Duke of Burgundy

Duke of Burgundy (French: duc de Bourgogne) was a title used by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, from its establishment in 843 to its annexation by the French crown in 1477, and later by members of the House of Habsburg, including Holy Roman Emperors and kings of Spain, who claimed Burgundy proper and ruled the Burgundian Netherlands.[1]

Dukedom of Burgundy

Creation date880
PeeragePeerage of France
First holderRichard the Justiciar
Last holder
StatusExtinct
Extinction date
  • 5 January 1477 (fief)
  • 22 March 1761 (courtesy title)
Seat(s)

The Duchy of Burgundy was a small portion of the traditional lands of the Burgundians west of the river Saône which, in 843, was allotted to Charles the Bald's kingdom of the West Franks. Under the Ancien Régime, the duke of Burgundy was the premier lay peer of the Kingdom of France. Beginning with Robert II of France (r. 996–1031), the title was held by the Capetians, the French royal family. In 1032 King Henry I of France granted the duchy to his younger brother, Robert, who founded the House of Burgundy. When the senior line of the House of Burgundy became extinct in 1361, the title was inherited by King John II of France through proximity of blood. John granted the duchy to his younger son, Philip the Bold, in 1363. The Valois dukes gradually came to rule over a vast complex of territories known as the Burgundian State, and became dangerous rivals to the senior French royal line of the House of Valois.

When the male line of the Valois dukes of Burgundy became extinct in 1477, the Duchy of Burgundy was confiscated by Louis XI of France. The title "duke of Burgundy" passed to Habsburg monarchs after Mary of Burgundy married Maximilian I of Austria in 1477. The Habsburgs used this connection to claim Burgundy proper and to rule their Burgundian inheritance until the Napoleonic era. The title was subsequently revived for several younger sons of the House of Bourbon and since 1975, branches of it have used "duke of Burgundy" as a revived courtesy title.

List of dukes of Burgundy

Bosonid dynasty (880–956)

The first margrave (marchio), later duke (dux), of Burgundy was Richard of the House of Ardennes,[citation needed] whose duchy was created from the merging of several regional counties of the kingdom of Provence which had belonged to his brother Boso.

His descendants and their relatives by marriage ruled the duchy until its annexation over a century later by the French crown, their suzerain.

Robertian dynasty (956–1002)

House of Ivrea (1002–1004)

House of Capet (1004–1032)

In 1004, Burgundy was annexed by the king, of the House of Capet. Otto William continued to rule what would come to be called the Free County of Burgundy. His descendants formed another House of Ivrea.

  • Robert (1004–1016) (also king of the Franks as Robert II)
  • Henry (1016–1032) (also king of the Franks as Henry I)

House of Burgundy (1032–1361)

Robert, son of Robert II of France, received the Duchy as a peace settlement, having disputed the succession to the throne of France with his brother Henry.

PictureNameBirthBecame DukeRuled untilDeathNotesArms
Robert I the Old
(Robert Ier le Vieux)
1011103221 March 1076Younger son of Robert II of France.
Hugh I
(Hugues Ier)
105721 March 1076107929 August 1093Eldest son of Henry of Burgundy, grandson of Robert I. Abdicated in favour of his younger brother, Odo.
Odo I Borel the Red
(Eudes Ier Borel le Roux)
1058107923 March 1103Younger brother of Hugh I.
Hugh II
(Hugues II)
108423 March 11031143Son of Odo I
Odo II
(Eudes II)
1118114327 June/27 September 1162Eldest son of Hugh II
Hugh III
(Hugues III)
114227 June/27 September 116225 August 1192Eldest son of Odo II
Odo III
(Eudes III)
116625 August 11926 July 1218Eldest son of Hugh III
Hugh IV
(Hugues IV)
9 March 12136 July 121827 October 1271Eldest son of Odo III
Robert II
(Robert II)
124827 October 127121 March 1306Eldest surviving son of Hugh IV.
Hugh V
(Hugues V)
128221 March 13069 May 1315Eldest son of Robert II.
Odo IV
(Eudes IV)
12959 May 13153 April 1350Younger brother of Hugh V.
Philip I of Rouvres
(Philippe Ier de Rouvres)
13463 April 135021 November 1361Grandson of Odo IV.

House of Valois-Burgundy (1363–1482)

John II of France, the second Valois king, successfully claimed the duchy after the death of Philip, the last Capet duke. John then passed the duchy to his youngest son Philip as an apanage.

PictureNameBirthBecame DukeRuled untilDeathNotesArms
Philip II the Bold
(Philippe II le Hardi)
15 January 13426 September 136327 April 1404Youngest son of John the Good
John I the Fearless
(Jean I sans Peur)
28 May 137127 April 140410 September 1419Eldest son of Philip the Bold
Philip III the Good
(Philippe III le Bon)
31 July 139610 September 141915 June 1467Eldest son of John the Fearless
Charles I the Bold[2]
(Charles I le Téméraire)
21 November 143315 June 14675 January 1477Eldest son of Philip the Good
Mary the Rich13 February 14575 January 147727 March 1482Only daughter of Charles the Bold

Family tree

Richard of AutunAdelaide of AuxerreRainier II of HainautAdelaide of BurgundyHugh the BlackWilla of BurgundyHugh of VienneEmma of ParisRudolph of FranceErmengarde of BurgundyGilbert of ChalonHugh the GreatLietaud of MaconRobert of VermandoisHugh CapetOtto, Duke of BurgundyLiutgard of ChalonOtto-Henry of BurgundyAdelbert II of ItalyRobert II of FranceOtto-William of BurgundyHenry I CapetHélie of SemurRobert I, Duke of BurgundyErmengarde of AnjouHildegard of BurgundyWilliam VIII of AquitaineHugh of Burgundy (1034–1059)Constance of BurgundyAlfonso VI of CastileRobert of Burgundy, Bishop of LangresRenauld of Burgundy, abbot of St. PierreBeatrice of Burgundy (born 1063)Guy I of VignoryHélie of Burgundy (born 1061)Henry, Count of PortugalTheresa, Countess of PortugalAlfonso I of PortugalSybille of NeversHugh I, Duke of BurgundySybille of Burgundy (1065–1103)Eudes I of BurgundyBertrand of ToulouseHélie of BurgundyHenry of Burgundy (1083–1131)Florine of BurgundySweyn the CrusaderMatilda of MayenneHugh II of BurgundyAremburge of BurgundyDucissa of BurgundyRaymond of GrignonClemence of BurgundyHenry III of DonzyHenry of Burgundy, Bishop of AutunHugh the RedRoger II of SicilySybille of BurgundyGauthier of BurgundyAigeline of BurgundyHugh I of VaudemontRobert of Burgundy, Bishop of AutunMatilda of BurgundyWilliam VII of MontpellierEudes II of BurgundyMarie of Champagne (1128–1190)Alice of Burgundy (1146–1192)Mahaut of LimaisRobert IV of AuvergneBeatrice d'AlbonHugh III of BurgundyAlice of LorraineAmadeo IV of SavoyMarguerite of BurgundyBeatrice of MontferratGuigues VI of ViennoisMahaut of BurgundyJohn, Count of ChalonSimon I of SemurMarie-Ducissa of BurgundyAlice of Burgundy (born 1177)Bernard VII of MercœurAlexander of MontaguBeatrice of RionInfanta Teresa, Countess of FlandersEudes III of BurgundyAlice of VergyHumbert III de ThoireBeatrice of Burgundy (born 1216)Joanna of BurgundyRaoul II of LusignanAlice of Burgundy (1204–1266)Robert I of ClermontBeatrice of Navarre, Duchess of BurgundyHugh IV of BurgundyYolande de Dreux (1212–1248)Isabelle of BurgundyRudolf I of HabsburgHugh, Viscount of AvallonMaguerite of ChalonBeatrice, Lady of GrignonHugh VIII of La MarcheAlice of Burgundy (1233–1273)Henry III of BrabantMarguerite, Lady of MolinotWilliam III of Mont-St. JeanMaud of DampierreEudes of Nevers and AuxerreJoanna of Burgundy (1253–1271)Margaret of Burgundy, Queen of SicilyCharles I of NaplesYolande of BurgundyJean Tristan of FranceRobert III of FlandersJohn of Burgundy (1231–1268)Agnes of DampierreBeatrice of Burgundy, Dame de BourbonRobert, Count of ClermontDuke of BourbonRobert II of BurgundyAgnes of France, Duchess of BurgundyJoanna of Burgundy (1290–1317)Philip VI of FranceRobert of TonnerreJoanna of TonnerreHugh V of BurgundyBlanche of Burgundy (1288–1348)Edward of SavoyMargaret of Burgundy, Queen of FranceLouis X of FranceLouis of BurgundyMatilda of HainaultEudes IV of BurgundyJeanne III, Countess of BurgundyPhilip V of FranceJeanne I, Countess of AuvergnePhilip of Burgundy, Count of AuvergneJoanna of BurgundyMarguerite of Burgundy (born 1345)Philip I of BurgundyMarguerite III of DampierreJohn II of FrancePhilip II of BurgundyAmadeo VIII of SavoyMary of Burgundy (1386–1422)Catherine of BurgundyLeopold IV, Duke of AustriaPhilip II, Count of NeversBonne of ArtoisJoanna of St. PolAntoine of BrabantElisabeth, Duchess of LuxembourgWilliam II, Duke of Bavaria-StraubingMarguerite of Burgundy (1374–1441)John the FearlessMargaret of Bavaria-StraubingAdolph I, Duke of ClevesMarie of Burgundy (1393–1463)Anne of BurgundyJohn of Lancaster, 1st Duke of BedfordAgnes of BurgundyCharles I, Duke of BourbonLouis, Dauphin of France (1397–1415)Margaret of Burgundy (1393–1441)Arthur III of BrittanyInfanta Isabel, Duchess of BurgundyPhilip III of BurgundyBonne of ArtoisMichelle of ValoisAntoine of BurgundyJoseph of BurgundyCharles I of BurgundyMargaret of YorkCatherine of ValoisIsabelle of BourbonMary of BurgundyMaximilian I of Habsburg

House of Habsburg (1482–1700)

In 1477, the territory of the Duchy of Burgundy was annexed by France. In the same year, Mary married Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, giving the Habsburgs control of the remainder of the Burgundian Inheritance.

Although the territory of the Duchy of Burgundy itself remained in the hands of France, the Habsburgs remained in control of the title of Duke of Burgundy and the other parts of the Burgundian inheritance, notably the Low Countries and the Free County of Burgundy in the Holy Roman Empire as well as the County of Charolais in France. They often used the term Burgundy to refer to it (e.g. in the name of the Imperial Circle it was grouped into), until the late 18th century, when the Austrian Netherlands were lost to the French Republic. The Habsburgs also continued to claim Burgundy proper until the Treaty of Cambrai in 1529, when they surrendered their claim in exchange for French recognition of Imperial sovereignty over Flanders and Artois.

PictureNameBirthBecame DukeRuled untilDeathNotesArms
Philip IV the Handsome
(Philippe IV le Beau)
22 July 147822 February 148225 September 1506Eldest son of Duchess Mary by Maximilian of Habsburg
Charles II24 February 150025 September 150616 January 155621 September 1558Eldest son of Philip the Handsome. Also Charles I of Aragon and Castile, and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V

House of Bourbon, claimants of the title (1682–1761)

House of Habsburg (1713–1918)

House of Bourbon, revived title (1975–present)

See also

References

Further reading

  • Calmette, Joseph. Doreen Weightman, trans. The Golden Age of Burgundy; the Magnificent Dukes and Their Courts. New York: W.W. Norton, 1962.
  • Chaumé, Maurice. Les Origines du Duché de Bourgogne. 2v. in 4 parts. Dijon: Jobard, 1925 (Darmstadt: npub, 1977).
  • Michael, Nicholas. Armies of Medieval Burgundy 1364–1477. London: Osprey, 1983. ISBN 0-85045-518-9.
  • Vaughan, Richard. Valois Burgundy. London: Allen Lane, 1975. ISBN 0-7139-0924-2.