Le Lyonnais is a place of glittering spectacle and grinding oppression. Ruled with an iron fist by the powerful De Semblancy clan for centuries, the province has been shaped to further their ambitions.
Its farmland is constantly expanding to increase the grain stores for military campaigns, its mines delve ever deeper and wider to equip its armouries, its luxury industries: textiles and glassware, strive for perfection to enhance the glory of the province and its rulers. Lyonnais is famous for its great festivals and tournaments, for the victories of its soldiers, for the exquisite artistry of its craftsmen. It is infamous for the costliness of these pursuits on its people. The serfs of Lyonnais are often worked to death. The gulf between noble and peasant is wider in Lyonnais that perhaps anywhere else in Bretonnia.
The bourgeoisie here are few and little respected, those few who rise to prominence as craftsmen or merchants do so only by showing unquestioning loyalty to the De Semblancy.
  The location of Lyonnais, close to the Tilean border, has meant that the culture and politics of the Southern Old World has considerable influence here. The fashions of Lyonnais are frequently influenced by Tilea, and the Ducs of Lyonnais are often significant players in the politics and warfare of Estalia, Tilea, and the Border Princes, where their interests can at times conflict with those of the King.

Stereotypes: "The Lyonnaise? The nobles have the pride of a lion and the viciousness of a snake. Never insult one if you value your life. As for the peasants, well, if you just stamp too loudly near them they flinch..."