This article provides an approach used by the author to develop a thematic Bretonnian heraldry that is based on the principles of traditional heraldry and that can be applied to any Bretonnian army, whether it comprises the latest or an earlier release of miniatures.

Background

I have a Bretonnian army that comprises almost exclusively all of the previous release of miniatures, since I am not a fan of the latest miniatures (too many similarities, in my humble and personal opinion, to Empire knights). However, I had been a collector of Bretonnians well before the latest release was hinted at and by the time the new miniatures were launched I had already amassed an unpainted army of about 3,000 points.

My long-held fascination and interest in heraldry, vexillology (the study of flags) and medieval history was a major influencing factor in my choice of Warhammer army, along with the motivation to create an army that would be painted with a colour scheme that was hopefully unique, thematic and based on the traditional principles of heraldry.

I was aware that water slide decals of heraldic charges and devices were already available from Games Workshop, as well as there being suggestions and examples for heraldic colour schemes provided in the Bretonnian army book supplements. Although all of these were perfectly usable, they didn’t provide me with all the elements I had in mind for my army’s heraldry. So I set to work developing my own heraldry and ultimately finished up producing my own water slide decals.

The basics

My starting point and initial requirements for the heraldry were:

• Each Bretonnian dukedom needed to have its own basic heraldic colour scheme.

• Each rank within the Bretonnian hierarchy needed to have its own identifying blazonry, devices and charges which were reflected by any or all of the following attributes:

•  

  • A miniature’s helmet crest

  • A miniature’s functional role within the army, e.g. Grail Knight, Knight of the Realm, etc.

  • The Bretonnian character represented by the miniature, e.g. Repanse (Demoiselle de Guerre), Knight of the Perilous Lance, Black / Unknown Knight, Duc d’Artois, etc.

•  The basic heraldic colour scheme needed to reflect some element of the Bretonnian region or the dukedom it represented.

• The resulting heraldry needed to be simple enough for me to be able to paint and reproduce on each miniature.

• The heraldry needed to adhere, as much as possible, to the principles of traditional heraldry, e.g. no metal (gold or silver) should be placed upon another metal and no tincture (colour) should be placed upon another tincture.   

• The colours used for the heraldry needed to be based on a range of paints generally  available, straight from the pot (i.e. no mixing of colours to obtain a particular tint or shade) and from one source only, in this case Games Workshop, to avoid incompatibility problems relating to colour range, type or medium.

The colours that met my original requirements best for the heraldry I had in mind were:

• Blood Red for Gules (red, tincture) R=221; G=1; B=1.

• Enchanted Blue for Azure (blue, tincture) R=3; G=100; B=168.

• Chaos Black for Sable (black, tincture) R=0; G=0; B=0.

• Skull White for Argent (silver, metal) R=255; G=255; B=255.

• Sunburst Yellow for Or (gold, metal) R=251; G=228; B=0.

After much experimentation with Paint Shop Pro (the computer software I use for producing all my heraldry), I managed to find the right RGB coding that gave as close a colour match as possible to the Games Workshop paints listed above. The RGB codes are shown after each colour in the list.

Note: I have also found the RGB codes that produce an extremely close match for: Goblin Green, Dark Angels Green, Hawk Turquoise and Liche Purple (colours that I use for some of my other miniatures).

The fields and the lines of partition I initially chose for the shields for each of the Bretonnian dukedoms are shown below, with some examples. However, I have since changed the colours for Artois because I found that the combination of Chaos Black and Enchanted Blue does not create a strong enough colour contrast when printed onto the decals. Also, I have yet to rigidly apply the reserved and special colours, e.g. Purple for a royal character. 

Note: To the heraldry purist, neither Sable and Azure nor Sable and Gules are permitted to exist in heraldry because they are tinctures and hence their combination breaks the basic rules. However, in order to accomplish a unique heraldic field for each of the Bretonnian dukedoms, using the original colour palate I had selected (listed above) I found it necessary to bend the rules to a small degree. However, I have since introduced another colour into my heraldic palate, namely Snot Green for Vert (green, tincture) R=10; G=122; B=10. Consequently, the heraldry for Artois has changed from Azure and Sable to Vert and Argent, but I am still undecided about changing the Montfort colours from Gules and Sable to Vert and Or.   

Northern region dukedom 

• Artois: Per Pale, Sable and Azure. Subsequently changed to Per Pale, Vert and Argent.

• Couronne (the Royal house): Per fess, Azure and Gules.

• Gisoreux: Per Bend, Argent and Sable.

• L’Anguille: Per Fess, Azure and Or.

• Lyonesse: Argent.

• Marches of Couronne: As Couronne.

• Montfort: Per Pale, Gules and Sable.

• Mousillon: Sable.

• Parravon: Per Fess, Argent and Gules.

 Southern region dukedoms 

• Aquitaine: Or.

• Bastonne: Gules.

• Bordeleaux: Azure.

• Brionne: Per Pale, Azure and Argent.

• Carcassonne: Per Fess, Sable and Or.

•  Quenelles: Per Fess, Gules and Or. 

Special and reserved colours and heraldry

• Royalty (King, Queen, Princes and Princesses): Purpure (purple) or any number of tinctures combined with or without a metal.

• Dukes (Ducs): One or two tinctures with or without a metal. 

• Barons and King’s Champion: Gules with a device only and no metal.

• Queen’s Champion: Azure with a device only and no metal.
  



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