Hervé Riel facts for kids

Hervé Riel was a brave French fisherman from Le Croisic in Brittany. In the 17th century, he became a hero while serving with the French Navy. He played a key role in saving the French fleet after a big sea battle in 1692. A famous poet, Robert Browning, even wrote a poem about his amazing deed! We don't know much else about his life, but his quick thinking saved many ships and sailors.

A Heroic Rescue at Sea

After the Battle of Barfleur on May 29, 1692, the French fleet, led by Admiral Tourville, was trying to escape. They were sailing west to find a safe harbor, but the Dutch and English fleets were chasing them.

By May 31, the French ships were spread out near the Cotentin peninsula. Twenty-one ships were west of Cap de la Hague, while the rest were to the east. The ships to the west were near a very dangerous sea channel called the Alderney Race. This area has strong currents, hidden rocks, and can be very tricky to navigate.

The French captains were worried. Their navigators were afraid to sail through the Alderney Race because it was so risky. They feared the ships would hit rocks or get stuck.

That's when Hervé Riel stepped forward. As a local fisherman, he knew the waters of the Alderney Race very well. He offered to guide the fleet through the dangerous passage. The French admiral agreed to trust him.

With Riel's expert guidance, the main ship, the Grand (which had 80 guns), safely sailed through the Race. The rest of the squadron followed behind. The chasing Dutch and English admirals didn't dare follow them into the treacherous channel. This gave the French fleet enough time to escape.

The French ships reached St Malo safely, thanks to Hervé Riel. When asked what reward he wanted for saving the fleet, Riel simply asked to go home. He just wanted to see his wife, "the belle Aurore," who lived nearby. The poem says he got his wish, and nothing more.

The Famous Poem

The English poet Robert Browning wrote a heroic poem about Hervé Riel in 1871. While the poem tells a thrilling story, it does have a few small mistakes about the battle details. For example, it names a different French admiral and ship.

Browning wrote the poem to help the people of France. They were suffering during the Siege of Paris (1870–1871), when their capital city was surrounded. He wanted the money from the poem to support them.

The poem was first published in a magazine in March 1871. Later, it became part of Browning's book called Pacchiarotto, which came out in 1876.

Images for kids

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  Monument dedicated to Hervé Riel, Le Croisic