Erwan Berthou

Erwan Berthou (4 September 1861 – 30 January 1933) was a French and Breton language poet, writer and neo-Druidic bard.

In 1906 Berthou and Jean Le Fustec published Eur gir d'ar Varzed, Triades des druides de Bretagne,[2] 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.

He was for many years engaged as an engineer in Paris, returning on his retirement to his native corner of Northern Brittany.

He followed M. Ian ar Fustek as the Archdruid ("Y Derwydd Mawr") of Brittany in 1910, and was officially recognised by the Welsh Gorsedd, having been publicly welcomed by "Dyfed" at the Carmarthen National Eisteddfod in 1911.

A few years ago a private fund in recognition of Berthou's services to Celtic literature was organised in Wales by Mr. D. Rhys Phillips, of Swansea, and Dr. P. Diverres.

Erwan Berthou, after a photograph by Émile Hamonic