BRETAGNE, or BRITTANY (Britannia Minor), a peninsula in the n.w. of France, formerly a province, and now divided into the departments of Finistere, C6tes-du-Nord, Morbillan, Loire-Inferieure. and Ille-et-Vilaine. is surrounded by the sea on the n.w. and s.w. Though the height of the mountains is nowhere considerable, their structure gives to the peninsula a wild and savage aspect. Clay-slate forms the center of the country, and masses of granite rise in the n. and the south. The climate is often foggy, and subject to violent storms of wind. Large tracts of land lie uncultivated: but in the well-watered valleys, .vegetation is luxuriant. In ancient times, B., under the name of Armorica, was the central seat of the confederated Armorican tribes, who were of Celtic and Kymric origin. Traces of them still remain in the old Kymric dialect of the three most westerly departments, and in the numerous so-called Druidical monuments. The name Armorica was changed for that of B., in consequence of the numerous immigra tions from Great Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries. The peculiar, shut-in situation, and the characteristics of soil and climate in B., seem to have had a powerful effect on the character of its people. The Breton has generally a tinge of melancholy in his disposition; but often conceals, under a dull and indifferent exterior, a lively imagin ation and strong feelings. " The tenacity with which the Breton clings to the habits and belief of his forefathers, is apparent by his retention of the Celtic language almost universally in Basse B., and by his quaint costume, which,in many districts is that of the 16th century." The greater number of the people are found to be ignorant and coarse in their manners, and their agriculture is of a very rude character, by no means calculated to develop the natural resources of the country. Until within
recent years, B. had escaped the observation of tourists; but it has now been found out, and seems likely to be considerably run upon, as well as to have a pretty extensive literature of its own. It will be some time yet before it is exhausted, and apart from the beauty of its scenery, it possesses great interest, as the only place where men can be seen living and acting much as our forefathers did three centuries ago. Under the Romans, the country, after 58 B.C., was made the Pravincia Lugdunensis Tertia; but its subjugation was hardly more than nominal, and it was entirely liberated in the 4th c., when it was divided into several allied republican states, which, afterwards, were changed into petty monarchies. B. became subject to the Franks in the reign of Charlemagne, and was handed over by Charles the simple to the Northmen in 912. After some fierce struggles, the Bretons appear to have at length acknowledged the suzerainty of the Norman dukes. Geoffroi, count of Rennes, was the first to assume the title of duke of Bretagne in 992. The duchy of B. was incorporated with France in 1532, by Francis I., to whom it had come by marriage, and subsequently shared in the general fortunes of the empire, but retained a local parliament until the outbreak of the revolution. During the revolution, B., which wits intensely loyal, was the arena of sanguinary conflicts, and especially of the movements of the Chouans (q.v.), who reap peared as recently as 1832. Darn, Histoire de B. (Par. 1826); Roujoux, Ristoire des Rots et des Ducs de B. (Par. 1829); Courson, La B. du 5° au 12e Siècle (1863); Le Saint, La B. Ancienne et Moderns (1873); De Kerorguen, Recherches sur lee Etats de B. (1875).