The name Harlequin is taken from that of a mischievous "devil" or "demon" character in popular French Passion Plays. It originates with an Old French term herlequin, hellequin, first attested in the 11th century, by the chronicler Orderic Vitalis, who recounts a story of a monk who was pursued by a troop of demons when wandering on the coast of Normandy, France, at night.Oreglia 1968, pp. 56–70.Ecclesiastical History Book VIII Chapter 17 These demons were led by a masked, club-wielding giant and they were known as familia herlequin (var. familia herlethingi). This medieval French version of the Germanic Wild Hunt, Mesnée d'Hellequin, has been connected to the English figure of Herla cyning ('host-king'; German: Erlkönig).Martin Rühlemann, Etymologie des wortes harlequin und verwandter wörter (1912). See also Normand R. Cartier, Le Bossu désenchanté: Étude sur le Jeu da la Feuillée, Librairie Droz, 1971, p. 132 . Hellequin was depicted as a black-faced emissary of the devil, roaming the countryside with a group of demons chasing the damned souls of evil people to Hell. The physical appearance of Hellequin offers an explanation for the traditional colours of Harlequin's red-and-black mask.Grantham, B., Playing Commedia, A Training Guide to Commedia Techniques, (Nick Hern Books) London, 2000 The name's origin could also be traced to a knight from the 9th century, Hellequin of Boulogne, who died fighting the Normans and originated a legend of devils.Oreglia 1968, p. 56. In Cantos XXI and XXII from Dante's Inferno there is a devil by the name of Alichino. The similarities between the devil in Dante's Inferno and the Arlecchino are more than cosmetic. The prank-like antics of the devils in the aforementioned antics reflect some carnivalesque aspects.
the name harlequin is taken from that of a mischievous "devil" or "demon" character in popular french passion plays it originates with an old french term herlequin hellequin first attested in the 11th century by the chronicler orderic vitalis who recounts a story of a monk who was pursued by a troop of demons when wandering on the coast of normandy france at nightoreglia 1968 pp 56–70ecclesiastical history book viii chapter 17 these demons were led by a masked club-wielding giant and they were known as familia herlequin (var familia herlethingi) this medieval french version of the germanic wild hunt mesnée d'hellequin has been connected to the english figure of herla cyning ('host-king'; german erlkönig)martin rühlemann etymologie des wortes harlequin und verwandter wörter (1912) see also normand r cartier le bossu désenchanté étude sur le jeu da la feuillée librairie droz 1971 p 132  hellequin was depicted as a black-faced emissary of the devil roaming the countryside with a group of demons chasing the damned souls of evil people to hell the physical appearance of hellequin offers an explanation for the traditional colours of harlequin's red-and-black maskgrantham b playing commedia a training guide to commedia techniques (nick hern books) london 2000 the name's origin could also be traced to a knight from the 9th century hellequin of boulogne who died fighting the normans and originated a legend of devilsoreglia 1968 p 56 in cantos xxi and xxii from dante's inferno there is a devil by the name of alichino the similarities between the devil in dante's inferno and the arlecchino are more than cosmetic the prank-like antics of the devils in the aforementioned antics reflect some carnivalesque aspects