A map of the fourteen dukedoms that comprise the Kingdom of Bretonnia.
A Bretonnian Duke is one of the fourteen highest-ranking nobles within Bretonnian society, second only to the royarch (king) himself. Each duke rules one of the fourteen feudal provinces of the Kingdom of Bretonnia known as "dukedoms" and maintains a large number of other Bretonnian lords who serve as feudal vassals beneath them.
History[]
Duke Gastille, the Red Hand of Brionne, who ruled during the Age of Three Emperors in the 23rd century IC.
In the long distant past, the lands of the ancient tribe of Men in the western Old World known as the Bretonni were secured by Gilles le Breton, and the Kingdom of Bretonnia was formed. Each of the Bretonni lords, the mighty Grail Companions, swore oaths of fealty to Gilles, who they proclaimed as their king or "royarch." The lords themselves were each given the title of "duke," and the traditional borders of their tribal lands were formalised, creating the fourteen dukedoms. Gilles became the royarch of all Bretonnia, though he also fulfilled the role of Duke of Bastonne.[1]
A duke of Bretonnia in theory has absolute sovereign power within his dukedom, but he is still subject to the king. This means that a duke acting as he sees fit within his own dukedom cannot technically break the law, unless he disobeys a direct order from the king himself. The dukes are also each a Bretonnian lord, as well as skilled and renowned warriors, for they could not retain their station were they not.[1][2]
It is common for the royarch to also be a duke, especially if they held this rank prior to ascending to the throne. However, some Bretonnian kings have been known to grant this title to another noble, often a member of their own royal household. If such a duke perishes in battle or is somehow deposed, the title will revert once more to the reigning king.[3]
During the reign of King Louen Orc-Slayer, many of Bretonnia’s Dukes were Grail Knights, having drunk from the Grail and become the epitome of chivalric knighthood, magically infused beings of near-immortality from whom the radiance of the Lady of the Lake shone eternally.[4]
Current Dukes of Bretonnia[]
- Mousillon - None. The position has been vacant since the death of Duke Maldred of Mousillon.[1b]
Past Dukes of Bretonnia[]
- Aquitaine - King Louis the Righteous
- Aquitaine - The Red Duke
- Aquitaine - Gilon
- Aquitaine - Galand
- Aquitaine - Richemont
- Bastonne - Gilles le Breton
- Bastonne - King Louis the Rash
- Brionne - Corentin
- Brionne - Gastille
- Carcassonne - Machevort
- Carcassonne - Antoine Dupont de l'Etang
- Parravon - Escargot
- Mousillon - Laroche
- Mousillon - Maldred
- Mousillon - Merovech
- L'Anguille - Tudual
- Lyonesse - Repanse de Lyonesse
- Lyonesse - Francois le Noir
- Unknown - Beligulf Fearnought
- Unknown - D'Argent
- Unknown - Sarlat
- Unknown - Morlant
- Unknown - Gaston
Pretender Dukes[]
- Mousillon - Mallobaude.