Duchy of Burgundy

Duchy of Burgundy (French: Duché de Bourgogne) was a peace of land in France that has been claimed by Spain many times, Burgundy used to be a Kingdom, but it became a Duchy in 1004, Burgundy was not yet apart of France though, it was back then a different country. The Duchy was then put in the Crown of Spain by the Marriage of Phillip the Handsome and Joanna the Mad.

Burgundy was apart of Spain until the war of the Spanish succession, when Burgundy was given back to France, but Spain still uses the title "Duke/Duchess of Burgundy" despite having no power over Burgundy.

The Duchy of Burgundy was abolished during the French Revolution.

Kingdom of Burgundy (300? - 1245?)
Before becoming a Duchy, the Kingdom of Burgundy was created by Gjúki of Burgundy in the 4th century, He took the title "King of the Burgundians". He married Grimhild, But Grimhild was described as Beautiful but wicked and evil. She was very unpopular, she gave Gjúki 3 children: Gunther (Even though he may have been the son of Gjúki's other wives), Hagen of Burgundy, and Gudrun who was a girl.

After 1004 the Kingdom was owned by the Franks, in 1254 the Kingdom at last became a Duchy, the Duchy was often divided because of wars.

The last King of Burgundy
The last King of the Burgundians was probably Conrad IV of Germany although in his titles he never took the title "King of Burgundy".

The Duchy of Burgundy
The Duchy became a Duchy in 800, but it became a Kingdom again, then a Duchy with Normandy, and then a Kingdom that belonged the Germany, it was not clear which one they should make it a Kingdom or a Duchy. At the end it became a Duchy and it passed on to Robert the Old, Robert married Helie of Semur who was probably a German Noblewoman, they had two children:


 * 1) Henri, Prince of Burgundy died before becoming Duke of Burgundy but the Duchy passed to his son Hugh of Burgundy, Henri was the son of Helie of Semur and Robert the Old.
 * 2) Constance of Burgundy was the daughter of Robert and Helie, she was Queen Consort of Castile and Leon, she gave birth to the First Queen of Castile whom was Urraca of León.
 * 3) Hildegarde of Burgundy was Duchess of Aquitaine by her marriage to William VIII, Duke of Aquitaine, Hildegarde was also the Great-Grandmother of Eleanor of Aquitaine the most powerful woman during the crusades.

When Hugh I, Duke of Burgundy became the new Duke, he married Sybille of Nevers who became Duchess of Burgundy, but the couple had no children and Hugh died childless.

Reign of Odo I, Duke of Burgundy
After Hugh's death, his younger brother Odo, he married Sibylla, the couple had 4 children together, but the most important children were Helie, Florine, and Hugh II, Duke of Burgundy. Florine and Helie where crusaders, there job was to take army's to regain the Holy Land, (The Holy lands where, Jerusalem, Granada, Algeciras, and Cyprus ect.)

Odo was also a Crusader, he protected the Duchy of Burgundy from enemies, and he killed a lot of ottomans. Odo was a member of the christian kingdoms that follow the Catholic church, the ottomans were Islamic people who wanted to extend there empire into Europe. The symbol of the Catholic's were crosses, and Mary holding baby Jesus. Odo's niece Eleanor of Aquitaine was currently the most powerful person in France, Odo gained support of Eleanor and the crushed crusaders going into France.

Reign of Mary the Rich
In the late 1400's Duke Charles the Bold died, his daughter Mary the Rich became the new Duchess. Mary was the daughter of Charles's second wife Isabella of Bourbon. Mary married Archduke Maximilian, Mary shared power with her husband In Burgundy, she took the titles: Duchess of Burgundy, Brabant, Limburg, Loither, Luxemburg ect.

When Marry died her son Phillip the Handsome Became the new Duke.

Reign of Phillip The Handsome
When Phillip became Duke of Burgundy he was very young, his father Maximilian of Austria acted a regent, Phillip was Handsome and fair, he had many girlfriends which weakend his reputaition. His father married Phillips sister Margaret of Austria and him to Spanish Royalty, Phillip's sister Margaret of Austria married Juan, Prince of Asturias, and Phillip married Juan's younger sister Joanna the Mad who was the older sister to Catherine of Aragon. Phillip did not actually like his wife and have many affairs.

Phillip had a daughter named Eleanor of Austria in 1499, When his sisters husband Juan died, Joanna was heiress to Castile and Leon, and Aragon. Phillip would become the first Duke of Burgundy to ever become King of Castile.

When Joanna's mother Queen Isabella died, Joanna was crowned alongside Phillip as King and Queen of Castile. Phillop imprisoned Joanna and ruled on his own. The couple had 6 children but there eldest son Charles succeeded Phillip.

War of the Spanish succession
After the death of Spanish King Carlos II who had no children. Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, Philip of Anjou had the strongest claims to the Spanish throne. Charles VI was related to former Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, but Phillip of Anjou had the strongest claim to the throne, his grand-mother was Maria Theresa of Spain who was the brother of Charles II.

Charles VI, was so exited to be King of Spain he started preparing his army, but Phillip of Anjou also wanted to become King, Spain was getting weaker and its claim to the Duchy of Burgundy grew weaker too, It got so weak France took it without a lot of army men. Phillip of Anjou became King of Spain with the help of his French family.

Even though Spain does not own the Duchy of Burgundy, it is still used in the titles and honors as a ceremonial title.

French Reveloution
The Duchy of Burgundy became a part of the French crown after France took it. In the 1780's France was very poor, there King Louis XVI, King of France and his wife Marie Antoinette did not do anything and Marie Antoinette spent a lot of France's money on her own parties. Louis did not stop his wife's lavish spending's. The French people began to Question the French Monarchy.

The Duchy of Burgundy began starting its own rule against the monarchy, Marie Antoinette and Louis were beheaded. The Duchy of Burgundy joined a union against the royalists.

Today
Today the Duchy of Burgundy is no longer the Duchy of Burgundy, it is now just Burgundy, it is still known for having great farm lands and being a religious place.