Duchy of Burgundy: Map & History
The Duchy of Burgundy was a medieval and early modern feudal polity in north-western regions of historical Burgundy.
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The Duchy of Burgundy was a medieval and early modern feudal polity in north-western regions of historical Burgundy. It belonged to the Kingdom of France, and was initially bordering the Kingdom of Burgundy to the east and south, thus being distinct from the neighboring Free County of Burgundy. The first duke of Burgundy, attested in sources by that title, was Richard the Justiciar in 918.
Modern Countries Once Part of Duchy of Burgundy
At its mapped extent, Duchy of Burgundy covered territory in 4 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Luxembourg1450–1481 CE · nearly all
- Belgium1385–1481 CE · most
- Netherlands1431–1481 CE · a large part
- France1003–1481 CE · a small part
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Duchy of Burgundy's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Duchy of Burgundy in Depth
Origins
The Duchy of Burgundy was a successor of the earlier Kingdom of the Burgundians, which evolved out of territories ruled by the Burgundians, an East Germanic tribe that arrived in Gaul in the 5th century. The Burgundians settled in the area around Dijon, Chalon-sur-Saône, Mâcon, Autun and Châtillon-sur-Seine, and gave the name to the region. The Kingdom of the Burgundians was annexed by the Merovingian King of the Franks, Childebert I, in 534, following their defeat by the Franks. It was recreated, however, on several occasions when Frankish territories were redivided between the sons on the death of a Frankish king.
As part of the Kingdom of the Franks, Burgundy maintained a semi-autonomous existence, with the Burgundians maintaining their own law code, the Loi Gombette.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Duchy of Burgundy (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Duchy of Burgundy: Key Facts
| Capital | Dijon |
|---|---|
| Religion | Catholic Church |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 880 CE |
| Dissolved | 1477 |
Facts from Wikidata Q4712 (CC0).
Duchy of Burgundy Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Duchy of Burgundy appears, with the other states of the time.
Duchy of Burgundy Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 119,644 km² in 1478 CE.
Duchy of Burgundy: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Duchy of Burgundy exist?
Duchy of Burgundy is dated to 1003 CE – 1481 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Duchy of Burgundy?
The capital of Duchy of Burgundy was Dijon.
How large was Duchy of Burgundy at its peak?
At its peak in 1478 AD Duchy of Burgundy covered about 119,644 km².
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