Hervé de Portzmoguer
Encyclopedia
Hervé de Portzmoguer known as "Primauguet", was a Breton
naval commander, renowned for his raids on the English and his death in the Battle of St. Mathieu
.
From Morlaix
he harassed English ships, which earned complaints from the Ambassador of England who wrote to the King of France that "more than thirty vessels" had been captured and looted by Portzmoguer. In retaliation, the troops of Admiral Edward Howard
looted and burned Portzmoguer's mansion in the spring of 1512.
His motto is said to have been «War vor ha war zouar» (Breton
for "On land and on sea").
, when it blew up in a struggle with the English ship The Regent. Both ships were sunk. The explosion was subsequently portrayed as a deliberate act of self-sacrificing heroism on the part of de Portzmoguer, who is supposed to have said «Nous allons fêter saint Laurent qui périt par le feu!». ("we will celebrate the feast of Saint Lawrence
, who died by fire") before blowing up the ship to avoid its otherwise inevitable capture by the English. Almost all the crew were killed. The Breton poet Théodore Botrel
wrote a heroic poem about the incident. An equally heroic version is portrayed Alan Simon
in the song Belle Marie de la Cordelière in his rock opera Anne de Bretagne (2008). In fact there is no evidence that the explosion was intentional.
were named after him, using his gallicised nickname "Primauguet":, a brig, a steam corvette, a cruiser, a transport, a , a in active service
Breton people
The Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain in waves from the 3rd to 6th century into the Armorican peninsula, subsequently named Brittany after them.The...
naval commander, renowned for his raids on the English and his death in the Battle of St. Mathieu
Battle of St. Mathieu
-External links:*...
.
Raids
Portzmoguer participated in armed convoys, protecting merchant ships from pirates and enemy warships at a time when France was often in conflict with England. He also looted foreign ships. In 1506 he was convicted of looting a Scottish ship.From Morlaix
Morlaix
Morlaix is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Leisure and tourism:...
he harassed English ships, which earned complaints from the Ambassador of England who wrote to the King of France that "more than thirty vessels" had been captured and looted by Portzmoguer. In retaliation, the troops of Admiral Edward Howard
Edward Howard (admiral)
Sir Edward Howard, KG , son of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Surrey and his first wife, Elizabeth Tilney, and a younger brother of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk. He was the first of the Howards to win fame as an admiral, participating in his first naval battle while in his teens...
looted and burned Portzmoguer's mansion in the spring of 1512.
His motto is said to have been «War vor ha war zouar» (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...
for "On land and on sea").
Death
On 10 August 1512 he went down with his ship Marie de la Cordelière in the Battle of St. MathieuBattle of St. Mathieu
-External links:*...
, when it blew up in a struggle with the English ship The Regent. Both ships were sunk. The explosion was subsequently portrayed as a deliberate act of self-sacrificing heroism on the part of de Portzmoguer, who is supposed to have said «Nous allons fêter saint Laurent qui périt par le feu!». ("we will celebrate the feast of Saint Lawrence
Saint Lawrence
Lawrence of Rome was one of the seven deacons of ancient Rome who were martyred during the persecution of Valerian in 258.- Holy Chalice :...
, who died by fire") before blowing up the ship to avoid its otherwise inevitable capture by the English. Almost all the crew were killed. The Breton poet Théodore Botrel
Théodore Botrel
Jean-Baptiste-Théodore-Marie Botrel was a French singer-songwriter, poet and playwright. He is best known for his popular songs about his native Brittany, of which the most famous is La Paimpolaise. During World War I he became France's official "Bard of the Armies".-Life:Born in Dinan, Botrel was...
wrote a heroic poem about the incident. An equally heroic version is portrayed Alan Simon
Alan Simon (musician)
Alan Simon is a French folk-rock musician and composer best known for his rock operas which are performed with collaboration from other noted rock musicians. Simon is associated with Breton Celticism, and his most ambitious works are typically on themes linked to Celtic myth and history...
in the song Belle Marie de la Cordelière in his rock opera Anne de Bretagne (2008). In fact there is no evidence that the explosion was intentional.
French ships named for him
These ships in the French navyFrench Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
were named after him, using his gallicised nickname "Primauguet":, a brig, a steam corvette, a cruiser, a transport, a , a in active service