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Circle Genealogic and Historic Champanellois

Association "Law 1901" of Saint-Genès-Champanelle, 63 , France

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MORNAC a legend

The legendary aspect of the character is deduced by its perpetuation through stories of different styles. Like any legend, if that of MORNAC draws its inspiration from a reality, it is immediately transcended, and therefore transformed.

I - MORNAC perpetuated

The means of perpetuation intended to deliver the history of MORNAC to future generations are two: oral and written.

l°) Oral

Oral and rumor were the vehicle of this legend, not only at the time of MORNAC, but also today.

Every era needs its rumors which maintain a part of truth and distort the rest.

MORNAC is seen as always ready to do anything: steal, murder. It is the rumor which is accusing and not the witnesses. The region and its climate are conducive to maintaining fear, but also the character's story.

This rumor goes so far as to make MORNAC fall into the popular saying by a warning to travelers: "May God keep you from MORNAC", or by blackmailing children in which MORNAC replaces the wolf.

Likewise, MORNAC was the source of inspiration for a lament containing vengeful words: " Victor MORNAC, execrable monster, covered with a murderous veil. How to paint yourself guilty enough, the pen finally refuses to do so.

From the moment MORNAC is introduced into everyday homes, it is popularized and thus acquires part of its legend.

Oral today: there are few people of Auvergne origin who are unaware of the history of MORNAC. They heard about it and some people who would have had influence having resisted MORNAC relate the fact with pride. Older people seem to be the category of people most informed on the subject. In their story, the news aspect stifles the historical aspect. And very often the facts are distorted.

2°) The writing

MORNAC was a source of inspiration for different literary genres: two novels were written by Jean de CHAMPEIX and Pierre BALME undertook a historical study. In 1952, a comic strip on the subject appeared in several episodes. Very recently, Galipote added an illustrated supplement covering the life of Antoine Victor MORNAC. Also the life of MORNAC was taken up through a play, and finally a lament of his time.

These literary genres based on the same news item, however, convey a different message. The complaint written after the MORNAC trial has a moralizing connotation and praises the great values ??of Education, Justice, Family, Religion, the author MARCHAL, like Jean de la FONTAINE, draws from the sad experience of MORNAC, a maxim stating:

"And the terror of our lands

in prison will end his days

And the evidence are shown

that justice is always done".

(annexed document n°10)

The novels dedicated to MORNAC were written by Jean de CHAMPEIX, editor of the Moniteur du Puy-de-Dôme, one of them the "Exploits de MORNAC" was published in 1892, and the other "La fille de MORNAC" was published in 1893.

This literary genre highlights the narrow mentality of the peasants, their greedy behavior and their little education. Also MORNAC is elevated to the rank of hero experiencing "feelings of love". We have the impression that the author, unconcerned with retracing the historical truth, retains the recipes of the popular and sentimental novel, for example CHAMPEIX finishes the story of the exploits of MORNAC. (p. 36): "this time, it was all over with MORNAC, this escape attempt earned him the harshest treatment. In the colonies, he was the beast of burden, the pain of the security guards. For a long time, however, he fought, in his heart he retained a glimmer of hope. He thought of his marvelous Auvergne and thought of the possible return home. By his submission, his gentleness, he tried to soften his tormentors. For a moment he could believe in his grace... He was wrong. About twenty convicts left the island of Misery, he remained there. A great despair seized him. Day by day the colossus was wasting away, one evening he understood that everything was over. I can't work anymore, he told the security guards. It was with a blow of a stick that he was answered. Two tears came to his eyes; he took one last look there, towards the lost homeland, and died".

This great final and lyrical impulse, from the author, ends the novel as desired but contains significant inaccuracies: MORNAC was never exiled to the penal colony of Cayenne, and the date and conditions of his death remain unknown until now.

In "La fille de MORNAC", MORNAC seduces a princess who will give him a child. This episode in MORNAC's life is not recounted in any historical work, nor cited in the defense. It is only found in the 1952 La Montahne's comic strip.

AAmong our readings on the subject, only one historical work proved to be faithful, with regard to the information collected in the departmental archives of Puy-de-Dôme. The author, without partiality or sentiment, seems to relate the life of MORNAC. Indeed, in an issue of Auvergne littéraire, Pierre BALME, doctor of medicine and very erudite man, evokes the history of MORNAC, with great detail. In his conclusion, he i nforms us about the goal he pursues : he believes that this story which has become legend is now part of the folklore of Auvergne: the legend of MORNAC still haunts the imaginations "in the coldness and silence of these highlands where life separates itself from the past more slowly than elsewhereé".

Like Spirou, MORNAC was the comic book hero. A first comic strip appeared in the newspaper La Montagne in October 1952 under the pen of Pierre Paulin VERT and illustrated by Fernand DANTAN. The Mountain uses the modern and attractive form of the comic strip in several episodes to recall an affair dear to the people of Auvergne. In some extracts from this comic strip (document annex 10bis), we find, as in the novel "la fille de MORNAC" by Jean de CHAMPEIX, a description of the love life of MORNAC. Without proof of authenticity of these events we are forced to leave them in the mystery of legend.

The authors agree to make him a legendary hero. Is this the wish of the population? In any case we can say that currently we have no knowledge of the place or date of the death of Victor Antoine MORNAC. But the legend is still very much alive.

Recently La Galipote, Auvergne's bimonthly critical information magazine, published supplements in a few issues retracing the life of MORNAC in a few episodes (annexed document 11)

The author of this work, Georges BEGON, presents MORNAC in a very different and personal way: " I don't think MORNAC was an angel but he served as an alibi for me to proclaim my indignation against injustices and abuses of power" and to conclude "no one can claim to do a historical work on MORNAC. It is now part of the legend, and it will always be reinvented.

We have the impression that Georges BEGON is rehabilitating MORNAC with understanding, admiration and respect. In the way he views the character and the society of the time we think he provokes the reader: "I actually believe that MORNAC was a rebel who all his life had been annoyed by the people around him.. .".

The author's very particular and unique attitude on the subject seems marked by partiality. This can be explained by the ancestry links that exist between MORNAC and his wife's family. He revealed this relationship to journalists during the publication of issues of the comic strip: "in the footsteps of MORNAC", which allows us to better understand his position.

In August 1980 in Tauves, an amateur and the inhabitants of the region staged the life of MORNAC, the play was entitled "MORNAC tu iras voir Satan".

Noting that MORNAC is still present today thanks to books, a play, and comic strips, we are convinced of its legendary character. Also Pierre BALME was right to write in 1944 that this "story was an integral part of the folklore of Auvergne".

II- MORNAC victim of the legend

In the Larousse dictionary, the word legend is defined as "a marvelous story where historical facts are transformed by popular imagination or by poetic invention".

Life so sadly "wonderful" by Victor Antoine MORNAC can be compared to a legend. In fact, the popular story has modified the personality of this man: sometimes making him an "angel"; sometimes "stupid", but contributed to the loss of a certain truth.

More than a century after the events that shook Puy-de-Dôme, it is surprising to note that such a character comes back to life on a very regular basis through different and sometimes lively literary genres (theater and comic strips). Furthermore, it is not uncommon to see articles in the regional press devoted to MORNAC, thus nourishing a legend that is still present.

For example, an article in the newspaper La Montagne at the end of 1986 devoted a passage to MORNAC in the famous figures section.

Despite all these writings, and our numerous investigations, we have been unable to discover either the place or the date of the death of Victor Antoine MORNAC.

In Puy-de-Dôme, in Toulon in the Civil Status registers or in the historical archives of the navy, no date, no place specifies the end of his life. Even though we know that he was alive until 10/13/1862 (the date of his release from the chain), we find it surprising that we cannot obtain such information which is of a civic nature and therefore accessible.

Would MORNAC then be immortal?... In the hearts of the Auvergne region, many people proudly claim this hero, part of their regional heritage. It is true that the heroic dimension of this character does not cope well with the death of a simple mortal. Rumor has taken over MORNAC and continues to keep him alive.

The population would then have difficulty accepting a banal death, an end unworthy of a hero because it would demystify the legend.

Between history and legend, the truth is sometimes very difficult to establish. When the problem arises, should we sacrifice legend to history?

The legend needs a historical foundation to develop and persist. But the authenticity of the facts must not become the victim of an invasive legend. It is in fact necessary for the historian to rediscover the integrity of the sources not only to analyze the past but also to measure the transformations of reality through popular narrative.

The study of the legend allows us to understand the behavior of this population which peddles a story.

At the end of this work an alternative opens up to us:

- Either, we favor the legendary side of the story, and the uncertainty concerning the date and the place of death of MORNAC. He would therefore have disappeared in a mysterious way that he would have lived, but paying a heavy price to the legend: deprivation of freedom and sad fame.

- Either, we favor the historical side and that is what we want, in order to know what could have led to the disappearance without trace of the MORNAC family. How can we explain that the dates of death of MORNAC, his brother, his sisters are not recorded in the Civil Status registers of Laqueuille?

We understand that the Legendary aspect accommodates these shortcomings. Not being satisfied with this, we continued our research in Toulon where the trace of a highwayman from Auvergne ended: Antoine Victor MORNAC..

* [ coat of arms of Mornac ] *

* [ introduction ] *

* [ portrait of MORNAC ] *
(after G. BEGON)

* [ FIRST PART: MORNAC BY OTHERS ] *

* [ SECOND PART: DIFFICULTIES AND CONFIRMED FACTS ] *

* [ Bibliography ] *

* [ Related documents ] *

last update on July 13, 2004

* [ retour page sommaire Mornac ] * [ retour à la page d'accueil ] *

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