"Brittany equipment and coat of arms circa 1200-1400" Topic

Hi, Fellow TMP members.
I am currently working on a project about one or two factions of Breton and their possible opponents. I have yet to decide a specific date, but I think it will be the 1300's, roughly. Pre-plate armors.

I have two questions for the History buffs that often showcase a great wealth of knowledge in this forum.

What coat of arms or heraldies have been used by the Breton nobility?
Would it be ok to use Gripping beast miniatures (Saga crusader states/ milites christi) or the equipment they used was different?

As I am trying to represent the variety of different colors and coat of arms used during the feudal times in Europe ( in Brittany in this particular project), a few examples would be welcome.

PS: I am also trying to find some 29 mm miniatures with beaked helms ( bascinets). which manufacturers would be good choices to mix with gripping beast?

Thanks a lot, and happy gaming to all!
Francois DROIT

Bretons would have used the same arms and armour as everyone else did. So whichever period you end up going for you can use the appropriate figures for that date.

Some crusader figures will be fine to use, some are sculpted with additional 'eastern' looking bits of kit added. It would be wise to avoid these for Western Europe.

There is a list of 28mm figure manufacturers here…

link

There are also a load of photos comparing different manufacturers on that site. They are more Dark Ages than medieval but should give an idea how the figures match up. For a start, click on 'Gripping Beast' on the right-hand side. The 'Directory' tab at the top has links to the manufacturer websites.

Great! I shall stear away from the eastern bits.
Do you happen to know a website where I could browse heraldries or coat of arms for brittany nobility?
thanks for link!

link for the arms of the Duchy.

earlyblazon.com has a few Breton early-13th century arms (click on France in the left margin then Brittany on the map).

Early blazon is better, the other link is most more modern stuff, often only gives the arms in 17th C or later.

A Google image search on ' bretagne heraldique ' brings up some interesting pages amongst a load of rubbish but worth a look through.

Salut!
J'allais dire, des trucs et puis j'ai vu China… Plus dur…

To share…in en.
If you can't find Historical names of nobles, look at those of Combat des Trentes.( the Breton ones among them).
Then go in a decent old library, look for Grand Armorial de France, usually very nice black and white old book ( you need to understand the codes for "colours" in heraldry.
All and every noble coat of arms is in there.
They even put old and new, you need old. ( can't remember when it change, might be written too).

Then urban militias, look at towns coats of arms, ex Dinan…

Some of the nobles retinues might have liveries, ( few guys in minis) hardly you will find, but sometimes it might take some things from the arms, colours etc. otherwise they might have their overlord shield in small ,
slopped , in theirs, surrounded by whatever colours they had., handy.

They might even have such a book in Peking central library.
After All, I found in NYPL treasures IN FRENCH one ordinary peon cannot find in ordinary libraries in this country.

It coukd also have been scanned by Gallica or others.

Some ( chose early dates of course)
link
Site of Breton nobility, might help
anb.asso.free.fr
Generally type google: noblesse bretonne
Some have their own sites. No doubt history and coats of arms.
You don't need scores I guess.
Got a bunch here, even from China
link

This one also has pics, but you need to check who was already noble in your period.
link

Here you have some osts detailed with names, 13th cty
link

These chaps went crusading so unless no offsprings, could be in your ost!
link

Happy researching.
Jc

The 'Le Breton' Armorial was collected later than your desired period but the core is described as being from the 13th century. link
Despite the name (which is from the compiling herald), it covers various areas, not just Brittany. However it is handy for showing the styles in use as modern recreations can use different artwork.

The Armorial du heraut Vermandois has about 40 Breton coats of arms and the original version was probably late 13th century. The Early Rolls site had illustrations but that seems to have gone. The web archive version does have the translated descriptions of the shields link
The original armorial only had written descriptions anyway. There is at least one online version which shows the shield but the only one I found doesn't include the Bretons.

Thanks a lot for this treasure trove of informations.

without google ( China firewall), my searches led me mostly to modern coat of arms or videogame results. thanks again, now I can dive in all those links and documents that have been suggested!

regards
Francois DROIT

Frenchmerc – do you have an e-mail that will take an attachment ? I have a copy of the Breton section of the Armorial du heraut Vermandois and could send it to you that way.

Not sure what China's restrictions are relating to that though.

Tony of TTT

Most crusading figures will be a bit early for 1300; you might be better off with early HYW from Foundry and Essex.

Thanks @gildasFacit. My Email is droit.francois@yahoo.com

I will study Foundry and Essex range, as suggested.

Sent

Tony of TTT