Goursez Vreizh
Encyclopedia
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....
of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
("Breizh" in Breton
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...
). It often has delegates from the Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
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....
and Gorsedh Kernow in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
History
Théodore Hersart de la Villemarqué (1815-1895) was the first Breton to be made an initiate by the Gorsedd of Wales. He took the bardic name 'Hersart Kervarker'. He created a “Fraternity of the Bards of Brittany” (Breuriez Breiz) but this did not lead to the creation of a Gorsedd.- 1838: La Villemarqué, Auguste Brizeux and Jean-François Le GonidecJean-François Le GonidecJean François Marie Le Gonidec de Kerdaniel was a Breton grammarian who codified the Breton language.He played an important role in the history of his native language by initiating a reform of its orthography, producing an orderly grammar and making the first Breton translation of the New Testament...
are adopted as honorary members of Cymdeithas Cymreigyddion y Fenny (Abergavenny Celtic union).
- 1843 (or possibly 1857, evidence is unclear): foundation by La Villemarqué of Breuriez-Breiz (Breton Brotherhood), whose activity is restricted to the scholarship of arts and linguistics.
- 1867: a small Welsh delegation goes to the international Celtic CongressCeltic CongressThe International Celtic Congress is a cultural organisation that seeks to promote the Celtic languages of the nations of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. It was formed out of previously existing bodies that had sought to advance the same goals such as the Celtic...
.
- August 16, 1898: foundation of the Breton Regionalist UnionBreton Regionalist UnionThe Breton regionalist union , was a Breton cultural and political organisation created August 16 1898. It was a broadly conservative grouping dedicated to preserving Breton cultural identity and regional independence...
(l’Union régionaliste bretonne or URB).
- 1899: a Breton delegation of twenty people is received at the Gorsedd of Wales in order to constitute the core of a Breton group (presentation of the sword of Arthur). The Breton guests are made ovates, but not fully initiated.
- September 1, 1900: the new constitutive assembly meets in the inn of the widow Le Falc’her at GuingampGuingampGuingamp is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Guingamp are called guingampais.-Breton language:...
. Jean Le Fustec (with the bardic name “Yann ab Gwilherm”; later “Lemenik”) becomes the first Grand Druid of the “Gorsedd of Lesser Britain”.
- November 23, 1908: Breton bardic association is officially proclaimed under the title of "Gorsedd Barzed Gourenez Breiz Izel" (Gorsedd of the Bards of the Peninsula of Brittany).
- 1936: a split causes the formation of explicitly neo-pagan Kredenn Geltiek Hollvedel.http://www.angelfire.com/folk/boutios/histoirekg.html
The current official name is "Breudeuriezh Drouized, Barzhed hag Ovizion Breizh" (Fraternity of the druids, bards and ovates of Brittany).
Grand Druids
- Jean Le FustecJean Le FustecJean 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....
from 1900 to 1903. - Erwan BerthouErwan BerthouErwan 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...
(aka Kaledvoulc'h) from 1904 to 1932. - François Taldir-Jaffrennou from 1933 to 1955.
- Pêr Loisel-Eostig Sarzhaw from 1956 to 1980.
- Gwenc'hlan Le ScouëzecGwenc'hlan Le ScouëzecLoïc Gwenc'hlan Le Scouëzec was a Breton writer and Grand Druid of Brittany.Gwenc’hlan was born in Brittany. His father was Maurice Le Scouëzec, a painter...
from 1981 to 2008. - Per Vari Kerloc'hPer Vari Kerloc'hPer Vari Kerloc'h is the current Grand Druid of the Goursez Breizh . He was born at Douarnenez, in the western part of Brittany. The Grand Druid is appointed for life , whereas the Welsh and Cornish equivalents are now elected every three years...
from 2008