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Historical Region
Brittany (Breizh) possesses one of the most distinctive heraldic identities in Europe. Its coat of arms — Ermine plain — is among the simplest and most celebrated blazons ever created: a white field scattered with black ermine spots (mouchetures d’hermine), introduced by Pierre de Dreux around 1213 and adopted as the sole charge by Duke Jean III in 1316. The modern flag — the Gwenn-ha-du (“White and Black”) — designed by Morvan Marchal in 1923, marries nine stripes representing the historic dioceses with an ermine canton. Alongside these, the mediaeval Kroaz Du (Black Cross) and the motto attributed to Anne de Bretagne — Plutôt la mort que la souillure — complete a heraldic tradition that spans nine centuries. This atlas maps 60 traditional Breton pays (broioù) and their sub-territories (paouiòu), each with its own flag and identity.
Ermine plain.
Two words. No charge, no partition, no supporters — just the ermine fur covering the entire field. It is the only coat of arms in major European heraldry that consists of a single tincture designation with no additional element.
Pierre de Dreux (Mauclerc), a grandson of Louis VI of France, became Duke of Brittany through his marriage to Alix de Thouars around 1213. He originally differenced his Dreux arms (chequeré Or and Azure, a bordure Gules) with an ermine quarter. Over the following century, the ermine gradually took over the entire shield. His great-grandson Jean III completed the transformation in 1316, adopting Ermine plain as the definitive blazon of Brittany.
According to legend, Duchess Anne de Bretagne (1477–1514) — the last ruler of an independent Brittany before its union with France — adopted the motto « Plutôt la mort que la souillure » (“Rather death than dishonour”), comparing the ermine’s legendary refusal to soil its white coat to the honour of the Duchy.
The Gwenn-ha-du (“White and Black”) is the modern flag of Brittany, designed by Morvan Marchal in 1923. It features nine horizontal stripes alternating black and white — representing the nine historic dioceses of Brittany — with an ermine canton in the upper hoist. The five black stripes represent the Breton-speaking dioceses (Dol, Saint-Brieuc, Tréguier, Léon, Kerneú) and the four white stripes the Gallo-speaking ones (Rennes, Nantes, Vannes, Saint-Malo).
The Kroaz Du (“Black Cross”) is the historic banner of the Duchy of Brittany: a black cross on a white field. It was the principal Breton flag during the Middle Ages, flown at the Combat of the Thirty (1351) and throughout the Hundred Years’ War. It predates the Gwenn-ha-du by centuries and remains a symbol of Breton mediaeval identity.
The coat of arms itself — the ermine field — is also used as a banner flag, particularly in heraldic and ceremonial contexts. It is the oldest Breton vexillological symbol, directly transposing the ducal arms onto a rectangular flag.
Brittany is traditionally divided into broioù (singular: bro) — historic “pays” or territories roughly corresponding to the nine mediaeval dioceses and their cultural subdivisions. Each bro is further divided into paouiòu (singular: paou), smaller sub-territories with their own flags and identities.
This atlas maps 60 of these traditional divisions. Click on any territory on the interactive map above to discover its flag, its history, and its place in the Breton heraldic tapestry. Notable broioù include:
The coat of arms of Brittany is Ermine plain — a white field scattered with black ermine spots (mouchetures d’hermine). It is one of the simplest and most recognisable blazons in European heraldry. The ermine was introduced by Pierre de Dreux around 1213 and became the sole charge under Duke Jean III in 1316.
The Gwenn-ha-du (“White and Black” in Breton) is the modern flag of Brittany, designed by Morvan Marchal in 1923. It features nine horizontal stripes alternating black and white (representing the nine historic dioceses) with an ermine canton. The black stripes represent the Breton-speaking dioceses and the white stripes the Gallo-speaking ones.
Broioù (singular: bro) are the traditional Breton “pays” — historic territories corresponding roughly to the nine mediaeval dioceses. Paouiòu (singular: paou) are smaller sub-territories within each bro. This atlas maps 60 of these traditional divisions with their flags and heraldic symbols.
The Kroaz Du (“Black Cross” in Breton) is the historic Breton cross flag: a black cross on a white field. It was the principal banner of the Duchy of Brittany during the Middle Ages, flown at the Combat of the Thirty (1351) and throughout the Hundred Years’ War.
The ermine was introduced into Breton heraldry by Pierre de Dreux (Mauclerc), who became Duke of Brittany around 1213. According to legend, Duchess Anne de Bretagne adopted the motto « Plutôt la mort que la souillure » (“Rather death than dishonour”), comparing the ermine’s refusal to soil its white coat to the honour of Brittany.
Last reviewed by the Emblema Mundi editorial team on 2026-06-24.