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Bretons are the human descendants who hail from the province of High Rock. According to the Third Pocket Guide to the Empire, they have descended from the people of Nede and Aldmer. The Aldmer thought of making a superior race with their own "Elder", or "Superior", blood, by mating with other races.^[1]^[2] The Bretons are sometimes called "Manmeri" because of this.^[3]

By gameEdit

High RockEdit

For main article see High Rock.

High Rock is a western region of the Empire of Tamriel. It borders Hammerfell to the south-east and Skyrim to the north-east. It is mainly populated by Bretons. High Rock and the Summerset Isles are the only provinces of Tamriel that do not share a land-border with Cyrodiil. This region is known for its many small villages and towns and for the many grim fortifications that dot the hills and crags around them. In the past, these castles were the domains of many petty kings and lords that ruled the massive patchwork of small nations that used to make up High Rock.

BiologyEdit

Bretons are the descendants of an Aldmeri-Nedic hybrid race of the First Era and are consequently termed as 'the mongrel race of Tamriel'. Their elven blood is heavily diluted, due to their ancestors intermingling with the Nordic population in Skyrim and High Rock. Bretons are sometimes called "Manmeri" as a result of the interbreeding, literally translating to 'man-elf'. Although their Aldmeri ancestry is shadowed by their appearance, they still inherit the magical affinity of their elven blood. Their physical features resemble their Nedic ancestors, including their pale skin tone and the obvious physical resemblance to Imperials/Nords, but some still inherit the frail, sharp appearance of the elves, along with the arrogance.

History, culture, and talentsEdit

They are pure spell weavers and are advanced in all the Arcane arts. While lacking in physical skill, they make up for it in their ability to resist and cast spells that overwhelm most people. They are united in culture and language, but are divided politically. Descendants of the Druids of Galen, their origins can be traced to the First Era of Tamriel's history, when the Aldmer intermingled extensively with the Nedic people. This mostly happened during the period in the First Era when Mer held Men as slaves, which lead to masters impregnating their female captives. Bretons are average sized, dark haired, people. They are highly intelligent, willful, and have an outgoing personality. It is said that Bretons are weaned on magic, for it seems to infuse their very being. Intermingling with Elven blood has given Bretons an affinity for magic, though hardiness is also part of their heritage. Breton culture operates under the Feudal system, and their society is agrarian and hierarchical.

PersonalityEdit

Passionate, eccentric, poetic, flamboyant, intelligent, willful, and excellent cooks, the Bretons feel an inborn, instinctive bond with the mercurial forces of magic and the supernatural world. Many great sorcerers have come out of their home province of High Rock, and in addition to their quick and perceptive grasp of spellcraft, enchantment, and alchemy, even the humblest and least prominent Breton can boast a high resistance to destructive and dominating magical energies within their universe.

ReligionEdit

The main religion in High Rock is the worship of the Nine Divines, however some Bretons still worship the gods of their Elven ancestors.

Breton namesEdit

Bretons bear European, typically French, names.

Example male namesEdit

Alain
Amaund
Belethor
Claude
Delacourt
Dimitri
Francois
George
Guilbert
Maximus
Michel
Reynald
Rufio
Vicente
Solomon

Example female namesEdit

Anya
Babette
Claudette
Delphine
Dorothy
Eola
Leya
Mari
Muiri
Sybille

Real-world connectionsEdit

Bretons hail from Brittany, France and speak a language derived from the Brythonic form of the Celtic language, similar to Welsh and Cornish. In the later Elder Scrolls games; Bretons usually sport French names which can be directly correlated to this real-world ethnic group. However, an exception would be in regards to ESII: Daggerfall in which many British-sounding names are used when referencing this race of humans. This may have been done due to the fact that the many of the Bretons where once inhabitants of the eastern British Isle driven out during the Saxon invasions later to recolonise the region of Cornwall. "Breton" is a modern term used to describe the people of Brittany, the Romans (Imperials) often referred to the Celtic people of ancient Albion (modern day Great Britain) as Britons.

The Romans also referred to modern-day France as "Celtica," and used the terms "Gallic" and "Celtic" interchangeably. The word "Kelt" or "Keltoi" was originally Greek, and meant "stranger" or "outsider."

The Celtic culture--known to modern-day anthropologists as "The Hallstatt Culture," appears to have developed in the Vienna basin spreading throughout Western Europe some time between 8th to 6th centuries BCE (early Iron Age). Also of significance was the La Tene culture that developed in the area of modern Switzerland from circa 450 to the 1st century BCE. These cultures dominated Europe and could be found as far east as Turkey. During the rise of Rome the cultures clashed with Rome ultimately proving the victor. Consequently for hundreds of years a hybrid culture emerged in most of the Celtic world that was both Celtic and Latin.

It should also be noted that Forsworn characters usually have Gaelic sounding names. These could be a remainder of the native Breton tongue, given the insular nature of the Reachmen. The more mainstream French sounding Breton names are possibly a product of Imperial and Nordic influence, just as modern French is based on Latin and the Germanic Frankish language rather than Ancient Gallic.

The Bretons also have similarities to the Anglo-Saxons and Anglo-Normans.

TriviaEdit

In The Elder Scrolls: Arena and The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, Bretons are described as a tall people, but they are the smallest human race since The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.
During the character creation in The Elder Scrolls: Arena the following is shown when choose to play as a Breton: "Know ye this also: Thy race is descended from the ancient Druids of Galen, quick witted and strong in the mystical arts. Thy folk are crafty and intelligent, a learned people who use their gifts to guide others to enlightenment..."
In The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, Bretons also worshiped a god named Ebon Arm.

ReferencesEdit

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[0] Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition: Eras

[1] Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition: High Rock

[2] Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition: High Rock

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[2]

[3]

Races
Humans	Atmoran • Breton • Imperial • Keptu • Kothringi • Nede • Nord • Orma • Redguard
Mer	Aldmer • Altmer • Ayleid • Bosmer • Chimer • Dunmer • Dwemer • Lefthanded Elf • Maormer • Orsimer • Snow Elf
Beast	Argonian • Imga • Khajiit • Lilmothiit • Sload
Akaviri	Ka Po' Tun • Kamal • Tang Mo • Tsaesci • Dragon
Et'Ada	Aedra • Daedra
Other	Atronach • Giant • Goblin