Why did Barzaz Breiz cause controversy among scholars?

The Barzaz Breiz, published by Théodore Hersart de La Villemarqué in 1839, caused significant controversy among scholars because it was presented as an authentic collection of ancient Breton folk songs and ballads preserved through oral tradition, yet it was later revealed to be a composite work.12

Critics, including fellow collector François-Marie Luzel, demonstrated in the 1870s that the anthology was not a pure record of folklore. Instead, it contained a mixture of materials: some authentic poems, others that had been heavily rearranged by the editor, modern compositions designed to mimic a medieval style, and spurious poems featuring figures like Merlin and Nominoë.12

While the collection was initially hailed as a masterpiece and proved highly influential in reviving Breton pride and stimulating further folklore studies, the discovery of these editorial interventions led to severe attacks regarding its authenticity. However, a review of La Villemarqué’s papers in the 1980s eventually confirmed that a portion of the poems in the collection were indeed authentic.132