View source for Burgundy

'''Burgundy''' is a region in the east of [[France]], which rose to prominence during the [[Hundred Years War]]. From the late [[14th century|fourteenth]] to early [[15th century|fifteenth]] centuries it became one of the major cultural centres of [[Europe]]. The region is also famous for its [[wine]]s, in particular its reds.

==History==

Burgundy was part of the [[kingdom]] of [[Charlemagne]]. On his death it was allotted to to [[Charles the Bald]] as part of the [[kingdom]] of West Franks, which was to become France. The following centuries saw the power of the French [[crown]] alternately wax and wain in Burgundy. In the time of [[Phillip the Bold]] the [[Duchy]] of Burgundy was for all intents and purposes independent.

Tracking the history of Burgundy is complicated by the fact the the <i>Duchy</i> of Burgundy and the <i>Kingdom</i> of Burgundy are different things, the former of which survived, more or less, into the modern age while the latter dissappeared into [[France]], [[Switzerland]] and [[Italy]].  The Kingdom of Burgundy (or Kingdom of Arles, or Burgundy Arelate - many names seem to have been used over the years) was the area East of the Rhone, including the [[County|Counties]] of Savoy, Provence and Burgundy.  

===Kingdom of Burgundy===

Also known as '''Kingdom of Arles''' or '''The Arelate''', in [[Latin]] '''regnum Burgundiae, regnum Arelatense.'''

The area south of the Rhine and east of the Rhone was settled in the last days of the [[Roman Empire]] by the Germanic tribe of Burgundians.  From that point the land seems to have been moved around and passed from hand to hand for quite a while, although maintaining a certain continuity of [[language]] and culture, perhaps aided  by it's predominantly alpine geography.  The rules of the Kingdom of Burgundy seem to have been genetically incapable of resisting the temptation to get involved in [[Italy]] and Italian politics and war (culminating with the House of [[Savoy]] eventually becoming the [[Royal House]] of Italy.

This, perhaps, explains why the Kingdom split into Upper and Lower Burgundy and the Duchy of Burgundy was lost to [[West Francia]], never to return.  

In any case, the two Kingdoms were united in the early [[10th Century]] by [[Conrad the Peaceful]].  About a hundred years later, the Kingdom was absorbed whole hog by the [[Holy Roman Empire]] under [[Conrad II the Salian]] of [[East Francia]].

===Duchy of Burgundy===

The Duchy of Burgundy rose to prominence in the early [[15th century]] when [[John the Fearless]] began political manouveuring to fill the power vacuum left by the unbalanced [[King]] of France, [[Charles VI]]. Subsequent [[Duke]]s were able to act autonomously of France, and the Duchy became a centre for high fashion, such as music, dance and costume. By the end of the 15th century however Burgundian power had waned and the Duchy was effectively reabsorbed into the French kingdom.

===See Also===

* [[15th century Burgundy]]
* http://www.friesian.com/francia.htm#media-B (warning, very large page!)

==See Also==

* [[Basse Dance]]



[[Category:Places]]