European Kingdoms

Burgundians (Burgundiones)

The early Germanic Burgundians (or Burgundiones) were located in eastern central Europe (within modern Poland and probably Moravia) by Tacitus in AD 98. In the third and fourth centuries they, like the Franks, did not play a great role in undermining the Western Roman empire - indeed the Burgundians were a relatively minor people. They crossed the Rhine with the Vandali in 406 and settled along the west bank, making their capital at Geneva. Once there, they found groups of other Germanic people who had been settled on vacant lands by the Romans in the third century, including the Chamavi and other constituent elements of the Franks.

(Additional information from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway.)

AD 98

In his work on Greater Germania, the Roman writer Tacitus locates the Germanic Burgundiones in eastern central Europe, immediately south of the Gepids and Gutones, with the (eastern) Veneti on their eastern flank and the Vandali to their south.

277

Vandali and Burgundians who had crossed the Rhine to invade the Roman empire are defeated by Emperor Probus and are resettled in Britain.

406 - 409

The Burgundians cross the Rhine en masse and establish their own territory as a Roman allied state.

410 - 411

Along with the Franks, the Burgundians support the rebellion of Roman usurper Jovinus.

? - c.411

Gebicca / Gifica / Gibica / Gibich / Giuki

Last tribal leader east of the Rhine. Semi-mythical.

Named as Gifica in the Old English poem Widsith, this Burgundian warrior hero is regarded as being at least partially mythical. He is mentioned as one of a long list of famous Germanic tribal rulers and leaders in the poem.

c.411 - 413

Gundahar / Gunther

Tribal leader, became king of the Burgundians in 413.

411 - 413

Gundahar and Goar of the Alans set up Jovinus as their puppet Roman usurper and establish a kingdom on the left bank of the Rhine.

Kingdom of the Burgundians
AD 413 - 534

Between 411-413, the new leader of the Burgundians, Gundahar, joined Goar of the Alans in setting up Jovinus as their puppet Roman usurper. Under the pretext of Jovinus' imperial authority, the Burgundians were able to establish themselves on the west bank of the Rhine (the Roman side) between the River Lauter and the Nahe. Here they founded a kingdom based upon the Romano-Gallic settlement of Borbetomagus (Worms).

Subjugated by the Huns in 437, they accepted Roman federate status and essentially moved into the vacuum of dwindling Roman power, being ceded Roman lands in 443 and 458. Towards the end of the fifth century, King Gundobad was briefly a player in the last stages of Western Roman politics, holding power as the commander of the army from 472 to 473. By 534, however, Frankish power could no longer be resisted, and Burgundy became another piece in the Frankish kingdom.

(Additional information from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway.)

413 - 436

Gundahar / Gunther

First Burgundian king west of the Rhine. Killed by Huns & Aëtius.

437 - 473

Gundioc

443 - 458

As part of a settlement with Rome, the Burgundians expand into Sapaduia (Cisjurane), or Savoy, in 443. The magister militum, Aëtius, had apparently been pursuing a policy of extending the settlement of friendly (or defeated) barbarians within Gaul under treaty, rather than Roman reconquest. The former is certainly easier given the lack of resources. However, the barbarians are rarely content to remain with what Rome can 'gift' them, and the Burgundians add Switzerland in 450 and further expand into Sequania (transjurane) in 458.

456

Rechiar of the Suevi is responsible for a large number of raids on the Roman province of Hispania Tarraconensis over the past seven years, with tacit approval by the Visigoths. Now the Visigoth king, Theodoric II, changes his policy and turns on the Suevi. He leads a large army which is bolstered by Burgundians under Gundioc and Chilperic, crossing the Pyrenees and defeating Rechiar at a site close to the modern town of Astorga in north-western Iberia.

469

The Visigoths have to fight a combined imperial army consisting of Romans, troops from Soissons under Comes Paulus, Burgundian foederati, and joint federate Britanni.

472 - 473

Gundobad, son of Gundioc, is the nephew of Ricimer. When the latter dies, Gundobad claims his position as commander of the Western Roman empire. When his father dies in 473, the Burgundian kingdom is left to the four sons, but Gundobad ensures it falls to him alone.

473 - 474

Chilperic

Son. Killed by Gundobad.

473 - 486

Gundomar

Brother. Killed by Gundobad.

473 - 500

Godegisel

Brother. Killed by Gundobad.

473 - 516

Gundobad / Gontebaud

Brother. Western Roman Commander (472-473).

500

Gundobad is defeated in battle near Dijon by Clovis of the Franks.

507

The new king of the Visigoths is tentatively accepted by his nobles, but is unable to hold Narbonne against the Burgundians.

509 - 510

The Ostrogoths intervene at Narbonne, driving out both Visigoths and Burgundians. This forces the Franks and Burgundians to withdraw from the Mediterranean coast.

511

Clovis, the powerful founder of the Frankish kingdom, dies and his domain is divided between his four sons. The kingdom of Austrasia is created in the north-east of France, bordering the Burgundians, while that of Orleans borders it on the west.

516 - 524

Sigismund

Captured by Franks and assassinated.

516 - 534

Gudomar / Godomar

Brother.

524

Sigismund had earlier assassinated the cousin of the four ruling Frankish kings. Now all of them join in an expedition against him and he is captured. The victorious Franks return home, leaving a garrison behind, but Sigismund's brother, Gudomar, arrives with troops supplied by his ally, the Ostrogoths, and the garrison is massacred. Chlodomer of Orleans has Sigismund and his sons, Gisald and Gondebaud, assassinated on 1 May 524 and leads a second expedition against the Burgundians. He is killed at the Battle of Vézeronce, although the Franks are victorious.

534

The kingdom is overthrown by the Franks and is relegated to a Frankish sub-kingdom. At some point around this date, the Burgundians take Provence from the Ostrogoths, but then it is almost immediately transferred to the Franks.

Merovingian Kingdom of Burgundy
AD 534 - 843

The Burgundians were conquered in stages by the Merovingian Frankish kings, with Theudebert I of Austrasia taking the northern regions, Childebert I of Neustria taking the central regions, and Chlothar I of Soissons seizing the southern area. The latter swiftly consolidated his rule over all of the Burgundian lands, annexing them directly to his kingdom. It wasn't until Chlothar's death, when the Frankish kingdom was partitioned, that his third son, Guntrumn, became its first independent ruler.

534 - 561

Clotaire / Chlothar I

King of the Franks of Soissons.

561

When Chlothar dies in 561, his third son, Guntramn, gains Burgundy during the division of the Frankish kingdom. Of the rest of Chlothar's domains, Charibert gains Paris and Orleans as Neustria, Sigisbert I gains Austrasia, and Chilperic I gains Soissons.

561 - 593

Gunthchramn / Guntramn / Gontrand

Son. Signed peaceful Treaty of Andelot in 588.

575

When Sigisbert of Austrasia is assassinated, his widow and son put themselves under the protection of Childebert's uncle, Guntramn, and he adopts the boy as his own son.

584/585

The Lombards invade the Merovingian Frankish region of Provence. In return, the Frankish king of Austrasia, Childebert II, and Guntramn invade Lombard Italy. They capture Trent and open negotiations with the Eastern Roman emperor via Ravenna, perhaps with the view of carving up Italy between them. The Lombards, fearing Frankish domination, elect a king to end their disunity. He is successful in throwing out the invaders and restoring the strength of the kingdom.

593 - 595

On the death of Guntramn, his adopted son, Childebert of Austrasia annexes the kingdom. When Childebert himself dies just two years later, his second son, Theuderich receives the Burgundian kingdom.

595 - 613

Theuderich / Thierry II

Son of Childebert II of Austrasia.

613

Sigisbert / Sigebert (II)

Son. 'False' king of Burgundy & Austrasia. Killed by Clothar II.

613

Brunhilda

Great-grandmother and regent.

613 - 751

Chlothar II manoeuvres the nobles of Austrasia into abandoning Brunhilda and Sigisbert, the illegitimate son of Theuderich. They are both captured and put to death (painfully and prolonged in the case of Brunhilda). The Frankish empire is reunited under Chlothar II. His son, Dagobert I, continues to hold the empire together, but after he dies, Burgundy is ruled by his son, Clovis II, as king of the Franks & Neustria in 638-656. Burgundy remains united to Neustria, but with its own administration.

Brunhilda, long a bitter enemy of Clothar II, was tied to the feet of wild horses and torn apart. After this, the Liber Historiae Francorum states that 'finally she died'

751 - 840

With the Pope's blessing, the Carolingian mayors of the palace depose the Merovingians and take control of the empire. Neustria, Austrasia & Burgundy are controlled directly.

840 - 843

Louis I wills the Frankish empire to his sons, but tries to ensure that the eldest gains the biggest share, in order to avoid the fragmentation of territory that so weakened the Merovingians. Lothar receives Middle Francia (the Rhine corridor, the kingdom of Burgundy, and Italy), while Charles the Bald receives Western Francia (France and the duchy of Burgundy).

Frankish Kingdom of (Upper) Burgundy
AD 843 - 1032

The partition of the Frankish empire that was agreed by the Treaty of Verdun in 843 also resulted in the division of the Burgundian territories. The larger part of the kingdom lay on the east bank of the River Saone. This fell to Lothar, king of Middle Francia, to rule directly, and it retained the name of the kingdom of Burgundy. Its capital was at Arles, thanks to which it is occasionally known as the Burgundian kingdom of Arles. The lesser division, on the west bank of the Saone, formed the duchy of Burgundy.

843 - 855

Lothar I of Middle Francia rules the kingdom directly. On his death, Burgundy is further divided between his sons. Lothar II receives Lotharingia and northern Burgundy, while Charles receives southern Burgundy, which includes Lyon, Provence, and Vienne, and which comes to be known as the kingdom of Provence.

855 - 869

Upper Burgundy is ruled directly by Lothar II, king of Lotharingia.

863 - 875

Louis II

King of France.

879 - 887

Boso of Lower Burgundy & Provence

Brother of Richard, first duke of Burgundy.

887 - 928

Louis III of Lower Burgundy & Provence

Emperor of Eastern Franks. King of Provence & Italy.

888

Burgundy regains control of the Swiss territories.

928 - 933

Hugh of Arles of Lower Burgundy

King of Italy (926-947) & Emperor (933).

933

Provence ceases to be a separate kingdom when Hugh exchanges it with Rudolph II of Upper Burgundy for the crown of Lombardy, otherwise known as the kingdom of Italy.

888 - 912

Rudolf I of Upper Burgundy

912 - 937

Rudolf II of Upper Burgundy

King of Italy (922-926), Lower Burgundy (933) & Emperor (922).

921 - 923

Segments of the Italian nobility are unhappy with Berengar of Friuli, so they invite Rudolph to take the throne. At the same time, Berengar's own grandson, Berengar of Ivrea, is encouraged by Rudolph to rise against him. Berengar retreats to Verona and watches helpless as Italy is ravished by invading Magyars, their attacks the trigger for a change of leadership in Italy in the first place. Rudolph's forces unite with the men of Berengar of Ivrea and defeat those of Berengar of Friuli at the Battle of Fiorenzuola on 29 July 923. Rudolf rules Italy and also holds the title of Germanic Roman Emperor, only to find a rival in Hugh of Arles.

937 - 993

Conrad the Peaceful

993 - 1032

Rudolf III

1000

Savoy becomes a county in its own right when Rudolf grants the title of count to Humbert White Hands, a great-grandson of Louis III of Burgundy.

1032

As agreed by Rudolf III in 1006, following his death and with no heir to succeed him, the kingdom (including its Swiss territories) is inherited by Franconian Emperor Conrad II the Salian. Although the kingdom continues to operate with a fair degree of autonomy, from this point onwards, the emperors also count themselves as kings of Arles.

Duchy of Burgundy
AD 843 -1482

The partition of the Frankish empire which was agreed by the Treaty of Verdun in 843 also resulted in the division of the Burgundian territories. The larger part of the kingdom lay on the east bank of the River Saone. This retained the name of the kingdom of Burgundy. The lesser division lay on the west bank of the Saone and was also titled a kingdom, but its lord, Charles II the Bald, appointed a duke to administer it, and it became known as the duchy of Burgundy.

843 - 877

Charles II the Bald

King of West Francia.

880 - 921

Richard the Justicer of Autun

Brother of Boso, king of Burgundy.

921 - 936

Rudolf / Raoul

King of France (923-936).

936 - 952

Hugh the Black

952 - 956

Gilbert

956 - 965

Odo of Paris

965 - 1002

Otto-Henry the Great

1002 - 1015

Otto William

1015 - 1032

Henry

1032 - 1076

Robert I

Son of Robert II the Pious, king of France.

1061

Despite reigning for nearly thirty years, Henry I of France is unable to achieve anything more than the preservation of the Capetian dynasty after facing incessant conflict with rebel lords. Many of them have shown pretensions for independence, including Henry's brother, Robert I, duke of Burgundy.

1076 - 1079

Hugh I

1079 - 1102

Odo / Eudes I the Red

Brother of Henry, count of Portugal (1093-1112).

1102 - 1143

Hugh II

1143 - 1162

Eudes II

1162 - 1192

Hugh III

1192 - 1218

Eudes III

1218 - 1272

Hugh IV

1272 - 1306

Robert II

1306 - 1315

Hugh V

1315 - 1349

Eudes IV

1349 - 1361

Philip of Rouvre

Betrothed to Margaret of Flanders, but died of the plague first.

1361 - 1364

The duchy reverts to the French throne under John II. Upon his death, Burgundy is held by a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty. Philip the Bold is the fourth son of John II.

1364 - 1404

Philip the Bold

Free County of Burgundy 1384.

1368 - 1405

Philip marries Margaret of Mâle in 1368, and in 1384 she becomes countess of Flanders, thereby passing the county into the hands of the dukes of Burgundy, where it remains after Philip's death in 1405.

1388

Charles VI of France is not able to govern until he reaches his majority in 1388 since his uncles, including Philip the Bold, hold power and take maximum advantage of their position. Upon his birthday he has them removed and recalls his late father's advisors into the government. His first episode of madness in 1392 allows Philip to seize power again, but it sparks a long-running dispute between various factions in France.

1404 - 1419

John the Fearless

Assassinated.

1419 - 1467

Philip the Good

Also count of Holland. duke of Luxembourg (1441-1467).

1441 - 1482

Philip gains the duchy of Luxembourg.

1467 - 1477

Charles the Bold

Also count of Holland.

1477 - 1482

Mary of Burgundy

Also countess of Holland. m Maximilian of Habsburg 1477.

1482

The duchy of Burgundy reverts to the French throne through the efforts of Louis XI of France. The Free County of Burgundy & Flanders passes to Austria. The county of Holland passes to the Habsburgs.