Breton Regionalist Union

The Breton regionalist union (Union Régionaliste Bretonne or URB), 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. It expressed the ideology of mainly middle-class and aristocractic groups to secure continuity in local administration and Breton culture.

Origins

The Union was created in August 1898, in Morlaix, following festivals devoted to Breton culture. It was chaired by Anatole Le Braz, with the Marquis of Estourbeillon. François Vallée was named president of the section dedicated to Breton language and literature, with François Taldir-Jaffrenou as secretary. Other important figures were Louis Tiercelin and Charles Goffic. Sympathisers, if not supporters, included the deputies Albert de Mun, the poet and art critic Jean Fustec, the linguist and grammarian François Vallée, the designer Louis Bourgault-Ducoudray, the singer Theodore Botrel, the scholar Rene de Kerviler, Guy Ropartz and many others.

The prominent position held by the nobility and the clergy quickly alienated some of the more radical members and led to the foundation of the alternative Association des bleus de Bretagne (Blues of Brittany) in 1899, which had a more liberal-progressive agenda. Nevertheless the two groups were never in open conflict. Le Braz was a member of both.

The URB declared socialism to be its enemy. Jean-Marie Déguignet, in his "Memoirs of a Breton Peasant", wrote that the group was dominated by 'nobles and clerics' who wanted no input from the lower classes about their own culture.

Gorsedd

, following a meeting of the URB. Following Welsh examples, the group sought to revive Celtic bardic traditions. Each participant adopted a pseudonym and the title of bard. The members of Gorsedd promoted Breton culture either in the sections of the URB, or in the Gorsedd itself. This produced the "Ti Kaniri breiz" (House of Breton Song).

Later activities

In 1912, Maurice Duhamel left the URB with Emile Masson, Camille le Mercer d'Erm, François Vallée and Loeiz Herrieu to create the Breton Regionalist Federation.

Yann Fouéré was its vice-president from 1939 to 1945. In 1940, several of its members took part after 1940 in "Sao Breiz", the Breton section of de Gaulle's Free French forces.

A bulletin edited by the Marquis of Estourbillon appeared from 1902 to 1943. It did not appear during the First World War, the majority of the contributors being at the front.

Bibliography

Almanak kevredigez broadus breiz. Simon - Rennes. 1910.

BRETON ASSOCIATION AND BRETON REGIONALISTIC UNION. Reports, official reports, memories. Congress of the 150th birthday in Rennes, 1993. Rennes, 1994.