Overview
- Between 1363 and 1477, Burgundy went from being a small French territory to one of the richest and most powerful states in Europe.
- The dukes of Burgundy gained more land by clever marriages, smart alliances, and winning battles, eventually controlling the Low Countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) and parts of eastern France.
- Burgundy became famous for its wealth, good government, and glamorous court life filled with art and culture.
Philip the Bold (Philip II)
1363–1404
- Granted the Duchy of Burgundy in 1363.
- Married Margaret III of Flanders, gaining wealthy Flemish territories, including Bruges and Ghent.
- Controlled key trade routes and one of Europe’s richest cloth-producing regions.
- Acted as a political power broker during the reign of his nephew Charles VI.
Philip the Good (Philip III)
1419–1467
- Acquired Holland, Zeeland, Brabant, and Luxembourg through war, inheritance, and diplomacy.
- Allied with England during the Hundred Years’ War after the assassination of his father, John the Fearless.
- Created a highly organized administration and strong central government in his territories.
Charles the Bold
1467–1477
- Sought to create a kingdom between France and the Holy Roman Empire, uniting his scattered territories into a single state.
- Fought against France, Switzerland, and Lorraine
- Killed at the Battle of Nancy (1477), leaving no male heir.
Case study
Overambition vs. Diplomacy
Philip the Bold = The Marriage Diplomat
- Expanded Burgundy’s territory without major wars through a marriage alliance with Margaret III of Flanders.
- Gained wealthy and strategically important territories.
- Maintained strong ties with the French crown while still strengthening Burgundy’s independence.
Philip the Good = The Political Networker
- Built Burgundy into a cultural and economic powerhouse, acquiring more land through inheritance, purchase, and selective military action.
- Allied with England when it served his political goals, then reconciled with France when advantageous.
- Strengthened administration and centralized authority.
Charles the Bold = The Overambitious Warrior
- Engaged in aggressive wars with France, Switzerland, and Lorraine.
- Refused to compromise or adapt diplomatically.
- Killed at the Battle of Nancy (1477), leaving no male heir.
Hint
- Philip the Bold and Philip the Good demonstrate long-term consolidation through diplomacy, while Charles the Bold’s downfall shows how overextension and military overreach can undo decades of careful state-building.
Exam technique
- Always connect leadership decisions to structural outcomes (e.g., Philip the Bold’s marriage alliance directly enriched Burgundy’s economy; Charles’s wars depleted it).
Self review
- Assess the reasons for the rise of Burgundy as a major power in Europe between 1363 and 1477.
- Examine the political, economic, and cultural significance of Burgundy in 15th-century Europe.
