# De Vac — The Outlaw of Torn character guide

> De Vac in The Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the terrible De Vac, Sir Jules de Vac, Jules de Vac

**First appearance:** 0001-ii

## Snapshot

A grim, iron-handed knight who steals a prince from his father's gardens and raises him in secret hatred — the cruel architect of a lifelong revenge.

## Who they are

De Vac snatches the little Prince Richard from the King's own gardens, strips him of silks and name, and vanishes with him down the Thames past searching knights. He is patient, merciless, and utterly in control of the child he has made fatherless. His old grudge against Henry drives the entire design of the outlaw's life, and his whispered treacheries keep steering the plot long after the boy becomes a man.

## Relationships

### [Henry III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/characters/henry_iii)

_professional_

De Vac serves as a loyal soldier and agent for King Henry III, carrying out his orders against Norman.

### [Henry III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/characters/henry_iii)

_professional_

De Vac serves as a loyal soldier and agent for King Henry III, carrying out his orders against Norman.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/chapters/i)

Master of fence at court, a Frenchman who is publicly humiliated by the King and vows revenge.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/chapters/ii)

Broods over the King's insult and conceives a plot to kidnap Prince Richard for revenge.

### [The Abduction of Prince Richard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/chapters/iii)

Plans and executes the kidnapping of Prince Richard, kills Lady Maud and an officer, and flees.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/chapters/iv)

Murders Lady Maud, kidnaps Prince Richard, disguises himself, and kills Til to cover his tracks.

### [The Birth of Norman of Torn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/chapters/v)

The bent old woman who raises the boy, later revealed to be a man; orchestrates the boy's education and revenge plot.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/chapters/ix)

Implied as the mysterious armored man who assists Peter of Colfax in the plot to capture Bertrade.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/chapters/xii)

Not directly present, but the old man of Torn is implied to be De Vac; he schemes to prevent Norman from learning the truth.

### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/chapters/xiv)

Mentioned indirectly as part of the revenge plot that has crushed another innocent victim.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/chapters/xv)

Referred to as the old man of Torn; intercepts Father Claude's message from Simon de Montfort and plots to prevent their meeting.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/chapters/xix)

Disguised as a little gray man, he betrays Norman to the King and De Montfort, then duels Norman to the death.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/characters/de_vac
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_outlaw_of_torn_se/characters