Jean Le Fustec
Encyclopedia
Jean Le Fustec was a Breton bard, and the first Archdruid
of the Goursez Vreizh
(Gorsedd of Brittany). He is also known by his Breton language
name Yann ab Gwilherm and his Druidic name Lemenik.
Le Fustec was born in Rostrenen
. His father Guillaume Le Fustec was a Huissier de justice
(bailiff). His mother was Catherine Le Bars.
He became a journalist at the French illustrated newspaper Le Magasin pittoresque, and later in various Parisian newspapers. In Paris, he joined the Breton Regionalist Union
.
In 1899 he and Erwan Berthou
founded the Gorsedd of Brittany, which sought to link Brittany to international pan-Celticism
, and to direct the regionalist movement
and recreate distinct Breton identity.
He was Archdruid of the Gorsedd of Brittany from 1901 to 1903, after which Berthou took over the position.
In 1906 Le Fustec and Erwan Berthou 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.
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...
of the Goursez Vreizh
Goursez Vreizh
Goursez Vreizh is the national gorsedd of Brittany . It often has delegates from the Welsh gorsedd and Gorsedh Kernow in Cornwall.-History:...
(Gorsedd of Brittany). He is also known by his Breton language
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...
name Yann ab Gwilherm and his Druidic name Lemenik.
Le Fustec was born in Rostrenen
Rostrenen
Rostrenen is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Breton language:The municipality launched a linguistic plan through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on September 13, 2004....
. His father Guillaume Le Fustec was a Huissier de justice
Huissier de justice
Huissier de justice is the French term, hence used in France, Luxembourg, Quebec, Suisse romande, and the French Community of Belgium, named gerechtsdeurwaarder in Dutch for the Flemish Community and the Netherlands, for a specific legal officer that also occurs in Greece, Italy and the three other...
(bailiff). His mother was Catherine Le Bars.
He became a journalist at the French illustrated newspaper Le Magasin pittoresque, and later in various Parisian newspapers. In Paris, he joined the Breton Regionalist Union
Breton Regionalist Union
The 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...
.
In 1899 he and Erwan Berthou
Erwan Berthou
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...
founded the Gorsedd of Brittany, which sought to link Brittany to international pan-Celticism
Pan-Celticism
Pan-Celticism is the name given to various political and cultural movements and organisations that promote greater contact between the Celtic nations.-Types of Pan-Celticism:Pan-Celticism can operate on one or all of the following levels listed below:...
, and to direct the regionalist movement
Breton nationalism
Breton nationalism is the nationalism of the traditional province of Brittany in France. Brittany is considered to be one of the six Celtic nations...
and recreate distinct Breton identity.
He was Archdruid of the Gorsedd of Brittany from 1901 to 1903, after which Berthou took over the position.
In 1906 Le Fustec and Erwan Berthou 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.