Beren d'Gisoreux

Beren was the first Duke of Gisoreux and one of the Grail Companions of Gilles le Breton during the Twelve Great Battles that freed and unified Bretonnia.

History
Beren was the lord of the Bretonni of Castle Gisoreux and the surrounding lands by 977 IC, when Gilles le Breton began his campaign to free the lands of Bretonnia. As recounted in The Histories of the Unconquerable Realm, Beren fought valiantly against foul ambushers within the Forest of Arden and was the lone survivor of his party, sorely injured and lost. A vision of a white hart led him to safety, and it is this occurrence that is remembered and honoured in the heraldry of Beren's descendants.

It is unclear when he joined the Grail Companions of Gilles, but by the time they reached Couronne and fought in the last of the Twelve Great Battles, he was already one of them.

On the Twelfth Great Battle, the plains of Couronne were invaded from the southwest by the Beastmen of the Forest of Arden and from the southeast by the greenskins of the Pale Sisters. The Companions made their prayers and arrayed themselves for this final battle, but disaster played its hand once more as, at their back, the fair city of Couronne was overrun by an unnatural tide of vermin. The Skaven killed the guard and erupted in great number from the gates to threaten the Companions from the rear. Surrounded on all sides by a number of foe beyond countenance, the Companions yet stood resolute and without fear; for the lords of each of the fourteen lands of the Bretonni now stood as one, the gathering complete, and their brotherhood and bonds of faith stood stronger than steel. They knew in their hearts the power of the Lady of the Lake flowed through them that day, and that none could stand against them. Each Companion performed such deeds as to fill the sagas until the end of time. The moons raced across the darkened sky, replaced by the burning orb of the sun, but to no respite. Only the Lady knows the number of weeks that saw battle, but against all odds, the Companions emerged victorious. The piles of the dead were stacked like mountains, and searing pyres burnt the slain enemies for so long that night was turned to day for a season.

After the securing of all the lands of the Bretonni tribes, a great meeting took place in the home of Folgar of Artois. Here, the formal dukedoms were created, and the Bretonnian calendar was introduced - thus, year 979 of the Imperial Calendar is considered year 1 of the Bretonnian one. Each of the great lords of the Bretonni, the fourteen Grail Companions, including Gilles le Breton, were named Dukes. The Dukes swore oaths of allegiance, and Bretonnia was formed.

Source

 * Warhammer Armies: Bretonnia (6th Edition)
 * pg. 9
 * pg. 15
 * pg. 38

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