Bretonnia (Warhammer Fantasy)

Bretonnia.

Bretonnia is a country that features in Warhammer Fantasy.

History

Bretonnia was a kingdom located in the Old World where it was situated west of the Grey Mountains and the Empire.

The first humans known to have settled in the lands now known as Bretonnia were the Bretonni who entered the lands after the War of Vengeance around -1000 IC. Orcs and Goblins also sought to colonise the lands where once the High Elves had ruled and many battles were fought against them by the humans who learnt to forge metal, build stone strongholds and most importantly ride horses into battle. By -700 IC, the land is dominated by twenty horse riding tribes who amalgamate or destory smaller tribes. Attempts to enter the Forest of Loren around -650 IC fail, with the few who survive being driven mad by the fey. Orcs demand tribute in 577 IC from the Brtonni but are refused. As they began to dominate the fertile valleys, driving the greenskins into the wilderness, the various independent tribes of the Bretonni fought against each other. This would change when Giles le Breton finally united the Bretonni into a single nation around 977 IC following a time of great peril for the tribes. As the Greenskins banded together to ravage the human lands, Chaos worshippers crossed the Sea of Claws and Settra attacked the western coast in 100 IC. By 770 IC the remaining sixteen tribes each control a part of the land which broadly remain to the current era except Cuileux and Glanorielle which are later destroyed. Giles gathered his knights, fighting several battles but against such odds, he could not prevail. The remnants of his army camped by the Forest of Chálons with the tattered armies of other dukes but as they heard the sound of Orc warhorns in the distance, they knew the enemy had found them. As dawn came, many knights gathered at a lake to drink some water and it was then that the mist condensed into an incomparably beautiful woman bearing a gleaming chalice which she bid the knights to drink from. Giles himself dipped his bloodstained, ragged banner into the lake, asking her to bless it. When he lifted it clear it was remade with the image of an avenging goddess. The other dukes and knights proclaimed him as especially blessed and followed his banner into battle, shattering the Orc horde. As the new Leader of Battles, Giles would lead the Grail Knights into battle defeating all the various enemies. The Elves of Athel Loren even gifted him with magical weapons.

Overview

Locations in Bretonnia included:

• Couronne :
• L'Anguille :
• Lyonesse :
• Artois :
• Gisoreux :
• Mousilion :
• Bordeleaux :
• Bastonne :
• Montfort :
• Aquitaine :
• Brionne :
• Quenelles :
• Parravon :
• Carcassone :

Officially, the Forest of Loren was part of Bretonnia though it was the homeland of the Wood Elves.

The Land of Bretonnia were a feudal, traditional society where the peasants serve the knights in return for protection, while the knights are bound to militarily serve their lords in return for certain rights and titles. At the top of this feudal hierarchy is the King. Beneath the Kings are the Dukes. Beneath them is another layer of nobility, the Marquesses, the Earls, the Viscounts, and the Barons in descending order. The King, Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, and Barons are also each the lord of a number of Knights, who are the lesser nobles. Each Knight (including the higher nobles) has his own force of Men-at-Arms chosen from the most physically able peasants. In return for serving his knightly lord, each peasant is given a small tract of land for his family and can be expected to be called upon for service in times of war. The Knights' forces typically consist of the stronger Men-at-Arms and the more lowly Bowmen levies. The lands of Bretonnia was also ruled by spiritual and mystical leaders, the Fay Enchantress, her Damsels, and the Grail Knights, who are all faithful servants to the Lady of the Lake. The Lady of the Lake gets her servants by stealing all children with magical ability by the age of three. The girls become wizards in service to the Lady, her damsels. The males are never seen again. For reasons of religious devotion parents allow this awful custom.

The Knights of Bretonnia were divided into four categories. Knights Errant are young sons of nobles who must prove themselves in battle. If successful, they become Knights of the Realm, are granted their own small plot of land to govern, and are obliged to defend Bretonnia should they be called. Questing Knights are brave individuals who renounce their titles and worldly possessions and journey to faraway lands in hopes of being deemed worthy by the Lady (of the Lake) to become Grail Knights. Grail Knights are the most powerful and revered individuals in all of Bretonnia, second only to the Lady. They are living saints who represent the fearsome power of Bretonnia and answer only to the Lady herself.

Knightly orders included:

• Knights Errant :
• Knights of the Realm :
• Pegasus Knights :
• Grail Knights :
• Grail Damsels :
• Prophetesses :
• Paladins :
• Bretonnian Lords :
• Sons of Bretonnia :

The Kingdom of Bretonnia is made up of 14 duchies: Couronne, L'Anguille, Artois, Lyonesse, Mousillon, Gisoreaux, Montfort, Bastonne, Bordeleaux, Aquitaine, Parravon, Brionne, Quenelles, and Carcassonne. Each of these, with the exception of Mousillon (see below), is ruled by its own Duke, who in turn has various nobles and knights who serve under him. The great castle of the King is in the fortified city of Couronne, traditionally the capital. The Forest of Loren is within the borders of Bretonnia, but is considered to be the forbidden realm of the Wood Elves.

A religious organisation that operated in Bretonnia was the Cult of the Lady of the Lake.

The Grail Companions were one noted group that consisted of the first of the Grail Knights and served as the loyal companions to the founder of Bretonnia. They were blessed by the Lady where each served as a Duke of a Bretonni Dukedom, all of whom were ultimately found worthy by the Lady to aid Gilles in his quest of unification. These Companions were amongst the greatest beings to ever walk the world, Knights that truly embodied the warrior tradition of the anceint Bretonni horsemen of old. The blessing by the Lady gave these Knights a halo of light, and they fought with such ferocity and courage that it would make them seem inhuman, able to take on entire armies of monsters and undead.

Inhabitants

• Gilles le Breton : a male human also known as Gilles the Uniter and as the Green Knight who was the founder of Bretonnia as well as the first of the Grail Knights.
• Louen Leoncoeur :
• Calard of Garamont :
• Morgiana le Fay :
• Armand d'Aquitaine :
• Bohemond Beastslayer :
• Tancred II :

Notes

• Bretonnia was created by Games Workshop where it featured in the setting of the Warhammer Fantasy universe.

In other media

Video games

• In Total War: Warhammer, Bretonnia appeared as a faction in the setting of the real-time strategy video game.
• In Total War III: Warhammer, Bretonnia appeared as a faction in the setting of the real-time strategy video game sequel.
• In Vermintide II, Bretonnia was referenced in the setting of the video game. The Grail Knight was a unique specialisation for the warrior class.

Appearances

• Warhammer Fantasy:

External Links

• Lexicanum Wiki Entry

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