Erwan Berthou
Encyclopedia
Erwan Berthou was a French and Breton language
poet, writer and neo-Druidic bard. His name is also spelled Erwan Bertou and Yves Berthou. He also used the bardic pseudonyms Kaledvoulc'h, Alc'Houeder Treger and Erwanig.
He was born in Pleubian
, Côtes-d'Armor
. He studied at the small seminary of Tréguier
, then at the college of Lannion
. He worked as an engineer in Le Havre
, later moving in 1892 to Rochefort
. On 12 June 1892, he married Elisa Mézeray.
He joined the Navy for five years. During his service he visited the Caribbean, Africa and China. Berthou returned to Le Havre in 1896. He then began contributing to the journals L'Hermine and Revue des provinces de l'Ouest. In 1897, he published a magazine La Trêve de Dieu (The Truce of God), but it folded after a year. He continued to work as an engineer, especially in construction of settlements in 1898 in Paris.
In the following year was one of twenty-two Bretons who went to Cardiff
to establish links with Welsh neo-Druidism, being received at the Gorsedd
. He also joined the Union Régionaliste Bretonne, helping to create the Breton nationalist movement. He participated in all stages of the creation of the Gorsedd of Brittany
, of which he was Archdruid
from 1903 to 1933, using the bardic name Kaledvoulc'h. He occasionally participated in Emile Masson
's journal Brug. Much of his writing is imbued with pantheist ideas.
In 1906 Berthou and Jean Le Fustec
published Eur to gir of rear Varzed, Triades des druides de Bretagne, a translation into Breton of the 46 theological Triads of the neo-Bards, according to a text first published by Iolo Morganwg
with his own Lyric Poems, then in the Barddas of J. William ab Ithel (1862). The collection, in fact a forgery by Morganwg, was claimed to have been a translation of works by Llywelyn Siôn
detailing the history of the Welsh bardic system from its ancient origins to the present day. Based on these ideas Berthou also published Sous le chêne des druides (Under the Druids' Oak), which described a mystical history of human spiritual and cultural evolution culminating in the achievement of "pure whiteness".
In 1918, he returned to live in Pleubian, to take over his parents' farm. He found it difficult to keep it solvent, and was reduced to great poverty a result of the inflation after the war. His last years were severely impoverished, leading to his wife's mental breakdown. Members of the Breton national movement organised financial assistance for him.
Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
poet, writer and neo-Druidic bard. His name is also spelled Erwan Bertou and Yves Berthou. He also used the bardic pseudonyms Kaledvoulc'h, Alc'Houeder Treger and Erwanig.
He was born in Pleubian
Pleubian
Pleubian is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Pleubian are called pleubiannais.-External links:* *...
, Côtes-d'Armor
Côtes-d'Armor
Côtes-d'Armor is a department in the north of Brittany, in northwestern France.-History:Côtes-du-Nord was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Brittany. Its name was changed in 1990 to...
. He studied at the small seminary of Tréguier
Tréguier
Tréguier is a port town in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France. It is the capital of the province of Trégor.-Geography:Tréguier is located 36 m. N.W. of Saint-Brieuc by road. The port is situated about 5½ m...
, then at the college of Lannion
Lannion
Lannion is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France. It is a subpréfecture of Côtes-d'Armor, the capital of Trégor and the center of an urban area of almost 60,000 inhabitants.-Population:...
. He worked as an engineer in Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, later moving in 1892 to Rochefort
Rochefort, Charente-Maritime
Rochefort is a commune in southwestern France, a port on the Charente estuary. It is a sub-prefecture of the Charente-Maritime department.-History:...
. On 12 June 1892, he married Elisa Mézeray.
He joined the Navy for five years. During his service he visited the Caribbean, Africa and China. Berthou returned to Le Havre in 1896. He then began contributing to the journals L'Hermine and Revue des provinces de l'Ouest. In 1897, he published a magazine La Trêve de Dieu (The Truce of God), but it folded after a year. He continued to work as an engineer, especially in construction of settlements in 1898 in Paris.
In the following year was one of twenty-two Bretons who went to Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
to establish links with Welsh neo-Druidism, being received at the Gorsedd
Gorsedd
A gorsedd plural gorseddau, is a community or coming together of modern-day bards. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is occasionally spelled gorsedh , or goursez in Brittany....
. He also joined the Union Régionaliste Bretonne, helping to create the Breton nationalist movement. He participated in all stages of the creation of the Gorsedd of Brittany
Goursez Vreizh
Goursez Vreizh is the national gorsedd of Brittany . It often has delegates from the Welsh gorsedd and Gorsedh Kernow in Cornwall.-History:...
, of which he was Archdruid
Archdruid
The Archdruid is the title used by the presiding official of the Gorsedd.The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, The Award of the Prose Medal and Chairing of the Bard. From 1932 only former winners of the...
from 1903 to 1933, using the bardic name Kaledvoulc'h. He occasionally participated in Emile Masson
Émile Masson
Émile Masson was a Breton writer and thinker. He also used the pseudonyms Brenn, Ewan Gweznou, and Ion Prigent.Born in Brest, he was not brought up speaking Breton, but acquired the language in later life. He received two degrees and moved to Paris...
's journal Brug. Much of his writing is imbued with pantheist ideas.
In 1906 Berthou and Jean Le Fustec
Jean Le Fustec
Jean Le Fustec was a Breton bard, and the first Archdruid of the Goursez Vreizh . He is also known by his Breton language name Yann ab Gwilherm and his Druidic name Lemenik....
published Eur to gir of rear Varzed, Triades des druides de Bretagne, a translation into Breton of the 46 theological Triads of the neo-Bards, according to a text first published by Iolo Morganwg
Iolo Morganwg
Edward Williams, better known by his bardic name Iolo Morganwg , was an influential Welsh antiquarian, poet, collector, and literary forger. He was widely considered a leading collector and expert on medieval Welsh literature in his day, but after his death it was revealed that he had forged a...
with his own Lyric Poems, then in the Barddas of J. William ab Ithel (1862). The collection, in fact a forgery by Morganwg, was claimed to have been a translation of works by Llywelyn Siôn
Llywelyn Siôn
Llywelyn Siôn was a Welsh language poet.Although remembered as a poet, he was also a professional manuscript copyist. Iolo Morganwg claimed he was the author of Cyfrinach Beirdd Ynys Prydain, used by the Welsh Gorsedd, but it is now known that Iolo himself was the author of that work...
detailing the history of the Welsh bardic system from its ancient origins to the present day. Based on these ideas Berthou also published Sous le chêne des druides (Under the Druids' Oak), which described a mystical history of human spiritual and cultural evolution culminating in the achievement of "pure whiteness".
In 1918, he returned to live in Pleubian, to take over his parents' farm. He found it difficult to keep it solvent, and was reduced to great poverty a result of the inflation after the war. His last years were severely impoverished, leading to his wife's mental breakdown. Members of the Breton national movement organised financial assistance for him.
Writings
- , premières poésies, 1892
- La Lande fleurie, 1894
- Les Fontaines miraculeuses, 1896
- Âmes simples, dramatic poem, 1896
- La Semaine des Quatre Jeudis, ballads, 1898
- Le Pays qui Parle, poem, 1903.
- Dre an dellen hag ar c'horn-boud. (By the harp and by the horn of war). Saint-BrieucSaint-BrieucSaint-Brieuc is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-History:Saint-Brieuc is named after a Welsh monk Brioc, who evangelized the region in the 6th century and established an oratory there...
/ Paris René Prud'homme & Moriz an Dault 1904 - Triades des Bardes de l’île de Bretagne, 1906
- Istor Breiz, 1910.
- Kevrin Barzed Breiz, treatise of Breton language versification, 1912.
- Les Vessies pour des Lanternes, tract, 1913.
- Lemenik, skouer ar Varzed, 1914.
- Ivin ha Lore, gwerziou, 1914.
- Dernière Gerbe, poems, 1914.
- Avalou Stoup, rimadellou, 1914.
- Hostaliri Surat, 1914.
- Daouzek Abostol, 1928.
- Sous le chêne des druides P. Heugel Editeur 1931
- En Bro-Dreger a-dreuz parkoù (1910-1911), republished
- Lemenik: skouer ar varzhed. - LesnevenLesnevenLesneven is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.It lies northeast of Brest, about from the English Channel in the middle of the Leon plateau.-History:...
: "Hor yezh", 2001