Bretonnia is a feudal, traditional land of Knights and Peasants. The Bretonnian army relies on the devastating charge of the Knights, who are supported by units of Peasant Men-at-Arms. The Knights of Bretonnia live by a series of vows – these vows uphold the virtues of honor and chivalry. To lose honor is just about the worst thing imaginable to a Knight of Bretonnia, who would rather die with honor than live without it. The entire society of the Bretonnian nobility is based around upholding the honor of the self, the King, and the Lady of the Lake (the Goddess of the Bretonnians). Individual heroism is very important to the Bretonnian Knight, and tales of Paladins fighting Dragons and of Heroes facing off against countless foes are the kind of things the people of Bretonnia dream of.

Bretonnia is a feudal society. The Peasants serve the Knights in return for protection, while the Knights are obligated to provide military assistance to their Lords in return for certain rights (to own land, to levy taxes, and to receive aid and command military forces in times of war). At the top of this hierarchy is the King. Beneath the King are the Dukes. Beneath them is another layer of nobility – Earls and Barons. The King, Dukes, Earls, and Barons are also each the Lord of a number of Knights, who are the lesser nobles. Each Knight (including the higher nobles) has a force of Men-at-Arms, chosen from the most physically able of the peasantry. In return for serving a Knight’s standing military force, Peasants are given a small tract of land for their family. In theory, all commoners can be called upon by a Knight to serve him in battle. However, since many who do not already serve as Men-at-Arms are either simple-minded or physically impaired in some fashion, these types of Peasants usually serve only as bowmen levies. In addition to this earthly hierarchy, the lands of Bretonnia are also ruled over by spiritual and mystical leaders – the Fay Enchantress, her Damsels, and the Grail Knights – who are all devoted to the Lady of the Lake.