Introduction

The Knights of the Realm are the heart of the armies of Bretonnia, a core of bold and skilled knights whose loyalty to the King is unquestioned, and whose feats of arms are hard to match.

Over the following pages we'll show you how to assemble and paint your Knights of the Realm, including instructions on how best to apply the detailed heraldic transfers that are included in the Knights of the Realm box set. We'll also take a close-look at colour schemes and heraldry from the land of Bretonnia to inspire you when you paint your own Knights of the Realm.

The Flower of Bretonnian Chivalry
Each Knight of the Realm is a nobleman, who possesses lands and titles of his own, usually a demesne with farms and villages for him to oversee and a small castle from which to govern them. A Knight of the Realm must be a skilled warrior, capable of defending his lands from bandits and brigands, and leading his Men-at-arms against Orcish or Beastman invaders.

When a serious menace threatens the lands of Bretonnia, the Knights of the Realm are called upon to do service for their lords - riding out to rally under the banners of Barons, Dukes or even the King himself. There, these knights will form bands of skilled and dedicated warriors upon whom their lords can rely, a fast-moving cavalry regiment, borne on swift and strong Bretonnian chargers.

All Knights of the Realm are beholden to the Bretonnian code of Chivalry, a set of tenets that dictate their behaviour, demanding courage and valour above all things, disdaining cowardice and the use of missile weapons. When they fight, the Knights of the Realm launch courageous cavalry charges into the heart of the enemy, pennants fluttering in the breeze as their muscular warhorses shake the earth with their advance. Any brave, or foolish, enough to stand before their glorious charges are smashed aside in an avalanche of glittering lance tips and flailing hooves, as the Knights of the Realm ride for the glory of their fair land!

On the Tabletop
The Lance
All Bretonnian Knights utilise a special formation on the gaming table, known as the Lance formation. This specific arrangement enables them to benefit from a rank bonus, despite fielding a frontage of only three models. Further more, when a Lance charges, all the models at the front of the unit, as well as those at the sides are able to strike as though they were engaged in combat, enabling a Lance formation to hit far harder than a cavalry charge conducted by other knights - in this way units of Bretonnian Knights are able to take on formations that are numerically superior, and still triumph!

Elite Core Units
Not many armies have units in the Core section of the army list that are quite so dangerous as the Knights of the Realm. With a 2+ armour save, a 16" charge and all the benefits of the Lance Formation, the Knights of the Realm could be reasonably compared to Elite choices found in other armies. This impressive combat potential sets the Bretonnian army apart as a premier close combat army.
Knights of the Realm are also unfazed by the plight of any units of Bretonnian Peasants that are fighting alongside them, enabling them to ignore panic tests caused by fleeing or destroyed Men-at-arms or Peasant Bowmen.

Blessing of the Lady
The Knights of the Realm are also protected by the Blessing of the Lady - a literal representation in the game of the protection of Bretonnia's patron goddess. The effect of this blessing, should the Bretonnians choose to pray at the start of the battle, is to provide all Knightly units with a 6+ ward save against attacks from the enemy. Should any attack have a Strength of 5 or better, this ward save is increased to 5+. Combined with their impressive armour save, this makes Bretonnian Knights very durable indeed!