Gwenc\' hlan

Gwenc' hlañ (or Kian or Guinclaff ) is most known of the legendary bards Breton of the 6th century.

According to Hersart of Villemarqué, author of the Barzaz Breiz, Gwenc' hlañ would be the subject and the author of a Gwerz, collected with Melgven, called Diougan Gwenc' hlan ( the prophecy of Gwenc' hlan ). In this text, the bard is imprisoned and is made burst the eyes to have refused to convert with Christianity. He sings whereas he does not have fear of dying and works out a prophecy where he will be avenged.

A work is allotted to Gwenc' hlañ or Guinclaff: Dialog between the King Arthur and Gwenc' hlan . Written towards 1450, it is quoted by Dom the Furrier and Gregoire de Rostrenen at the 17th century. This poem, preserved in the Abbaye of Landévennec disappeared during the Révolution before being found in 1924. The Breton employed is already marked by the influence of the French. According to Gregoire de Rostrenen, the bard which remained between Roc' h-allaz and Porz-gwenn, with the diocese of Tréguier, was rather an astrologer whose prophecies still referred at the Bretons of its time.

The legend of the bard of the 6th century would be mainly modified by Villemarqué which would have taken as a starting point the authors of the 15th century as well as of other traditional tales. It quotes, inter alia, of the Welsh bards of the 6th century like Taliesin, Aneurin, Llywarch Hen. In the introduction of its work, Villemarqué speaks to us about Gwenc' hlan under two aspects. The first, as farmer, pillar of the social existence at the old Breton ones. It comes out a quotation of the bard from it:

Abarz my vezo fine rear bed
Falla douar rear gwella ED

“Before the end of the world, the worst ground will produce best corn”.

The second aspect presents it as bards fighting against the Christianity which becomes extensive:

the men of Christ will be tracked and hooted like wild beasts .

External bond

http://chrsouchon.free.fr/gwenlaf.htm
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/per.kentel/diougan3.htm

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