Duke of Burgundy

Dukedom of Burgundy
Dukedom of Burgundy
	;
Creation date	880
Peerage	Peerage of France
First holder	Richard the Justiciar
Last holder	Charles the Bold (fief); Louis of France (courtesy title);
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;

Duke of Burgundy (French: duc de Bourgogne) was a title used by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, from its establishment in 843 to its annexation by France in 1477, and later by Habsburg sovereigns of the Low Countries (1482–1556).

The Duchy of Burgundy was a small portion of the traditional lands of the Burgundians west of the river Saône which, in 843, was allotted to Charles the Bald's kingdom of West Franks. Under the Ancien Régime, the Duke of Burgundy was the premier lay peer of the kingdom of France. Beginning with Robert II of France, the title was held by the Capetians, the French royal family. It was granted to Robert's younger son, Robert, who founded the House of Burgundy. When the senior line of the House of Burgundy became extinct, it was inherited by John II of France through proximity of blood. John granted the duchy to his younger son, Philip the Bold. The Valois Dukes of Burgundy gradually ruled over a vast complex of territories known as the Burgundian State, and became dangerous rivals to the senior line of the House of Valois.

When the male line of the Valois Dukes of Burgundy became extinct in 1477, the Duchy of Burgundy was confiscated by Louis XI of France. The title Duke of Burgundy passed to Habsburg monarchs via marriage. The Habsburgs used it to have a claim on Burgundy proper and to rule their Burgundian Inheritance. Today, the title is used by the House of Bourbon as a revived courtesy title.

List of Dukes of Burgundy

Bosonid dynasty (880–956)

The first margrave (marchio), later duke (dux), of Burgundy was Richard of the House of Ardennes, whose duchy was created from the merging of several regional counties of the kingdom of Provence which had belonged to his brother Boso.

His descendants and their relatives by marriage ruled the duchy until its annexation over a century later by the French crown, their suzerain.

Richard the Justiciar (880–921)
Rudolph (921–923), then King of the Franks
Hugh the Black (923–952)
Gilbert (952–956)

Robertian dynasty (956–1002)

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

House of Ivrea (1002–1004)

Otto William (1002–1004)

House of Capet (1004–1032)

In 1004, Burgundy was annexed by the king, of the House of Capet. Otto William continued to rule what would come to be called the Free County of Burgundy. His descendants formed another House of Ivrea.

Robert (1004–1016) (also king of the Franks as Robert II)
Henry (1016–1032) (also king of the Franks as Henry I)

House of Burgundy (1032–1361)

Robert, son of Robert II of France, received the Duchy as a peace settlement, having disputed the succession to the throne of France with his brother Henry.

Name	Birth	Became Duke	Ruled until	Death	Notes
Robert I the Old (Robert I^er le Vieux)	1011	1032	21 March 1076		Younger son of Robert II of France.
Hugh I (Hugues I^er)	1057	21 March 1076	1079	29 August 1093	Eldest son of Henry of Burgundy, grandson of Robert I. Abdicated in favour of his younger brother, Odo.
Odo I Borel the Red (Eudes I^er Borel le Roux)	1058	1079	23 March 1103		Younger brother of Hugh I.
Hugh II (Hugues II)	1084	23 March 1103	1143		Son of Odo I
Odo II (Eudes II)	1118	1143	27 June/27 September 1162		Eldest son of Hugh II
Hugh III (Hugues III)	1142	27 June/27 September 1162	25 August 1192		Eldest son of Odo II
Odo III (Eudes III)	1166	25 August 1192	6 July 1218		Eldest son of Hugh III
Hugh IV (Hugues IV)	9 March 1213	6 July 1218	27 October 1271		Eldest son of Odo III
Robert II (Robert II)	1248	27 October 1271	21 March 1306		Eldest surviving son of Hugh IV.
Hugh V (Hugues V)	1282	21 March 1306	9 May 1315		Eldest son of Robert II.
Odo IV (Eudes IV)	1295	9 May 1315	3 April 1350		Younger brother of Hugh V.
Philip I of Rouvres (Philippe I^er de Rouvres)	1346	3 April 1350	21 November 1361		Grandson of Odo IV.

House of Valois-Burgundy (1363–1482)

John II of France, the second Valois king, successfully claimed the duchy after the death of Philip, the last Capet duke. John then passed the duchy to his youngest son Philip as an apanage.

Name	Birth	Became Duke	Ruled until	Notes
Philip II the Bold (Philippe II le Hardi)	15 January 1342	6 September 1363	27 April 1404	Youngest son of John the Good
John I the Fearless (Jean I sans Peur)	28 May 1371	27 April 1404	10 September 1419	Eldest son of Philip the Bold
Philip III the Good (Philippe III le Bon)	31 July 1396	10 September 1419	15 June 1467	Eldest son of John the Fearless
Charles I the Bold (Charles I^er le Téméraire)	21 November 1433	15 June 1467	5 January 1477	Eldest son of Philip the Good
Mary the Rich	13 February 1457	5 January 1477	27 March 1482	Only daughter of Charles the Bold

Family tree

House of Habsburg (1482–1700)

In 1477, the territory of the Duchy of Burgundy was annexed by France. In the same year, Mary married Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, giving the Habsburgs control of the remainder of the Burgundian Inheritance.

Although the territory of the Duchy of Burgundy itself remained in the hands of France, the Habsburgs remained in control of the title of Duke of Burgundy and the other parts of the Burgundian inheritance, notably the Low Countries and the Free County of Burgundy in the Holy Roman Empire. They often used the term Burgundy to refer to it (e.g. in the name of the Imperial Circle it was grouped into), until the late 18th century, when the Austrian Netherlands were lost to the French Republic. The Habsburgs also continued to claim Burgundy proper until the Treaty of Cambrai in 1529, when they surrendered their claim in exchange for French recognition of Imperial sovereignty over Flanders and Artois.

Maximilian I (1477–1482 with his wife; regent 1482–1494)
Philip IV the Handsome (German: Philipp der Schöne; French: Philippe le Beau), titular Duke of Burgundy as Philip IV (1482–1506)
Charles II (Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and King Charles I of Spain) 1506–1555

Picture	Name	Birth	Became Duke	Ruled until	Death	Notes	Arms
	Philip IV the Handsome (Philippe IV le Beau)	22 July 1478	22 February 1482	25 September 1506		Eldest son of Duchess Mary by Maximilian of Habsburg
	Charles II	24 February 1500	25 September 1506	16 January 1556	21 September 1558	Eldest son of Philip the Handsome. Also Charles I of Aragon and Castile, and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V