Harvey of Léon
Encyclopedia
Harvey 1st Earl of Wiltshire (died 1168) was a Viscount of Léon (comes Leoniæ) from 1103 until his death. Harvey struggled to maintain the de facto independence of Léon from his immediate overlord, the Duke of Brittany
, and the influence of the Kingdom of England
across the Channel
. In English he is often referred to as Hervey le Breton.
Early in his reign he declined an invitation from Henry I of England
to attend his court. Later, however, he went to England to assist King Stephen
in the Civil War
, but he was careful to state that he was going of his own free will and not out of compulsion. In reward to his service for Stephen, who was at the time secure on his throne, Harvey received the Earldom of Wiltshire and Honour
of Eye
as well as the hand in marriage of Sybilla, an illegitimate daughter of Stephen, all around 1139. He maintained an interest in English affairs for a while afterwards, attempting to raise the priory of Eye to an abbey independent of the Norman
abbey of Bernay
, but to not avail. In 1141, however, Stephen's foes, the Empress Matilda
and her partisans, gained the upper hand and Harvey was defeated in battle and forced to forfeit his English lands and return to Brittany, almost certainly taking his Blesevin wife with him. Harvey, probably in part because of his wife, nursed animosity towards the Plantagenet dynasty
which succeeded Stephen on the throne.
As an old man in 1167 Harvey raised the standard of revolt with Eudo
, viscount of Porhoët
, the viscount of Thouars, and tacit support from Louis VII of France
. After treating with Louis, Henry II of England
led a campaign against Léon in August 1167, but Harvey's son Guihomar
was defeated and captured, his major castles razed. Guihomar submitted and offered hostages. Harvey died soon after, in 1168.
Duke of Brittany
The Duchy of Brittany was a medieval tribal and feudal state covering the northwestern peninsula of Europe,bordered by the Alantic Ocean on the west and the English Channel to the north with less definitive borders of the Loire River to the south and Normandy to the east...
, and the influence of the Kingdom of England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
across the Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. In English he is often referred to as Hervey le Breton.
Early in his reign he declined an invitation from Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
to attend his court. Later, however, he went to England to assist King Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
in the Civil War
The Anarchy
The Anarchy or The Nineteen-Year Winter was a period of English history during the reign of King Stephen, which was characterised by civil war and unsettled government...
, but he was careful to state that he was going of his own free will and not out of compulsion. In reward to his service for Stephen, who was at the time secure on his throne, Harvey received the Earldom of Wiltshire and Honour
Honour (land)
In medieval England, an honour could consist of a great lordship, comprising dozens or hundreds of manors. Holders of honours often attempted to preserve the integrity of an honour over time, administering its properties as a unit, maintaining inheritances together, etc.The typical honour had...
of Eye
Eye, Suffolk
Eye is a small market town in the county of Suffolk, East Anglia, England, south of Diss, and on the River Dove.Eye is twinned with the town of Pouzauges in the Vendée Departement of France.-History:An island...
as well as the hand in marriage of Sybilla, an illegitimate daughter of Stephen, all around 1139. He maintained an interest in English affairs for a while afterwards, attempting to raise the priory of Eye to an abbey independent of the Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
abbey of Bernay
Bernay, Eure
Bernay is a commune in the west of the Eure department about fifty km from Évreux in northern France. The city is in the Pays d'Ouche and the Lieuvin...
, but to not avail. In 1141, however, Stephen's foes, the Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
and her partisans, gained the upper hand and Harvey was defeated in battle and forced to forfeit his English lands and return to Brittany, almost certainly taking his Blesevin wife with him. Harvey, probably in part because of his wife, nursed animosity towards the Plantagenet dynasty
House of Plantagenet
The House of Plantagenet , a branch of the Angevins, was a royal house founded by Geoffrey V of Anjou, father of Henry II of England. Plantagenet kings first ruled the Kingdom of England in the 12th century. Their paternal ancestors originated in the French province of Gâtinais and gained the...
which succeeded Stephen on the throne.
As an old man in 1167 Harvey raised the standard of revolt with Eudo
Eudes, Viscount of Porhoet
Eudes/Odo II, count of Porhoet was the son of Geoffroy, Vicomte de Porhoët, and his wife Hawise . In 1148, after his marriage to Bertha, Duchess of Brittany, he became Duke of Brittany....
, viscount of Porhoët
Porhoët
The first recognised vicomte de Porohoet was Guithenoc , formerly of Guilliers. Guithenoc was born in Guilliers, Moribihan, Brittany, Western France. He married Allurum of Guilliers. He became Vicomte, and in about 1008 he moved to La Trinite, in Porhoet, Morbihan, Brittany. There he built...
, the viscount of Thouars, and tacit support from Louis VII of France
Louis VII of France
Louis VII was King of France, the son and successor of Louis VI . He ruled from 1137 until his death. He was a member of the House of Capet. His reign was dominated by feudal struggles , and saw the beginning of the long rivalry between France and England...
. After treating with Louis, Henry II of England
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
led a campaign against Léon in August 1167, but Harvey's son Guihomar
Guihomar of Léon
Guihomar, Guidomar, or Guyomar was the Viscount of Léon from 1168 until his death. He was the son and successor of Harvey...
was defeated and captured, his major castles razed. Guihomar submitted and offered hostages. Harvey died soon after, in 1168.