flagship (Grand, 80 guns) through the Race, followed by the rest of the squadron.
Neither Almonde nor Ashby were willing to follow; Almonde took his squadron westward around Alderney, but by the change of the tide Pannetier had too great a lead, and the chase was abandoned.
The fleet reached St Malo safely; When asked what reward he wished, Riel asked merely to visit his home nearby, to see his wife, “the belle Aurore”. The poem records, with some cynicism, “that he got, and nothing more”
The poem
Browning’s poem makes some errors of fact (for example,it gives the French admiral as d’Amfreville, who was with Tourville at la HogueSaint-Vaast-la-Hougue
Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-Geography:Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue is situated in the Manche département, in the Basse-Normandie région. It is in the Quettehou canton, of the Cherbourg arrondissement. The town had a population of 2,097...
, and the French flagship as the Formidable, which was not present at this battle); otherwise it presents a clear and fast-moving narrative.
Browning wrote the poem in 1871, and intended the proceeds be used to support the people of France suffering at the time in the Siege of Paris
Siege of Paris
The Siege of Paris, lasting from September 19, 1870 – January 28, 1871, and the consequent capture of the city by Prussian forces led to French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the establishment of the German Empire as well as the Paris Commune....
.
It was first published in the Cornhill
Cornhill Magazine
The Cornhill Magazine was a Victorian magazine and literary journal named after Cornhill Street in London.Cornhill was founded by George Murray Smith in 1860 and was published until 1975. It was a literary journal with a selection of articles on diverse subjects and serialisations of new novels...
magazine in March 1871, but now forms part of his collection Pacchiarotto
Pacchiarotto, and How He Worked in Distemper
Pacchiarotto, and How He Worked in Distemper is a short collection of English poems by Robert Browning, published in 1876. The collection marked Browning's first collection of short pieces for more than twelve years, and was well-received...
, published in 1876.