One branch continues the cycle in reverse chronological order by recounting the early
exploits of the Lotharingians’ illustrious ancestor. Hervis de Metz (10,521 lines; three
manuscripts), composed after Gerbert and probably before its sequels, portrays the father
of Garin and Bégon as the son of a noblewoman and her bourgeois husband. Before
establishing his status as duke of Metz and Lorraine, the young Hervis passes through a
series of romance like adventures, including the purchase and wedding of a beautiful
slave who is in reality the Tyrian princess Biatris. Hervis is the only poem in the cycle
that does not pertain directly to the Lotharingian-Bordelais feud.
The enduring success of the Lorraine Cycle is indicated by the survival of three prose
redactions, including the early 16th-century reworking by Philippe de Vigneulles.
Fragments in Middle Dutch demonstrate that the cycle was also known in the Low
Countries.
Catherine M.Jones
[See also: CHANSON DE GESTE; RAOUL DE CAMBRAI]
Green, Herman J., ed. Anseïs de Mes. Paris: Presses Modernes, 1939.
Herbin, Jean-Charles, ed. Hervis de Mes. Geneva: Droz, 1992.
Mitchneck, Simon R., ed. Yon or La venjance Fromondin. New York: Institute of French Studies,
1935.
Taylor, Pauline, ed. Gerbert de Mez. Namur: Nauwelaerts, 1952.
Vallerie, Josephine E., ed. Garin le Loheren. New York: Edwards, 1947.
Gittleman, Anne Iker. Le style épique dans Garin le Loherain, Geneva: Droz, 1967.
Guidot, Bernard. “Continuité et rupture: l’univers épique de Garin le Lorrain et Gerbert” Olifant
13 (1988):123–40.
Jones, Catherine M. The Noble Merchant: Problems of Genre and Lineage in Hervis de Mes.
Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1993.
Suard, François, ed. La Geste des Lorrains. Littérales 10. Paris: Université de Paris X, 1992.
Zezula, Jindrich. “L’élément historique et la datation d’Anseïs de Mes (Ms. N).” Romania 97
(1976):1–22.
LOTHAIR I
(795–855). King of Lotharingia and emperor. The eldest son of Emperor Louis the Pious
(778–840) and Irmengarde, Lothair I is remembered chiefly for his role in dismembering
the empire constructed by Charlemagne. In 817, Louis the Pious sought to ensure the
empire’s unity after his death by promulgating the Ordinatio imperii. This divided the
Carolingian territories into kingdoms for Lothair I and his brothers, Pepin of Aquitaine
(800–838) and Louis the German (804–876), while leaving Italy under their father’s
nephew, Bernard. Lothair, who was made co-emperor, was granted the largest, central
realm, including Aix-la-Chapelle and Rome. After his father’s death, he was to exercise
supremacy over his brothers and Bernard.
Difficulties emerged in 817 with the revolt of Bernard, who died after being blinded as
punishment. Italy was transferred to Lothair. In 823, the birth of another son, Charles the
Bald, to Louis the Pious (by his second wife, Judith) forced the emperor to modify his
plans for the inheritance by allotting to Charles lands earlier assigned to his half-brothers.
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