HERVE [I] (-1168). [Le Baud states that Baudry Archbishop of Dol names “Hervé le fils de Guihomar, qui lors estoit vicomte de Leon” among the Bretons who left on the First Crusade[608]. Baudry´s Historia Jerosolimitana (as published in the Recueil des Historiens des Croisades series) names “...Herveus filius Dodemani...” as the crusader[609]. “Dodemani” has not otherwise been identified, and it is possible that the name represents a transcription error for “Guihomari” (or similar). If the entry does refer to a son of Guyomar [II], he must have been a young adult at the time of the crusade and therefore born before [1080] at the latest. However, this date of birth seems early considering the record of the death of Hervé [I] in 1168. It seems more likely that Hervé [I] was a child when his father died and therefore that he did not participate in the first crusade.] Hervé´s parentage is confirmed by the undated charter, quoted below, under which "H…Leonensis comes" confirmed the donation to the abbey of St Melaine made by "pater meus G. vicecomes". Vicomte de Léon. "Herveus Leonensis Vicecomes" donated "juxta castrum meum…Mons-Relaxus" to Saint-Martin for a monastery by charter dated 3 Mar 1128, signed by "Hervei vicecomitis, Guihomar filii eius, Eudonis"[610]. He was a supporter of King Stephen after the king´s accession in England. Created Earl of Wiltshire early 1140 or before[611]. The Gesta Stephani Regis records that "comes…Herveus gener regis" was driven from Devizes, dated to [1140/41][612]. Hervé left England whereupon his earldom reverted to the crown[613]. It is assumed that, after his return to Brittany, Hervé [I] continued to use the title “comes” (as demonstrated by the following two sources) because of the English earldom granted to him by King Stephen. "H…Leonensis comes" confirmed the donation to the abbey of St Melaine made by "pater meus G. vicecomes" by undated charter, in the presence of “filiorum meorum, E...Albi et H. Leonensis ecclesiæ electi”, signed by “Ego H et ipsi duo filii mei”[614]. The Guillelmi Armorici Historia records that "Herveus Comes Leoniæ…cum Guidomaro filio suo" were captured in 1163 and imprisoned "apud castellum Nini"[615]. ["Eudo Britannie comes" donated property to Saint-Martin de Josselin, with the consent of "fratrum meorum…Joscii vicecomitis et Alani Ceoche", witnessed by "Roaldo Dongie vicecomitis, Henrico de Arundelle, ---dio de Leon, Gaufredo de Monteforti", with the consent of "Alano de Rohan cognato meo", by charter dated 1164, witnessed by "…Stephanus frater meus…Guihomarus alterius filius de Leon…"[616]. It is possible that “---dio” in this document represents “Hervidio” (or similar) and therefore refers to Hervé [I] Vicomte de Léon.] Robert of Torigny records the death in 1168 of "Herveus de Lehun" and the succession of "Guihomar filius eius"[617]. Kernévez and Bourgès suggest that Hervé [I] died after 1128 and that these last two sources refer to a supposed “Hervé [II]” who would have been the grandson of Hervé [I], son of Guyomar [III][618]. From a chronological point of view, this suggestion is unsustainable because of the 1171 murder of Hamon Bishop of Léon in which (according to Robert de Torigny, see below) the bishop´s brother (shown below as Guyomar [III]) and nephew (Guyomar [IV]) were involved. In line with the Kernévez/Bourgès theory, Guyomar [IV] would have been the grandson of “Hervé [II]” and great-grandson of Guyomar [III]. However, Guyomar [IV] must have been at least a young adult at the time of the murder, placing his birth before 1155 at the latest, which appears inconsistent with his great-grandfather having subscribed the charter dated 3 Mar 1128. m firstly --- (-before [1135/40]). No record has been found of the identity of Hervé’s first wife. The fact of this first marriage is confirmed by the subscription by Hervé’s son Guyomar [III] of the charter dated 3 Mar 1128 which is quoted above. m secondly ([1135/40]) --- de Blois, [illegitimate] daughter of STEPHEN King of England & his [mistress ---]. Her parentage and marriage are confirmed by the Gesta Stephani Regis which records that "comes…Herveus gener regis" was driven from Devizes, dated to [1140/41][619]. It is possible that this daughter of King Stephen was Marie de Blois, the king´s legitimate daughter, to whom Hervé may have been betrothed as a child before she became a nun. It is evident from the early betrothal of her older sister Mathilde that the king was eager to arrange marriages for his daughters with his supporters soon after his accession. There is therefore no guarantee that Hervé’s wife was of the usual marriageable age (12 or older) at the time of the marriage. Hervé [I] & his first wife had two children