The word “Burgundy” today designates one of the many French regions (or former regions to be exact). But, in the past, this word was synonymous with a much larger territory that nearly became a new kingdom between France and Germany. Discover here who was Philippe II of Burgundy, known as “Philip the Bold”, Duke of Burgundy from 1363 to 1404.
Fourth son of King Jean II of France, Philippe II of Burgundy, known as “Philip the Bold”, would never have hoped one day to obtain the power that was to become his. The Hundred Years War was then in full swing and Philippe, who fought valiantly alongside his father, inaugurated the heroic character of his future line.
To reward him, Jean II offered him in 1363 the title of “duke of Burgundy “. At that time, the title was above all an honorary formality because the duchy itself was reduced to a modest border area of the Germanic Empire (the border then passed along the Rhone valley).
On the other side of this border, is the “palatine county of Burgundy”, which is the prerogative of the emperors. But, at the time of feudalism, the local noble was often more powerful than the monarch: in his fiefs, Philippe made sure to reign supreme. In the Germanic Empire, in particular, the feudal ones have more weight than the emperor.
His marriage to Margaret III of Flanders
Another example of the power of the nobles in the empire can be found further north, in the powerful county of Flanders, where the counts had unparalleled wealth thanks to their trading cities (Bruges and Ghent among others). This is how Philippe accomplished a great coup: marrying the daughter of the Count of Flanders in 1369. Married to Marguerite III of Flanders, he inherited, in 1384, from his father-in-law Louis de Male, the counties of Flanders, Rethel, Nevers, Burgundy (Franche-Comté) and Artois (see here). He then became the master of a large Burgundy cut in two by the border between the French domain and the Germanic domain.
Upon his death, Philip the Bold left his son a vast estate which included historic Burgundy to the south and the Flanders to the north: it was the union of these two rich territories that gave birth to the dream of a new Burgundian state.
We begin this file with Philippe II of Burgundy, known as “Philip the Bold”, to introduce you to four dukes and a duchess of Burgundy who were extremely powerful under their reign.