Order of the Ermine
Encyclopedia
The Order of the Ermine (L’Ordre de l’Hermine) was a chivalric order
of the 14th and 15th centuries in the Duchy of Brittany. The ermine is the emblem of Brittany. In the 20th century, it was revived by the Cultural Institute of Brittany as an honor for those contributing to Breton culture.
observed the functioning of the Order of the Garter
. Back in Brittany, in 1381, he created his own order. The little we know of this order comes from Guillaume de St-André. In 1448, it became the Order of the Ermine and the Ear of Grain (Ordre de l'Hermine et de l'Épi). The ermine
was a natural choice for the badge of his order, since the heraldic representation of its fur is the coat of arms
of the Dukes of Brittany. In medieval times the ermine was believed to risk capture or death rather than sully the purity of its white fur and thus a symbol of concern for the uncompromising integrity of one's personal honor.
Lodovico Sforza was member of this order since 1488, and the ermine in Leonardo's portrait Lady with an Ermine
may be reference to it.
Chivalric order
Chivalric orders are societies and fellowships of knights that have been created by European monarchs in imitation of the military orders of the Crusades...
of the 14th and 15th centuries in the Duchy of Brittany. The ermine is the emblem of Brittany. In the 20th century, it was revived by the Cultural Institute of Brittany as an honor for those contributing to Breton culture.
The Medieval Order
During his last period of exile at the court of England (1377–1379), the Breton duke John VJohn V, Duke of Brittany
John V the Conqueror KG was Duke of Brittany and Count of Montfort, from 1345 until his death.-Numbering:...
observed the functioning of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
. Back in Brittany, in 1381, he created his own order. The little we know of this order comes from Guillaume de St-André. In 1448, it became the Order of the Ermine and the Ear of Grain (Ordre de l'Hermine et de l'Épi). The ermine
Ermine
Ermine has several uses:* A common name for the stoat * The white fur and black tail end of this animal, which is historically worn by and associated with royalty and high officials...
was a natural choice for the badge of his order, since the heraldic representation of its fur is the coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the Dukes of Brittany. In medieval times the ermine was believed to risk capture or death rather than sully the purity of its white fur and thus a symbol of concern for the uncompromising integrity of one's personal honor.
Lodovico Sforza was member of this order since 1488, and the ermine in Leonardo's portrait Lady with an Ermine
Lady with an Ermine
Lady with an Ermine is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, from around 1489–1490. The subject of the portrait is identified as Cecilia Gallerani, and was probably painted at a time when she was the mistress of Lodovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, and Leonardo was in the service of the Duke.The painting is...
may be reference to it.
Modern Order
A modern honor by the same name was created in 1972 to honor those who contribute to Breton culture.Recipients
- In 1972 at PontivyPontivyPontivy is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It lies at the confluence of the river Blavet and the Canal de Nantes à Brest.-History:...
: René PlevenRené PlevenRené Pléven was a notable French politician of the Fourth Republic. A member of the Free French, he helped found the Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance , a political party that was meant to be a successor to the wartime Resistance movement... - In 1973 at RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
: Gabriele Pescatore - In 1973 at RennesRennesRennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
: Jean Mévellec - In 1988 at RennesRennesRennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
: Vefa de Bellaing, Pierre-Roland Giot, Polig Monjarret, Henri Queffélec - In 1989 at NantesNantesNantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
: Per DenezPêr DenezPierre Denis, known also as Pêr Denez , was a French linguist, lexicographer, scholar and writer.Denis was born in Rennes. Thanks to his contributions in the form of novels, essays and linguistics, he contributed to the preservation of the written Breton language...
, Louis Lichou, Bernard de Parades, Maryvonne Quéméré-Jaouen - In 1990 at AurayAurayAuray is a commune located in the Morbihan department of Brittany in France. Inhabitants of Auray are called Alréens.-Geography:The city is surrounded by the communes of Crac'h to the south and west, Brech to the north and Pluneret to the east. It is crossed by the Loch, a small coastal river...
: Charles Le Gall, Émile Le Scanv (Glenmor)GlenmorGlenmor was the stage name of Emile Le Scanf , a Breton protest singer who sought to preserve the Breton language and adapt local traditions of folk singing to the radical culture of the 1960s and 70s. He is also known by the Breton name Milig Ar Skañv.-Early career:Emile Le Scanf was born in 1931...
, Joseph Martray, Albert Trévidic - In 1991 at QuimperQuimperQuimper is a commune and capital of the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Administration:Quimper is the prefecture of the Finistère department.-Geography:...
: Georges Lombard, Robert Le Grand, Pierre Laurent, Pierre-Jakez Hélias - In 1992 at Saint-MaloSaint-MaloSaint-Malo is a walled port city in Brittany in northwestern France on the English Channel. It is a sub-prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine.-Demographics:The population can increase to up to 200,000 in the summer tourist season...
: Ronan Huon, Yvonne Jean-Haffen, Michel Phlipponneau, Jordi Pujol - In 1993 at DinanDinanDinan is a walled Breton town and a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in northwestern France.-Geography:Its geographical setting is exceptional. Instead of nestling on the valley floor like Morlaix, most urban development has been on the hillside, overlooking the river Rance...
: Anna-Vari Arzur, Herry Caouissin, Yann Poilvet, Jean Tricoire - In 1994 at VannesVannesVannes is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It was founded over 2000 years ago.-Geography:Vannes is located on the Gulf of Morbihan at the mouth of two rivers, the Marle and the Vincin. It is around 100 km northwest of Nantes and 450 km south west...
: Ivetig an Dred-Kervella, Pierre Lemoine, Yvonig Gicquel, Alan StivellAlan StivellAlan Stivell is a Breton musician and singer, recording artist and master of the celtic harp who from the early 1970s revived global interest in the Celtic harp and Celtic music as part of world music.- Background: learning Breton music and culture :Alan was born in the Auvergnat town of Riom... - In 1995 at GuérandeGuérandeThe medieval town of Guérande is located in the département of Loire-Atlantique in western France.The inhabitants are so called Guérandais, for men, and Guérandaise, for women....
: Jacques Briard, Jean FréourJean FreourJean Fréour was a prominent Breton sculptor.Fréour was born in Nantes. He studied at the Bordeaux School of the Fine arts and attended the classes of Louis-Henry Bouchard in the national School of the Fine arts in Paris. He is a member of the Breton artistic movement Seiz Breur.In the mid 1950s he...
, Lois Kuter, Ivona Martin, Loeiz Ropars - In 1996 at Pont-l'AbbéPont-l'AbbéPont-l'Abbé is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.The self-styled capital of Pays Bigouden , Pont-l'Abbé was founded in the 14th century by a monk of Loctudy who built the first bridge across the river estuary, hence the name...
: André Lavanant, Joseph Lec'hvien, Pierre Le Treut, Rita Morgan Williams - In 1997 at QuintinQuintinQuintin is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Quintin are called quintinais.-External links: *...
: Jean-Jacques Hénaff, Jean L'Helgouach, Dodik Jegou, Raymond Lebosse - In 1998 at Vitré : Goulc'han Kervella, Henri Maho, Pierre Loquet, Naig Rozmor
- In 1999 at NantesNantesNantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
: Jean-Bernard Vighetti, Riwanon Kervella, Patrick Malrieu, Denise Delouche - In 2000 at PontivyPontivyPontivy is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It lies at the confluence of the river Blavet and the Canal de Nantes à Brest.-History:...
: Tereza Desbordes, Lena Louarn, René Vautier, Pierre-Yves Le Rhun - In 2001 at LanderneauLanderneauLanderneau is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.It lies at the mouth of the Elorn River which divides the Breton provinces of Cornouaille and Léon, east of Brest...
: Rozenn Milin, Pierre Toulhoat, Marc Simon, Dan Ar BrazDan Ar BrazDan Ar Braz, born Daniel Le Bras , is a French guitarist and the founder of Héritage des Celtes.- The apprenticeship years :... - In 2002 at LannionLannionLannion is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France. It is a subpréfecture of Côtes-d'Armor, the capital of Trégor and the center of an urban area of almost 60,000 inhabitants.-Population:...
: Henri Lécuyer, Yves RocherYves RocherYves Rocher is a worldwide cosmetics and beauty brand, founded in 1959 by the French entrepreneur Yves Rocher and based in La Gacilly. The company is present in 88 countries on five continents and employs 13,500 personnel, excluding more than 215,000 through additional indirect jobs.The Yves...
, Michael JonesMichael Jones (historian)Michael Jones is a British historian.He was born in Wrexham, Wales. He studied history at Oxford, and taught first in Exeter, then in Nottingham from 1967 to 2002, specialised in French medieval history...
, Robert Omnes - In 2003 at Saint-MaloSaint-MaloSaint-Malo is a walled port city in Brittany in northwestern France on the English Channel. It is a sub-prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine.-Demographics:The population can increase to up to 200,000 in the summer tourist season...
: René AbjeanRené AbjeanRené Abjean is a French composer associated with Breton revivalist choral music.-Life:Born in Brest, René Abjean made his début as a musician in the choir of Plouguerneau in 1953. At age 17, he created his first vocal work as part of a choral group Ar Baganiz, a precursor of the Breton revivalism...
, Angèle Jacq, Jean-Louis Latour, Gilles ServatGilles ServatGilles Servat is a French singer, born in Tarbes in southern France in 1945, into a family whose roots lay in the Nantes region of Brittany.He spent his early childhood around Nantes and Cholet. His music evoques the Isle of Groix, off the coast of Morbihan.His music was originally inspired by the... - In 2004 at ChâteaubriantChâteaubriant-Coat of arms:Two coats of arms are attributed :*First Pale: Blue, three gold fleurs de lys, Pales split in two by a shortened staff with a red hache....
: Albert Poulain, Yannig Baron, Marie Kermarec, Yann Goasdoué, Pierre-Yves Moign - In 2005 at LoctudyLoctudyLoctudy is a fishing port and seaside resort in Brittany, France, at the mouth of the Pont-l'Abbé river estuary.The commune is in the Finistère Departments of Francedepartment in northwestern France...
: Ewa Waliszewska, Jean Kerhervé, Pierre Le Padellec, Jean Ollivro - In 2006 at PloemeurPloemeurPloemeur is a commune in the Morbihan department in the region of Brittany in north-western France.The inhabitants are called the Ploemeurois.-Breton language:...
: Claudine Mazeas, Jean Pierre Vincent, Xavier Leclerc, Claude Sterckx - In 2007 at Saint-BrieucSaint-BrieucSaint-Brieuc is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-History:Saint-Brieuc is named after a Welsh monk Brioc, who evangelized the region in the 6th century and established an oratory there...
: Rhisiart Hincks, Job an Irien, Martial Pézénnec, François Le Quémener - In 2008 at RennesRennesRennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
: Gweltaz ar Fur, Yvonne Breilly Le-Calvez, Viviane Hélias, Roger Abjean - In 2009 at AncenisAncenisAncenis is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Now, in Région Pays de la Loire, it played a great historical role as a key location on the road to Nantes , the historical capital of Brittany...
: Jean-Christophe Cassard, Tugdual Kalvez, Yann-Fanch KemenerYann-Fañch KemenerYann-Fañch Kemener is a traditional singer from Britanny, born in Sainte-Tréphine , France.He took part in reviving Kan ha diskan in the 1970s and 1980s, especially with Erik Marchand...
et Jean-Guy Le Floc'h, et Mona Ozouf, awarded during the Festival du Libre en Bretagne de GuérandeGuérandeThe medieval town of Guérande is located in the département of Loire-Atlantique in western France.The inhabitants are so called Guérandais, for men, and Guérandaise, for women....
le 21 novembre. - In 2010 at LorientLorientLorient, or L'Orient, is a commune and a seaport in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis...
: Catherine Latour, Annaig Renault, Donatien Laurent et André Chédeville.