ESCAPOULON DE L'ISTORI DOU FELIBRIGE

Monique BOY

It is not a question here to make a study of the Precursors of Félibrige which would bring us to the study the Old Language of Oc and the Troubadours. We will thus leave the period which goes from eleventh to the nineteenth century.

But it should be known that if "the language of Oc", mother language of the Romance languages, language of civilization, language of all the courses of Europe of eleventh to the fourteenth century, were struck of interdict and like stupor after famous Edit of Joinville of François 1st (1536), the literary production occitane did not cease any completely for all that. Admittedly, printing works was refused to him. But after the tumults and the appalling massacres of the Albigensian Crusade, when the spirits were calmed a little, seven poets test in Toulouse in 1324, by melting the contest of the Gay Knowledge, to perpetuate the poetry of the Troubadours. Their attempt does not succeed but poetry does not die completely however. Minor but sincere works continue to be born. It is however necessary to await the beginning of the nineteenth century and the arrival of Jasmine (hairdresser of its state) so that work, in addition very important of this one, knows an immense popularity. Surrounded a pleiad of poets who disappeared a little in glory from the "poet from Agen" but which knew their hour of celebrity

Jasmine had drawn the attention to the old language whose one had wanted death. Curiously, it resisted the invitation of Félibriges of Avignon, but this short summary shows clearly that Félibrige of the nineteenth century was not a spontaneous generation, a randomly which had blossoming, but on the contrary the blooming of a continuity.

It is certain that if this continuity, these remote and deep roots had not existed, Félibrige would not have been the success which one knows, and who will develop unceasingly through works, reviews, increasingly many meetings, without speaking about the pulpits about Of Provence which opened in the French or foreign universities.

Roumanille itself, the "father" of the félibrige, had not awaited the meeting of Make-Ségugne to make appear into 1847 its "Margarideto" and "Li Sounjarello" in 1851. In 1852, with Mistral and Anselme Mathieu, it makes appear "Li Prouvençalo", collection of poetries of midday. In Arles, August 29, 1852, it there had had a congress of Provençaux Troubadours, then a second congress in Aix in 1853, had organized by Jean-Baptist Gaut who wanted to reform the orthography and to purify it. There they opened a beginning which is not close finishing: the "patouesejaire", in particular the Marseillais, wanting at all costs to preserve the orthography of their own dialect, just like a wine of vintage must preserve the savour of its soil.

But it is with Make-Ségugne, with the Castle in 1854, around a merry table bringing together seven friends full with faith, heat, youth and gaity, that the "Félibrige" occurs truly: initially the name of "Félibrige" which is given to him is drawn from the name of Félibres that Mistral had found in an old biblical canticle ("And the Virgin introduced Jesus at the Temple, to the seven félibres of the Law")

The exact etymology of the word is still dubious. But it was adopted and as the meeting took place the day of the Holy Estelle, one of the owners of Provence, Santo Estello and the Star with seven branches were adopted like symbols. Félibres were thus seven, a number crowned in Provence (with the new number). It was:

ROUMANILLE	(1818 - 1891)
PAUL GIERA	(1816 - 1861)
THEODORE AUBANEL	(1829 - 1886)
JEAN BRUNET	(1822 - 1894)
ANSELME MATHIEU	(1833 - 1895)
FREDERIC MISTRAL	(1830 - 1914)
ALPHONSE TAVAN	(1833 - 1905)

It should be noted that Jean Brunet had replaced Eugene Garcin who had scrambled himself with died with other Félibres, violently showing them "separatism". This defection of Garcin had been a great pain for the others, and especially for Mistral which had dedicated to him three worms of its "Miréio": "You, finally, of quaù a wind of flamo ventoulis, emourto E fouito the amo Garcin O fieù burning doù manescaù of Alliens".

Thereafter, Garcin returned in the bosom félibréen, until pronouncing in Sceaux in 1895 a "Speech on the Origins of Félibrige" and with becoming the vice-president of the Félibréen Movement.

But with Make-Ségugne in 1854, one by no means had still the idea, neither the intention, to create an organized movement of an almost secret company, nor even of an association with its statutes, its "capoulié", its "majouraù"... Not, it was a burning and merry starting point for a crusade, to have the right to sing its upéjour in its language, the beauties of the country, the girls of Arles or Avignon, Zani... It was to seize with full hands the life and the popular language which went losing itself and especially "franchisant itself". This revolt of Roumanille and Mistral in front of the "of Provence one francized" was to bring later the blossoming of linguistic works of importance, like "Large Tresour doù Felibrige". For the moment, it was a protest in fact between cultivated friends and jovial fellow. One was Félibre or one was not it.

However, the great chance of Félibrige was to be that the first work " Mirèio " of Frederic Mistral was a work of genius, a masterpiece which did not resemble nothing of what produced then the century of the Romanticism, nor so that the literature and the French language had already proposed. The success of Mirèio, however early work, was immediate and bright. Mistral was destined for Paris and was proposed for the Nobel Prize (1859). Lamartine had echo of the praises and Villemain, large the critic, was to declare: "France is enough rich to have two literatures".

This success embanked Jasmin which died about it. But however, Félibres were not to spare their admiration towards the last large poet in language occitane and Mistral paid an imposing homage to him, in 1870, in front of its statue. It also dedicated one of its admirable to him "sirvent" cast in pure bronze.

If the success of Jasmine had been isolated, Félibrige had immediately become on the contrary extensive of a literary movement which went increasing, which was essential not like a factitious and momentary fashion but like a movement natural, innate, full with sincerity and true patriotism, that of the native soil and original language. If the idea of federation, separatism, missed absolutely first "Félibrées", it was to start to bore at the second and especially the third generation of Félibres. Already, in the first work "Mirèio", with song IX, 20th stanza, Mistral let burst a cry of revolt against the genocide of the Albigensian Crusade, genocide which was to delay two centuries civilization besides. This one, destroyed in Miéjour where it had been born, was to penetrate in France of North only after the wars of Italy and thanks to François 1st.

1860, Carpenter, the editor of "Mirèio", besides had required that Mistral replace "Drama in worms and language of Oc" per "Drama in patois" and had required the supression of the word "treats" in the famous stanza (that Mistral replaces by "zou"). But it makes greet the perspicacity of Mistral which had had a presentiment of the immense development of the movement félibréen, as well as the genius of his companions or successors. Among those infinitely many, Aubanel, Pétrarque of Provence, cuts a place of choice: here an extract of the "Fiho d' Avignoun": "a gréé càpitani, that pourtavo curasso doù tems of Barbo Rousso are ista moun aujoù, came year chaplé lou Turkish, raubé the sarrazino, soun espaso with the soulèu fusissié cremésino when known Li will maugra passavo coum a fleù, with full gallop, terrible, indountable, ferouge, of aqui vèn that, per fès, of blood moun worms are red. Draw from eù moun love di femo E doù soulèu ".

It is necessary to also note the presence of the women in Félibrige, where they allowed and were honoured: Mesdames Darbaud Pink, Fatty Anaïs (which was to become Mrs Roumanille), Rivière Antoinette de Beaucaire (Li Belugo).

William Bonaparte Wyse , Irish poet who, come to Avignon, learned the Of Provence one, sang it and did not want to set out again about it any more. It wrote amongst other things: "Li Parpaioun blu" and "Li Piado of Princesso". Roumanille had been the initiator of the movement, and always had encouraged and supported Mistral and Aubanel, to trust their successes as a father is of his sons. But itself, without being a writer of first rank, had worked for the reform of the language of Provence, purifying it of all the borrowed terms and especially of libertinage and the coarseness which had invaded it at the eighteenth century. Roumanille had been put in fury on these two chapters and if its own works étincellent of gaity, it is always a laughter healthy and full with honesty.

After him, it is a true tide of more than one hundred writers of language of Provence which floods the nineteenth century. Let us quote randomly: Alexandre Langlade de Lansargues, Virgile of Languedoc; Albert Arnavielle , the Apostle of Languedoc; Jean Mounet (Crau - The Camargue); Marius Girard; etc...

Félibrige had crossed the premièrer period which extends from 1859 to 1866 and is completed with "Calendaù". For the second period, which extends up to 1876 and is completed avecc the "Iscles of gold", the federalistic idea takes force, especially in the young people félibres. The Catalans had restored as of 1859 their Floral Plays of Toulouse. Mistral their address his ode: "I Catalan Troubaire" and its anthem of "Countesso" become the national anthem of new the félibres. The Italians join to the Catalans to recognize in Provençaux their brothers of race and civilization.

Dr. Noublet makes a very thorough study on "the Latin" or southernmost race. In 1859 also, Jean Reboul gives the accodance to Mistral with the Arenas of Nimes, in front of thousands of people. But it is in 1872, in Apt, in Vaucluse, that the true official dedication of Félibrige takes place, in time that literary movement and contest of poetry in language of Oc, under the presidency of the féllibres and the "majourau", organization officially ratified by the French State. Mistral however had, at the following day of the national disaster of 1871, shown its French patriotism by publishing many poems on the French defeat. But new the félibres turns more and more to their native ground and their language. That does not go without worrying Roumanille and oldest which thinks to see in this federalistic tendency "of the Parisian ideas" (letter of Roumanille with V Duret). It is necessary to make a digression about Roumanille: to have, thanks to this incomparable instrument that was Armana Prouvençau, cleansed the language and fact laughter of the generations, a statue was set up to him in Avignon as with a benefactor of humanity, with the site of the gardens of the Jeanne queen. One could have set up of it to him unee under "launcher" of Félibrige, thanks to his letters with Duret, his ceaseless activity, his angers in connection with the delays of an article. In short, he was the propagator of the movement founded by Mistral.

Construction of Félibrige - Statutes - 1876

Article 6: The Floral Plays directed by a seven consistory Cabiscol give prices and mentions of honor to those which covered the subjects félibréens best.

Therefore, and since 1682, the authority félibréenne out of literary matter and of orthography was officially recognized. The battle was gained for Roumanille. For Mistral, the prophet, it did nothing but start. It was the alarm clock of the Latin idea, of Miéjour.

In 1867, Victor Balaguer, shining Catalan spirit, banished of his country following political events, launched of Narbonne a proclamation in which it called some in Provençaux in favour of young Catalonia. He was accepted by Félibres in Avignon and William Bonaparte Wyse organized for him one félibrée which lasted three days with Font Ségugne, with the Fountain of Vaucluse and Avignon.

A few months later, sunken to Catalonia, V; Balaguer, thanks to a subscription, sent to Félibres a silver cut where these words were engraved: "Record ofert pèr Patricis Catalans als felibres provenzals. Mistral, Aubanel, Roumanille, William Bonaparte Wyse y als rammed germans Mathieu, Crouzillat, Roumieux, Brunet, Fatty pèr the hospitalitat donada Al poeta V Balaguer 1867". At once, Mistral composed on this cut the anthem of Provence. It is Capoulié of Félibrige which has the guard of it. It leaves only one time per annum, with the banquet of Santo Estello.

But it is only into 1876 that Félibrige acquires the statutes which still currently govern it. If the authority of the literary matter consistory went back to 1861, it is only from 1876 that the erudite organization of Félibrige was organized and could, if the federalistic idea of Mistral were one day to be carried out, be declared "Constitution Of Provence". By taking the direction of "Of Provence" in its broadest context and while making him cross the Alps and the Pyrenees. It is what we will see.

In 1878, a cut is given to the Catalans at the time of the first great Floral Plays. And Victor Balaguer, sunken in grace in his country of Catalonia, calls Félibres there. Mistrals, Roumieux, Charles Bonaparte Wyse and Paul Meyer answer the invitation. They are received in Barcelona with the pump and the row which had to the ambassadors of the large foreign countries. The same year, Balaguer triumphing and escorted of a many continuation, an elite of beautiful spirits, returns their visit in Félibres of Nimes, Beaucaire, Avignon, Maillane and Saint Rémy. Saint Rémy marks a date: for the first time, Parisian well-read men come from the capital to the sides of Félibres, in particular Francisque Arcey, Paul Arene , Albert Milhaud, Alexandre Ducros, Emile Blavet, the Baron Brisse, Marius Hous, Cochinat, Bouvier.

From now on, Félibrige is more and more in sight: philosophers of the whole world come to its meetings, the Masters Paul Meyer and Gaston Bris, for example, famous for their Romance studies. Let us underline the support which the Count of Toulouse-Lautrec brings to him.

Foreign universities, where the interest was larger still than in France, come to encourage them. The field increases and from the researchers, the scientists, come to be added to the prosateurs and the poets. With the support of the Baron Charles de Tourtoulon, historian of "Jaime the Conqueror", the Camboulin philosophers, Butchery, Montel and Paul Gleize melt in Montpellier the Company for the study of the Romance Languages and the Review of the same name. Come to be added to it the philosophers André Castling-Ferrier, Léopold Costans, soon famous and still young professor with the faculty of Aix. Are also Félibres Majouraù: Tamisey de Larroque, the immense historian of Peyresq; Jean-François Blade, historian of geographer of Gaule of South-west; Leonce Seams, erudite director with the review of Gascogne; Victor Lieutaud, former librarian of the town of Marseilles; Frederic Donnadieu, who raised a literary monument with factulté of Right of Montpellier, and fine poet.

Let us speak about Mister de Berluc-Pérussis, of Aix, well-read man of permier order and one of the finest spirits of the century. Assisted by his two friends Guillibert and Jean-Baptist Gaut, like by Mr Doncleux, prefect of Vaucluse, it led Italy to be affiliated in Félibriges. The Italian delegates were not the least: Mister Ambassadeur Nigra, Mr Conti, president of the Academy of Crusca, the deputy professor Minich, delegated by the university of Padoue.

And, for the first time, the Institute of France sends Messrs Mezières of the French Academy and Walloon, member of the Institute. They are also delegated Ministry for the State education. The Catalans send Mister de Quintana , chair Floral Plays of Barcelona. The festival was organized by Mister de Berluc Pérussis, in the honor of the 500ème birthday of died of Pétrarque. It took place in Avignon and with the Fountain of Vaucluse: one can say that it sealed the Latin unit in the field of the letters. Unit supplemented in 1878 in Montpellier by a new linguistic element, the Roumanian, in the person of Mr Vassili Alessandri which gains the bid price by Mr Quintana in 1875 for "the song of Latin". Finally in Montpellier in 1875 a contest entitled by the Company of the Romance Languages opens. Important innovations: initially one admitted there scientific and philological work with prose and poetry, and for the first time, one called there not only of Provence the rhodanien (mistralien), but all the great dialects of Miéjour: languedocian, Gascon, from the Dauphine, the Limousin, Italian, Spanish (Balearic Islands, Valence) and Rumanian.

The first contest was remarkable, as well by the quality of works as by that of the jury: Egger, Gaston Paris, Michel Bréal, MILADY Fontanals, Révillout, Butchery, Mistral, Gabriel Azais, Castling-Ferrier, Lieutaud. The prizes winner were:

OESIE	Félix GRAS	(Li Carbounié)
	Alphonse TAVAN	(Amour e Plour)
	MIR	(Chanson de la Lauseto)
	LANGLADE	(L'Estang de l'Ort)
PROSE	Alphonse MICHEL	(Istori d'Eiguièro)
	MIR	(Messo de Ladern)
	BLANCHIN	(Les charbonnages des Bouches du Rhône, premier ouvrage technique excellent et très exact en provençal)
PHILOLOGICAL WORK	ASCOLI	(Le latin dans les territoires franco-provençaux)
	Léandre SARDOU	(La vido de Sant Ounourat)
	Pasteur PESQUET	(Etude des dialectes du canton de la salle Saint Pierre dans le Gard)

Lastly, the speeches were numerous and of very high behaviour.

The progression is seen: in fact any more simple regional dialects lived again, it was justice returned to all the Romance languages. Mister de Tourtoulon underlined this situation while creating in the 1885 "Review of the Latin World". There were then a series of festivals félibréennes and a voyage of the félibres languedocians (1887) to the Floral Plays of Barcelona and the Balearic Islands. In the same way the delegates of Félibrige were present at the Florentines festivals in the honor of Béatrix (1890) and, the same year, at the festivals in Montpellier for the 600ème birthday of this city.

But the Southerners residing in Paris seek to group from where "the Company of the Cicada", founded in 1875 per Maurice Faure, Baudoin and Xavier de Ricard then, later, at the instigation of Maurice Faure, "the Festivals of Florian" where take place of the very followed Floral Plays.

At side of the bust of Florian, Félibres of Paris raised that of Aubanel. A poetic pilgrimage started with the jardinx of Luxembourg is completed under the shades of Seals, each year, and "the southernmost estrambord", with farandoles, etc... mixes with poetic refinement with the capital at that time. Mistral recognized with reason that any literary movement was to be devoted to Paris. But in 1876 in Provence, as in Languedoc, Félibrige had had only little echo in the masses, whereas it had seen flowing the well-read men and the linguists of Europe. Its native land was unaware of almost Félibrige.

Like told it Xavier de Ricard, it is in the Parliament of Avignon where the statutes félibréens were voted which it met Auguste Foures. Republicans both and free-thinkers, the medium astounded them. Let us put Mistral side which planes too high to be concerned by political or religious questions although catholic and royalist very liberal itself, catholic and royalist Roumanille enthusiastic. We hear well: of these provençaux catholic royalists able to say their fact to their king, with the Saint Father and even, if it were needed, with God himself. Lastly, the large sympathizer Mister Comte de Montmartin, dedicated catholic and royalist militant

The point of view of Foures and Xavier Ricard was very different: "We wanted, say, to affirm three things by the publication of Lauseto. Our adhesion with the southernmost rebirth, rights of Languedocien (occitan) to being treated of equal to equal with the Of Provence one and the libertarian and republican tradition of the South, its true tradition according to us, against the clérico-monarchical parties which were poru it (Midday) Languedoc... of the instigators and the craftsmen of ruin and constraints and miseries ".

This evocation of passed of Languedoc, inspired by recent work of Napoleon Peyrat for which the two friends had a worship, was to lead them to study and to curse the terrible crusade of XIIème century, the genocide, and thus Félibrige in Languedoc had of any other accent that in Provence. While in Avignon Félibrige had begin with love songs, of a gracious archaism, in Languedoc in fact the ignited "sirventes" resound, worthy of Guilhem Figuiera or Peire Cardinal. And it is necessary to point out the beautiful pages of Michelet, where it magistralement defines the respective characters of the Eastern and Western South: "the fort and hard genius of Languedoc were not distinguished enough from the carried exuberance of Provence".

The conviction is strong in Languedoc, intolerant, often atrocious, incredulity too. The genius of Provence is noisy, light, but nons without grace. It is not without reason that the literature of the twelfth and thirteenth century is called literature of Provence. One then saw what there is the subtle one and the gracious one in the genius of this region.

Thus, hatred towards Simon de Montfort, anathema with the invaders of north, freethinking and federalism are the topics of the small phalange, expressed in the four almanacs which it published.

Two great figures of nobility however deserve to be considered which, while being of opposed political opinion, joined to Lauseto in the hatred of Montfort and the idea of federalism: the large well-read man of Aix, Mister de Berluc-Pérussis and, in Toulouse, the Count of Toulouse-Lautrec, very worthy going down from its aïeux. Raymon of Toulouse-Lautrec, distinguished literary man, had accepted the title of majoral of Félibrige and makes receive main Mistral of the Floral Plays in Toulouse with the Academy of Florence Isaure in 1879. It is as on its initiative as the Holy Estelle was celebrated in Albi in 1882. But Eastern Languedoc "was for a long time évangélisé", with Roumieux, Arnavielle, Langlade, Paul Gaussen. But all these sing only the joy, the wine, the sun and the love. They by no means think of carrying the mourning of Low wall (where was made kill Pierre d' Aragon by defending Miéjour).

Therefore, while Félibre of Provence and Languedoc limotrophe remains monarchist, catholic, gallant and grâcieux, it is formed in Toulouse country the extreme left of Félibrige. Unfortunately for this félibrige red, its two leaders are obliged interrrompre: Xavier Ricard loses his partner cherished, Lydie Wilson, gracious felibress, and exiles himself in Paraguay, as for Foures, become editor of Small Toulouse, it is watched for by the terrible disease which will carry it.

From 1885 to 1890, thus a downtime ago of propaganda félibréenne in Languedoc, except in the area of Montpellier and Alès where Domenica de Roumieux making hear his merry note before disappearing in front of the Cicada from Gold, and the Review of the Romance Languages granted a broad place to the félibréennes productions.

Lastly, in 1891, after the death of Roumanille, one lives to arrive at the head of Félibrige the man who could gather under his name the two elements that we saw appearing, enough republican to satisfy burning of extreme left, enough moderated and liberal not to frighten the royalists: it was Felix Gras ..