¤ The Granvelle Family

The Granvelle have much in common with the Dumourieux of Couronne, in that they are relative newcomers onto the political stage, but they are keen to maintain their independence and not got trapped in any business they can't get out of. Unkind observers, often of the De Semblancy faction, say this is a relic of their days as shopkeepers; all too often this rather sordid titbit of gossip is recalled at court in the company of the supporters of Bernard Granvelle, Comte de Perrac and until recently Governor of l'Anguille. His family epitomises a new phenomenon in parts of Bretonnia; that of the 'noblesse de robe'. These are individuals who, rising from lower or middle class backgrounds through hard work and education, have wormed their way into the upper echelons of society, buying into land, castles, titles and power. They have much to offer their employers and patrons; only a small number succeed in actually joining the nobility, representing the very best and luckiest individuals, with the greatest aptitude for administration, politics, trade and government. However, they are absolutely detested by their long-established aristocratic companions, who see these upstarts coming in, buying land that ought to belong to a proper noble and generally making a mockery of the sacred aristocracy of Bretonnia, polluting the ancient bloodlines. Violence is not uncommon when a member of the 'noblesse de robe' gets too far above his station and his patron is not powerful or willing enough to help them.

The province of Armorique, from where the Granvelle family spring, is the area in which this new branch of the nobility has made the greatest advances, purchasing lands from defunct noble houses and gentry to turn into their own estates; most of them are former merchants from l'Anguille seeking to move up in the world. The Granvelle dynasty made a fortune in the textile trade, and the canny father of Bernard Granvelle, Edouard, invested wisely in the lands of the once-almighty d'Eracle family. Over a twenty year period, he went from being the most successful merchant in l'Anguille to one of the most powerful nobles in the land, and along the way helped secure the fortune and support of similar entrepreneurs and a small number of old families desperate to revive their fortunes. In many parts of Armorique, it is now the case that most of the land is owned or controlled by 'noblesse de robe'; part of their success lies in their ancestral thriftiness and care over money, encouraging far more efficient land management than is common to the nobility. This attitude survives amongst the current members of the class, who are thought by the King, Cardinal Dumourieux and other important magnates across Bretonnia to represent extremely able officials (though very poor company for the more highly born). They are tolerated by the established aristocracy only for their wealth and service; the Granvelle tacitly recognise this fact, and their work ethic and survival instincts sustain them in their efforts to be as rich and efficient as possible.

For this reason the Granvelle family has become one of the most important in Bretonnia, and all six of the Comte de Perrac's sons hold important posts at the Oisillon Palace in the administrative machinery of the kingdom and lead the industrious family faction at the royal court. Nevertheless, the Granvelle could not exactly be described as adventurous or brash; in courtly life they put an emphasis on caution and austerity (except for Bernard's wife Marie d'Eracle, whom no-one would dare tell to do anything of the sort). In administration and government, they prefer refining and developing existing methods to introducing sweeping changes. Bernard, as he will gladly tell anybody who'll listen, did not get where he is today by turning everything on its head or fixing things that ain't broke. Bernard Granvelle excelled in his spell as governor of l'Anguille by bringing a new level of efficiency to the administration (which had long languished under disinterested aristocratic appointees), and the town is providing a greater return to the King every year and attracting more and more trade from abroad, including from the New World. They still seek to have the King restore their power over the city, pilfered from Bernard in a surprise coup two years ago by Henri Loiseau, Duc de l'Anguille, a noble who has moved into commerce. He and his supporters are the personal rivals of the Granvelle family; their courts in l'Anguille compete for control of the town and their clients fight for the most lucrative trading contracts. Both have an abiding hatred for Marienburg and its merchant princes, but ironically the commercial disputes caused by their rivalry only play into the hands of the Wastelanders.

The 'court' of the Granvelle is unlike any other in Bretonnia, more akin to a guildhall or even a very wellkept merchants’ tavern than a properly elegant chateau. But Bernard Granvelle and his faction pride themselves on their businesslike manner and, secretly, most feel uncomfortable in excessively colourful and luxurious settings, preferring good cider or ale to any fancy wine. At 71, the Comte is venerable by Bretonnian standards, and enjoys regaling any audience about how his father had to dry dishes with his ruff when times got hard. His wife, last survivor of the d'Eracle family, is famed for her enormous girth, loud voice and love for gossip and cream cakes.