Castle Couronne is a fortified city dominated by the castle of the same name that serves as the ducal capital of Couronne and, currently, the whole of Bretonnia.
History[]
Unification of Bretonnia[]
The Siege of Couronne
During the Twelve Great Battles that saw the unification of Bretonnia, the greatest of these was undoubtedly the last. On the last of the Twelve Great Battles, 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.[5]
After this great battle, all of the lords of the Bretonnia gathered in Artois to formally unite into the Kingdom of Bretonnia. The dukedoms were created, and the first Duke of Couronne was Carleond.[5]
Kharan the Blighted's Invasion[]
In 2007 IC, a Chaos horde invaded Bretonnia, besieged the city of Couronne and slew King Louis the Brave as he fought in its defence. Chaos raiders were everywhere and began slaughtering and pillaging anything in sight. After Repanse de Lyonesse rallied her forces in the nearby dukedom of Lyonesse, she lead a great army to the city. While the ramparts of Couronne were cracking under the impact of the battering rams of the Chaos Lord Kharan the Blighted, word was brought of a new Bretonnian army approaching fast and trampling beneath their hooves any foe in their path.[4]
Just as the gates were about the be battered down, a great formation of knights rallied and crashed through the rear of the Chaos lines. Hundreds of marauders were butchered every minute as the Knights slammed into their ranks. Their forces shattered, and Repanse came face to face with Karan himself. The Chaos Lord lifted his sword to strike, but was blinded by her radiant aura. Not wasting any time, the damsel decapitated the barbarian with a single stroke. Thus, the city was saved from Chaos. The retreating barbarians were pursued to the sea and trapped between the ocean and the vengeful knights. They were all put to the sword and none survived. As a reward, Louis the Brave's successor, King Louis the Young, bestowed upon Repanse not only all the honours of knighthood but also the Dukedom of Lyonesse.[4]
First Siege of Couronne[]
In the year XI, 255 (2418 IC), when the Bretonnian city of Couronne came under siege by a great warherd of Beastmen, aid unlooked-for arrived in the form of a High Elf army under the command of Imrik of Caledor. In truth, the High Elves cared not for the fate of the Bretonnian city -- their only concern was the sanctity of the waystones that now lay buried beneath Couronne's chief castle. So it was that Dragon Princes battled snarling Gors alongside Knights of the Realm; that the shieldwalls of stocky Men-at-Arms were flanked by regiments of noble High Elf archers and stern Phoenix Guard.[1a]
In Bretonnia, bards tell that Prince Imrik and King Charlen fought like brothers that day, fighting as one against every foul Jabberslythe and Ghorgon to emerge from the Beastmen's ragged ranks. A few even claim that King Charlen saved Imrik's life, spearing the Cygor that had swept the Elf from his saddle before it could stomp him flat. For their part, the Elves remember the Bretonnians as crude but enthusiastic fighters, whose valour almost overshadowed their impertinence. Prince Imrik never forgave Charlen for stealing a good many of his kills.[1a]
Second Siege of Couronne[]
Early into the reign of King Louen Leoncoeur, the city was once again sieged by enemies of Bretonnia. This time it was not Beastmen, but the shambling hordes of undead. Merovech of Mousillon had recently been revived, and every crypt, barrow, and grave in Mousillon had been emptied. An endless horde of Undead marched on the city. They shambled forward in endless ranks, impelled by the will of their vampiric master to rend and maim. Many were nothing more than skeletons clad in the tattered remains of tabards and scraps of rusted armour, while others, the more recently deceased, were walking cadavers, their flesh rotting and pallid. Some clutched the swords and spears they had borne in life but others carried no weapons at all, slaughtering the living with nothing more than filth-encrusted nails and rotten teeth.[6]
Thousands of bowmen launched volley after volley into the horde, knowing they couldn't miss when the enemy was in such numbers. Dozens of trebuchets flung massive clumps of stone and marble into the undead ranks, annihilating hundreds with each shot. However, they made no dent in the endless mob.[6]
Ten-thousand Men-at-Arms bearing the king’s colours were locked in desperate battle before the gates of Couronne, and the screams of the dying and horrible wet sound of blades hacking into flesh rose to those stationed along the city’s walls. Yeoman Wardens and Foot Knights bellowed their commands, desperately trying to maintain order as the terrifying horde came at them again and again, clambering over the bodies of the fallen. The lines clashed for close to six hours, and the defenders were on the verge of breaking. Even as dozens of knight formations rode charged and charged again, the battle seemed hopeless. One by one, these lance formations were surrounded and dragged down by the innumerable zombies and skeletons around them. Even the skies were not safe for the Bretonnians, as countless Fell Bats descended from the air and feasted on any they could grab.[6]
At the centre of the fighting, Duke Merovech of Mousillon and his elite cadre of vampire knights, his Seneschals, carved a swathe through the Bretonnian lines, butchering all who stood against them. Mounted on black warhorses with eyes that glowed like coals, they thundered forwards, smashing knights from their saddles, cutting down Bretonnia’s finest with contemptuous ease. More knights pressed in to halt their rampage, but all fell before their murderous wrath. The King himself decided to end this threat and launched himself into the fray. Several of the Vampire Knights were cut down by Louen and his Hippogryph. However, a lance pierced through his mount's chest.[6]
The King was about to be executed by the Vampire Lord, but his standard bearer and several dozen knights threw themselves into melee to defend their Royarch. Merovech and his bodyguard fought through the knights, and he personally killed the royal standard bearer. All of the men-at-arms saw the Royal Banner fall, and soon the entire army had routed back into the city.[6]
However, Calard of Garamont blasted through the remaining Vampire Knights and personally slew Merovech by piercing the Sword of Garamont into the Vampire's chest. The Duke of Mousillon was dead, and the battle won as the remaining undead crumbled to dust.[6]
Notable Locations[]
The Lion Ring[]
The Lion Ring of Castle Couronne is the largest and finest horseracing arena in the Old World. It is a large oval built entirely in stone with ranked tiers of seating. There has been a stadium here since before the unification of Bretonnia, and some say the foundations are Elven. Until very recently it was clearly a more spectacular structure than Castle Couronne, and recent building work has only managed to make it debatable.[1a]
High Temple of Shallya[]
The other main feature of Couronne is the Temple of Shallya. This is the premier temple of Shallya in the Old World, seat of the Matriarch and goal of pilgrimages from every nation.[1a] The temple is built on a healing spring, allegedly supplied by the waters of Shallya's chalice, which, according to myth and cult dogma, is both the vessel that granted Ranald immortality and the Grail of the Lady.[3a] However, the cult has very little influence on local politics, as the Lady of the Lake is far more important to the nobility of Bretonnia. The supreme leaders of most religions would find this irksome, but it seems to suit the matriarch of Shallya perfectly.[1a]
Elven Waystones[]
There are also a large number of Elven waystones that now lay buried beneath Couronne's chief castle, which resulted in the assistance of the High Elves during the legendary Siege of Couronne.[2]
Couronne Tournament Grounds[]
The city is proud of the Couronne Tournaments Grounds. The largest tournament centre in Bretonnia, the knights of the city have a good time showing off for the peasantry. Visitors from all across Bretonnia and beyond come to visit the tournaments here.
Abbey of the Grail Companions[]
One of the holiest sites in all of the land is the Abbey of the Grail Companions. This is the greatest Grail Chapel in all of the land. It is here that the first twelve Grail Knights who followed Gilles le Breton in his unification of the kingdom of Bretonnia are buried.
Trivia[]
In the real world, the word "Couronne" is French for "crowned".
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Knights of the Grail (RPG)
- 1a: pp. 69-70
- 2: Warhammer Armies: High Elves (8th Edition)
- 3: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 3a: pg. 210
- 4: Warhammer Armies: Bretonnia (5th Edition)
- 5: Warhammer Armies: Bretonnia (6th Edition) pg. 38
- 6: Grail Knight (Novel) by Anthony Reynolds
- 7: Total War: Warhammer III (PC Game)