“Notices of the Ancient Kingdom of Ylli in Britanny”
Author: Mr. Urban (St. Servan, France, June 25, 1830)
Its insignificance might have excluded it from hiatory, bot for the marriage of
one of its princesses to a king of Britanny. Hence it has become an object of inquiry to Breton antiquaries, who are not agreed upon its geographical situation, some placing it near' Morlaix, and others confounding it with a different state.
M. Miorcec de Kerdanet, the first living archaeologist of Britanny, has published a little tract on the subject, in which he considers the question as set at rest.* [Notice sur le Royaume d’Ylli. 18mo. pp10.Printed for Duchesne at Rennes.]
The words of Ingomar, as quoted by Dom Morice, appear to point out the situation of Ylli, if they can be satisfactorily explained. He says, that King Ausochus, dwelt in capite littoris magni, à parte occidentali in tribu Lysid, in commendatione Ylli.
In mediaeval Latin, commendatio government or custody, answering to the Breton word Quemenet; and Quemenet Ylli, was actually the name of a canton of Lower Britanny, in the district of Leon, or northern part of the present department of Finisterre. This country contained a bishopric and two sabordinate dioceses, or archidiaconates, namely Ach (Lat. Aginense)and Quemenet- Ylli. The chief place of this latter division was Tregarantec of Charity’s home, so called because the inhabitants of Pleudiher found refuge there, at the time of a raging epidemic. [M. Mwreec renders this word “treve dela charite”, I should conceive erroneously. I have given the Welsh, or more ancient meaning of the word. WELSh=Ylli]
It is about five leagues N. E. of Brest, and a part of it still bears the name of Lysien, above mentioned. So that the palace of king Ausochus may be safely placed at Tregarantec.
The Kingdom of Ylli contained only seventeen villages, in the time of Clerod, a valiant monarch, who is said to have been twice crowned with a cap of wreathed laurel. He had three sons, each of whom had a remarkable impression on the right shoulder; the eldest a bow, the second a spear's head, and the third a sword;
which denoted their military renown. They bore this motto on their shields:
“Carantez e peb amser, e peb haent lealdet. Charity at all times, Honour in every way.”
Clerod was succeeded by his grandson Hilperilt, or the Gloomy. After him reigned hie son Ausoch, who is known in history as the father of the beautiful Pradell or Pritell.* [Pridd, precioos, Welsh Diet.]
During his absence at a neighbouring court, it happened that Jodual, Prince of
Dumnonia,who had lost his way in hunting, arrived at the palace. [The North-Eestern part of Britsny, Mr. Turner considers it as the refuge of the exailes from Devonshire.]
He was struck with the charms of the princess, and the same night he saw her image in a dream, surrounded with weapons of war. The omen might betoken that the lady’s hand most be sought in perils and enterprises; but the lover did not despair ; he consulted the bard and the prophet Tholosin, son of Onis, who dwelt in the peninsula of Rhuis, by whom he was told, that the issue of the marriage would be a warlike son. [Opposite Quiberon, on the southern coast of Britanny. An Abbey was dedicated there to St Glidas]
Encouraged by this explanation, he demanded and obtained the hand of the Princess: their marriage is placed in the year 590. The same Judual is called Hoel III by some writers; he extended his dominion, says M. Delaporte, over nearly the whole of Britanny, which is partly accounted for by his marriage with the heiress of Ylli. He took the title of king. The historian just quoted throws no light on the marriage, but merely says: "he espoused Pratelle, by whom he had several children."
Judual died about 620. His son and successor was the celebrated Judicail, whom tradition represents as a match for the stoutest antagonist when a boy, but who shines in history as a very amiable character.* [See Mr. Turner's sketch of Breton history, in the first and fourth editions of his History of the Anglo Saxons.]
He married Moron, daughter of Even, King of Ach. One of his sons, named Arnec,
was bishop of the little diocese. It seems that he resigned it in favour of St. Vigan, his neighbour. The legend says, that he promised him as much territory as he could traverse, while he himself was asleep. Arnec betook himself to slumber, and Vigan mounted his horse; but it was on the steeple of St. Eloi, between Landerneau and Lesneven; and taking a spring from thence, he traversed the whole of the diocese in the air before Arnec awoke, and it was accordingly ceded to him.
The kingdom appears to have reverted to temporal princes, for Argan, or Arastan, reigned in the time o? Charlemagne.(It might be an apanage.) This prince accompanied Charles in his expeditions, was distinguished as a soldier, and fell at Roncevaux in 778.[ M. Miorcec adds: "Le Tasse l’a célébré dans la Jérusalem. Il a extrait ce qu'il en dit de l’archcveque Turpin, contemporain d'Argan]
His exploits were a favourite theme of the Breton Troubadours. His successor was Prinitis, of whom nothing is recorded, or indeed of any later sovereign.
It has escaped the keen antiquary of Let Tourelles, that Ylli is a word meaning a division, or something parted off. [Yll. s.m. that tends to part. Yllt, a rent. — Welsh Diet. Lysien has a similar signification: — Llys, s. m. thit separates. Note: in Albanian language the name “Ylli” means STAR]
It is natural to suppose that this little kingdom had been detached from, some other, and thence obtained its name. Too insignificant to be an object of cupidity, and no larger than an English nobleman's property, it may have experienced more happiness than larger states, where kings can only see with the eyes of ministers. That it should have remained unconquered in those turbulent times, supposes patriotism in the inhabitants, affection towards their chiefs, and a propitious course of circumstances. The name of Tregarantec speaks highly for the character of the people, - and is no trivial instance of the value of etymology in corroborating history. It is possible that a diligent search of the early Welsh Bards may throw some light on the events of this interesting little kingdom, or on the names of its princes. Cydweli.
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