Fredemund

Fredemund, known as the Lord of the Skies and the Bird of Prey, was the first Duke of Aquitaine and the fourth of the Grail Companions of Gilles le Breton during the Twelve Great Battles that freed and unified Bretonnia. Fredemund despised those who used ranged warfare, respecting the martial values of facing his foes face-to-face.

History

Fredemund was the lord of Aquitaine in 977 IC. It is said that the heavens above Fredemund's army were blackened by thousands of birds of prey that came at his bidding. Thus his sigil was a falcon's claw, and his descendants still bear it on their banners. Fredemund joined the Grail Companions of Gilles le Breton along with Marcus of Bordeleaux when the lords of Bastonne, Mousillon and Lyonesse came to their aid and defeated the greenskins that scoured their lands in the first of the Twelve Great Battles.

Fredemund distinguished himself particularly in the Second Great Battle, which took place near Brionne. The knights took the coast, the seas being said to calm at their passage as they rode through the surf towards embattled Brionne. They came upon the rearguard of a great horde of greenskins, their lords borne aloft on long-necked Wyverns. Upon their sight Fredemund did sound his clarion-horn and summoned a mighty flock of falcons that struck terror into the black hearts of the enemy and tore at the wings of the beasts, driving them to the ground. The knights fought deep into the heart of the greenskin horde, where Landuin of Mousillon struck down the bloated Orc Warboss, and Fredemund slew his monstrous mount, winning the day for the Bretonni.

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. Fredemund then wedded Gilles' youngest sister, Annabel.

Source

1Warhammer Armies: Bretonnia (6th Edition)