Lower Burgundy: Map & History
Lower Burgundy was a historical region in the early medieval Burgundy, and a distinctive realm known as the Kingdom of Lower Burgundy, that existed from 879 to 933, when it was incorporated into the reunited Kingdom of Burgundy.
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Lower Burgundy was a historical region in the early medieval Burgundy, and a distinctive realm known as the Kingdom of Lower Burgundy, that existed from 879 to 933, when it was incorporated into the reunited Kingdom of Burgundy. During that period, Lower Burgundy was encompassing the entire Cisjuran Burgundy, centered on the region of Vienne, and also the entire southern region around Arles, centered on Provence. The borders of Lower Burgundy were the region of Upper Burgundy to the north, the Kingdom of Italy to the east, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, Septimania to the southwest, and Aquitaine to the west.
Modern Countries Once Part of Lower Burgundy
At its mapped extent, Lower Burgundy covered territory in 6 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Luxembourg860–869 CE · nearly all
- Belgium860–869 CE · most
- Netherlands860–869 CE · a large part
- Switzerland860–869 CE · a large part
- France860–925 CE · a small part
- Germany860–869 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Lower 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.
Lower Burgundy in Depth
History
By the Treaty of Prüm (19 September 855), the realm of Middle Francia was divided by three sons of Emperor Lothair I: the eldest, emperor Louis II, received Italy; the middle son, king Lothair II received Lotharingia (including Upper Burgundy); and the youngest, king Charles, received Lower Burgundy (including Provence). Thus, a distinctive Carolingian kingdom, centered on Lower Burgundy, was created. King Charles of Lower Burgundy died already in 863, and his realm was divided between his brothers.
In 869, king Lothair II died and almost all of his domains in Burgundy (both Upper and Lower) went to his brother Louis II, while the rest of Lothair′s realm was divided between Louis the German and Charles the Bald by the Treaty of Meerssen in 870.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Lower Burgundy (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Lower Burgundy: Key Facts
| Founded | 19 September 855 CE |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 933 CE |
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q33242 (CC0).
Lower Burgundy Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 209,032 km² in 862 CE.
Lower Burgundy: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Lower Burgundy exist?
Lower Burgundy is dated to 860 CE – 925 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
How large was Lower Burgundy at its peak?
At its peak in 862 AD Lower Burgundy covered about 209,032 km².
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