Feiz ha Breiz
Encyclopedia
Feiz ha Breiz is the principal weekly journal in the Breton language
. It originally appeared from 1865 to 1884, then was revived from 1899 to 1944, and then again from 1945 onwards.
, Monseigneur Sergeant, of the value of a newspaper written in the Breton language for the inhabitants of the diocese. He also encouraged Sergeant to entrust the journal to Goulven Morvan, priest of Tréhou, who spoke excellent Breton and had wide experience in a number of local parishes. Morvan edited Feiz ha Breiz from 1865 to 1875.
The first issue of Feiz ha Breiz appeared on February 4, 1865. The review ceased publication on April 26, 1884, its last editor (1883 to 1884) being Gabriel Milin, a lay Breton language author, who had taken over from abbé Nédélec. Gabriel Milin had started to write in Breton after having become acquainted with Colonel Troude, the compiler of a Breton language dictionary.
, set up by abbé Jean-Marie Perrot
. Participating in the editorial process from 1902, Perrot became the editor, initially only semi-officially, in 1907, then officially from 1911 until his death in December 1943.
Feiz ha Breiz encompassed two other titles, publishing as Feiz ha Breiz, Arvorig ha Kroaz-ar-Vretoned from February 1921 until December 1926. A French language edition existed for Upper Brittany
. Its title was Foi et Bretagne, organe du Bleun-Brug de Haute-Bretagne.
During the war the journal became associated with the collaborationism of the Breton National movement
. After Perrot was assassinated by the Resistance, the journal continued for a short while, but its last number appeared in March 1944, edited by abbé L. Bleunven, Rector of Ploudalmezeau.
and regionalist-minded and one more conservative
and nationalist-minded. As a result two separate journals emerged:
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 originally appeared from 1865 to 1884, then was revived from 1899 to 1944, and then again from 1945 onwards.
Original journal
Léopold de Léseleuc, bishop of Autun, was the founder of the first Feiz ha Breiz. In 1865 he persuaded the then Bishop of Quimper and LeonDiocese of Quimper-et-Léon
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Quimper , is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in France...
, Monseigneur Sergeant, of the value of a newspaper written in the Breton language for the inhabitants of the diocese. He also encouraged Sergeant to entrust the journal to Goulven Morvan, priest of Tréhou, who spoke excellent Breton and had wide experience in a number of local parishes. Morvan edited Feiz ha Breiz from 1865 to 1875.
The first issue of Feiz ha Breiz appeared on February 4, 1865. The review ceased publication on April 26, 1884, its last editor (1883 to 1884) being Gabriel Milin, a lay Breton language author, who had taken over from abbé Nédélec. Gabriel Milin had started to write in Breton after having become acquainted with Colonel Troude, the compiler of a Breton language dictionary.
Revived journal
Thanks to the activity of the Feiz ha Breiz Association, which was set up in the Diocese of Quimper and Leon to protect the Breton language, the review was revived in 1899. Number 1 of the new Feiz ha Breiz was dated January 1900. Within a short time it was absorbed into the Breton Catholic organisation Bleun-BrugBleun-Brug
Bleun-Brug is a Catholic association oriented towards Breton nationalism.-Origins:The group was created in 1905 by abbé Jean-Marie Perrot, with a name devised at the 1905 conference of the Union Régionaliste Bretonne at Kerjean Castle. The heather symbolizes Breton tenacity...
, set up by abbé Jean-Marie Perrot
Jean-Marie Perrot
The abbé Jean-Marie Perrot, in Breton Yann Vari Perrot , was a French priest, Breton independentist and collaborator assassinated by the communist resistance. He was the founder of the Breton Catholic movement Bleun-Brug.- Early life :Perrot was raised in a provincial Breton-speaking family...
. Participating in the editorial process from 1902, Perrot became the editor, initially only semi-officially, in 1907, then officially from 1911 until his death in December 1943.
Feiz ha Breiz encompassed two other titles, publishing as Feiz ha Breiz, Arvorig ha Kroaz-ar-Vretoned from February 1921 until December 1926. A French language edition existed for Upper Brittany
Upper Brittany
Upper Brittany is a term used to describe the eastern part of Brittany which is predominantly of a Romance culture and is associated with the Gallo language. The name is in counterpoint to Lower Brittany, the western part of the ancient province and present-day region, where the Breton language...
. Its title was Foi et Bretagne, organe du Bleun-Brug de Haute-Bretagne.
During the war the journal became associated with the collaborationism of the Breton National movement
Breton nationalism and World War II
Before and during World War II, the Breton nationalist movements were associated, as a whole, with anti-French and even pro-Nazi positions. The extent of and motivation for these affiliations has been a matter of historical controversy....
. After Perrot was assassinated by the Resistance, the journal continued for a short while, but its last number appeared in March 1944, edited by abbé L. Bleunven, Rector of Ploudalmezeau.
Post-war journal
Feiz ha Breiz was recreated after the war in 1945 appearing under the new title of Kroaz Breiz which changed soon into Bleun-Brug. In 1956 Bleun-Brug split into two factions: one more progressiveProgressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
and regionalist-minded and one more conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
and nationalist-minded. As a result two separate journals emerged:
- Nationalist: Barr-Heol war Feiz ha Breizh (in Breton, run by Father Marsel Klerg)
- Regionalist: Bleun-Brug (this persists as a bilingual scholarly journal, directed by canon François Mevellec).