Barzaz Breiz

Nominoe's Vow, an illustration to the English translation of Barzaz Breiz, depicting the early Breton leader Nominoe vowing vengeance on the Franks for killing a Breton emissary

Barzaz Breiz (in modern spelling Barzhaz Breizh, meaning "Ballads of Brittany": barzh is the equivalent of "bard" and Breizh means "Brittany") is a collection of Breton popular songs collected by Théodore Hersart de la Villemarqué and published in 1839. It was compiled from oral tradition and preserves traditional folk tales, legends and music. Hersart de la Villemarqué grew up in the manor of Plessix in Nizon, near Pont-Aven, and was half Breton himself.