kids encyclopedia robot

Duke of Burgundy facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Dukedom of Burgundy
Crown of a Duke of France.svg
Arms of Eudes de Bourgogne.svg
Creation date 880
Peerage Peerage of France
First holder Richard the Justiciar
Last holder
Status Extinct
Extinction date
  • 5 January 1477 (fief)
  • 22 March 1761 (courtesy title)
Seat(s)
  • Château de Germolles
  • Hôtel de Bourgogne
  • Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy

The Duke of Burgundy (in French: duc de Bourgogne) was a very important title in medieval and early modern Europe. It was held by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy. This duchy was a powerful region in what is now France.

The title started in 843. It lasted until 1477, when the French king took control of the duchy. Later, powerful families like the House of Habsburg also claimed the title. They ruled over other lands that were once part of the larger Burgundian territories. These included the Burgundian Netherlands, which are now parts of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

The Duchy of Burgundy was a smaller part of the older lands of the Burgundians. It was located west of the Saône river. In 843, this area became part of the kingdom of Charles the Bald. For a long time, the Duke of Burgundy was the most important noble in the Kingdom of France.

Around the year 1000, the French royal family, called the Capetians, held the title. In 1032, King Henry I of France gave the duchy to his younger brother, Robert. Robert started his own family line, known as the House of Burgundy.

When this family line ended in 1361, the title went back to the French king, John II of France. King John then gave the duchy to his youngest son, Philip the Bold, in 1363. These new dukes, from the House of Valois-Burgundy, became very powerful. They built a huge collection of lands called the Burgundian State. This made them strong rivals to the French kings themselves.

In 1477, the male line of the Valois dukes ended. King Louis XI of France took the Duchy of Burgundy for France. However, the title "Duke of Burgundy" then passed to the House of Habsburg family. This happened when Mary of Burgundy married Maximilian I of Austria in 1477. The Habsburgs used this marriage to claim the title and rule over other Burgundian lands, especially in the Low Countries.

The title was later used again by some younger sons of the House of Bourbon. Since 1975, some branches of this family have used "Duke of Burgundy" as an honorary title.

Who Were the Dukes of Burgundy?

The Duchy of Burgundy had many different rulers over hundreds of years. Here's a look at the main families who held the title.

Bosonid Family (880–956)

The first ruler called a duke of Burgundy was Richard the Justiciar. His duchy was formed by joining several smaller regions.

  • Richard the Justiciar (880–921)
  • Rudolph (921–923) – He later became King of the Franks.
  • Hugh the Black (923–952)
  • Gilbert (952–956)

Robertian Family (956–1002)

  • Otto (956–965)
  • Eudes Henry the Great (965–1002)

Ivrea Family (1002–1004)

Capetian Family (1004–1032)

In 1004, the King of France, from the House of Capet, took control of Burgundy.

  • Robert (1004–1016) – He was also King of the Franks.
  • Henry (1016–1032) – He was also King of the Franks.

House of Burgundy (1032–1361)

Robert, the son of King Robert II of France, received the Duchy. This was part of a peace deal after he argued with his brother, King Henry I of France, about who should be king.

Picture Name Birth Became Duke Ruled until Death Notes Arms
Robert le Vieux.jpg Robert I the Old 1011 1032 21 March 1076 Younger son of King Robert II of France.
Hugh I 1057 21 March 1076 1079 29 August 1093 Grandson of Robert I. He gave up his title for his younger brother.
Odo I.jpg Odo I Borel the Red 1058 1079 23 March 1103 Younger brother of Hugh I.
Hugh II.jpg Hugh II 1084 23 March 1103 1143 Son of Odo I.
Odo II.jpg Odo II 1118 1143 27 June/27 September 1162 Eldest son of Hugh II. Arms of Eudes de Bourgogne.svg
Hugh III.jpg Hugh III 1142 27 June/27 September 1162 25 August 1192 Eldest son of Odo II. Arms of Eudes de Bourgogne.svg
Sceau de Eudes III Duc de Bourgogne.png Odo III 1166 25 August 1192 6 July 1218 Eldest son of Hugh III. Arms of Eudes de Bourgogne.svg
Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy.jpg Hugh IV 9 March 1213 6 July 1218 27 October 1271 Eldest son of Odo III. Arms of Eudes de Bourgogne.svg
Robert II of Burgundy.jpg Robert II 1248 27 October 1271 21 March 1306 Eldest surviving son of Hugh IV. Arms of Eudes de Bourgogne.svg
Hugo V.jpg Hugh V 1282 21 March 1306 9 May 1315 Eldest son of Robert II. Arms of Eudes de Bourgogne.svg
Eudes IV.jpg Odo IV 1295 9 May 1315 3 April 1350 Younger brother of Hugh V. Arms of Eudes de Bourgogne.svg
Philip I of Burgundy.jpg Philip I of Rouvres 1346 3 April 1350 21 November 1361 Grandson of Odo IV. Arms of Eudes de Bourgogne.svg

Valois-Burgundy Family (1363–1482)

King John II of France claimed the duchy after the last duke from the Capet family died. John then gave the duchy to his youngest son, Philip the Bold. This was a special gift called an apanage.

Picture Name Birth Became Duke Ruled until Death Notes Arms
16th-century unknown painters - Philip the Bold - WGA23677.jpg Philip II the Bold 15 January 1342 6 September 1363 27 April 1404 Youngest son of King John the Good. Arms of Philippe le Hardi.svg
John duke of burgundy.jpg John I the Fearless 28 May 1371 27 April 1404 10 September 1419 Eldest son of Philip the Bold. Arms of Jean Sans Peur.svg
Philip the good.jpg Philip III the Good 31 July 1396 10 September 1419 15 June 1467 Eldest son of John the Fearless. Arms of Philippe le Bon.svg
Charles the Bold 1460.jpg Charles I the Bold 21 November 1433 15 June 1467 5 January 1477 Eldest son of Philip the Good. Arms of Philippe le Bon.svg
Maître de la Légende de Sainte Marie-Madeleine, Sainte Marie-Madeleine (15–16ème siècle).jpg Mary the Rich 13 February 1457 5 January 1477 27 March 1482 Only daughter of Charles the Bold. Arms of Philippe le Bon.svg

Family Tree of Dukes

This image shows the family connections of many Dukes of Burgundy.

Richard of Autun Adelaide of Auxerre Rainier II of Hainaut Adelaide of Burgundy Hugh the Black Willa of Burgundy Hugh of Vienne Emma of Paris Rudolph of France Ermengarde of Burgundy Gilbert of Chalon Hugh the Great Lietaud of Macon Robert of Vermandois Hugh Capet Otto, Duke of Burgundy Liutgard of Chalon Otto-Henry of Burgundy Adelbert II of Italy Robert II of France Otto-William of Burgundy Henry I Capet Hélie of Semur Robert I, Duke of Burgundy Ermengarde of Anjou Hildegard of Burgundy William VIII of Aquitaine Hugh of Burgundy (1034–1059) Constance of Burgundy Alfonso VI of Castile Robert of Burgundy, Bishop of Langres Renauld of Burgundy, abbot of St. Pierre Beatrice of Burgundy (born 1063) Guy I of Vignory Hélie of Burgundy (born 1061) Henry, Count of Portugal Theresa, Countess of Portugal Alfonso I of Portugal Sybille of Nevers Hugh I, Duke of Burgundy Sybille of Burgundy (1065–1103) Eudes I of Burgundy Bertrand of Toulouse Hélie of Burgundy Henry of Burgundy (1083–1131) Florine of Burgundy Sweyn the Crusader Matilda of Mayenne Hugh II of Burgundy Aremburge of Burgundy Ducissa of Burgundy Raymond of Grignon Clemence of Burgundy Henry III of Donzy Henry of Burgundy, Bishop of Autun Hugh the Red Roger II of Sicily Sybille of Burgundy Gauthier of Burgundy Aigeline of Burgundy Hugh I of Vaudemont Robert of Burgundy, Bishop of Autun Matilda of Burgundy William VII of Montpellier Eudes II of Burgundy Marie of Champagne (1128–1190) Alice of Burgundy (1146–1192) Mahaut of Limais Robert IV of Auvergne Beatrice d'Albon Hugh III of Burgundy Alice of Lorraine Amadeo IV of Savoy Marguerite of Burgundy Beatrice of Montferrat Guigues VI of Viennois Mahaut of Burgundy John, Count of Chalon Simon I of Semur Marie-Ducissa of Burgundy Alice of Burgundy (born 1177) Bernard VII of Mercœur Alexander of Montagu Beatrice of Rion Infanta Teresa, Countess of Flanders Eudes III of Burgundy Alice of Vergy Humbert III de Thoire Beatrice of Burgundy (born 1216) Joanna of Burgundy Raoul II of Lusignan Alice of Burgundy (1204–1266) Robert I of Clermont Beatrice of Navarre, Duchess of Burgundy Hugh IV of Burgundy Yolande de Dreux (1212–1248) Isabelle of Burgundy Rudolf I of Habsburg Hugh, Viscount of Avallon Maguerite of Chalon Beatrice, Lady of Grignon Hugh VIII of La Marche Alice of Burgundy (1233–1273) Henry III of Brabant Marguerite, Lady of Molinot William III of Mont-St. Jean Maud of Dampierre Eudes of Nevers and Auxerre Joanna of Burgundy (1253–1271) Margaret of Burgundy, Queen of Sicily Charles I of Naples Yolande of Burgundy Jean Tristan of France Robert III of Flanders John of Burgundy (1231–1268) Agnes of Dampierre Beatrice of Burgundy, Dame de Bourbon Robert, Count of Clermont Duke of Bourbon Robert II of Burgundy Agnes of France, Duchess of Burgundy Joanna of Burgundy (1290–1317) Philip VI of France Robert of Tonnerre Joanna of Tonnerre Hugh V of Burgundy Blanche of Burgundy (1288–1348) Edward of Savoy Margaret of Burgundy, Queen of France Louis X of France Louis of Burgundy Matilda of Hainault Eudes IV of Burgundy Jeanne III, Countess of Burgundy Philip V of France Jeanne I, Countess of Auvergne Philip of Burgundy, Count of Auvergne Joanna of Burgundy Marguerite of Burgundy (born 1345) Philip I of Burgundy Marguerite III of Dampierre John II of France Philip II of Burgundy Amadeo VIII of Savoy Mary of Burgundy (1386–1422) Catherine of Burgundy Leopold IV, Duke of Austria Philip II, Count of Nevers Bonne of Artois Joanna of St. Pol Antoine of Brabant Elisabeth, Duchess of Luxembourg William II, Duke of Bavaria-Straubing Marguerite of Burgundy (1374–1441) John the Fearless Margaret of Bavaria-Straubing Adolph I, Duke of Cleves Marie of Burgundy (1393–1463) Anne of Burgundy John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford Agnes of Burgundy Charles I, Duke of Bourbon Louis, Dauphin of France (1397–1415) Margaret of Burgundy (1393–1441) Arthur III of Brittany Infanta Isabel, Duchess of Burgundy Philip III of Burgundy Bonne of Artois Michelle of Valois Antoine of Burgundy Joseph of Burgundy Charles I of Burgundy Margaret of York Catherine of Valois Isabelle of Bourbon Mary of Burgundy Maximilian I of HabsburgBurgundyDukes.png

Habsburg Family (1482–1700)

In 1477, the main Duchy of Burgundy was taken by France. But in the same year, Mary of Burgundy married Maximilian. He was an Archduke of Austria. This gave the House of Habsburg control over the remaining Burgundian lands. These lands included the Low Countries (modern-day Belgium and Netherlands) and the Free County of Burgundy.

Even though the Duchy of Burgundy itself stayed with France, the Habsburgs kept the title of Duke of Burgundy. They also controlled other important Burgundian areas. They often used the name "Burgundy" to refer to these lands. This continued until the late 1700s.

Picture Name Birth Became Duke Ruled until Death Notes Arms
Juan de Flandes (^), , Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Gemäldegalerie - Philipp der Schöne (1478-1506) - GG 3872 - Kunsthistorisches Museum.jpg Philip IV the Handsome 22 July 1478 22 February 1482 25 September 1506 Eldest son of Duchess Mary and Maximilian of Habsburg. Arms of Philip IV of Burgundy.svg
Barend van Orley - Portrait of Charles V - Google Art Project.jpg Charles II 24 February 1500 25 September 1506 16 January 1556 21 September 1558 Eldest son of Philip the Handsome. He was a very powerful ruler. Arms of Charles I of Spain, Charles V as Holy Roman Emperor-Or shield variant (1530-1556).svg

Bourbon Family, Claimants of the Title (1682–1761)

Habsburg Family (1713–1918)

  • Charles IV (Emperor Charles VI) (1713–1740)
  • Maria Theresa (1740–1780)
    • Francis I (Emperor Francis I) (1740–1765 with his wife)
  • Joseph (Emperor Joseph II) (1780–1790)
  • Leopold (Emperor Leopold II) (1790–1792)
  • Francis II (Emperor Francis II) (1792–1795/1835)
  • Ferdinand (Emperor Ferdinand I) (1835–1848, title only)
  • Franz Joseph (Emperor Franz Joseph I) (1848–1916, title only)
  • Charles V (Emperor Charles I) (1916–1918, title only, later given up)

Bourbon Family, Revived Title (1975–Present)

Today, the title is mostly honorary.

  • King Juan Carlos I of Spain (1975–2014)
  • King Felipe VI of Spain (2014–present) – This title is one of the many titles of the Spanish Crown.
  • Prince Sixtus Henry of Bourbon-Parma (1977–present) – He is a claimant to the Spanish throne.
  • Louis, Dauphin of France (2010–present) – This title is used by the eldest son of the Legitimist claimant to the French throne.

See also

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Duke of Burgundy Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.