micronation project
Grand Duchy
of the Burgundians
of the Burgundians
The historical heritage of Medieval Burgundy.
A micronation for everyone in whose soul there is love or interest in the Middle Ages, chivalry, heraldry and noble titles. Join our micronation and explore the history of Medieval Burgundy!
Burgundy is in our hearts!
About the project
Burgundy! History has not allowed this state to survive to the present day. But for several centuries, changing epochs, Burgundy existed as an independent state entity (Kingdom, then Duchy), changing its borders and settling in various territories, until for various reasons and factors it disappeared from the political map of Europe.
The last Duke of Burgundy, Charles The Bold, dreamed of elevating his title to royal, and was close to this goal, but after his death, Burgundy also disappeared.
Our micronation, Grand Duchy of the Burgundians, was created in memory of a distant historical era, Medieval Europe. Our micronation has its own heraldry and noble titles. Our micronation is a non-state sovereign entity with legal sovereign status as established by its Declaration of Sovereignty, existing in the virtual space. We do not petition to hold land, we do not conflict existing claims of statehood or rights to territorial land. We do not pursue any goals other than restoring the memory of the history of Burgundy. Burgundy's historical and cultural heritage is part of a unique concept of sovereignty based on citizens' self-identification rather than territorial claims.
The idea of creating a micronation belongs to HRH Grand Duke Mikhail. The portrait resemblance of his father to Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, noticed many years ago, is amazing! Maybe it's just a random resemblance. Or maybe he has the blood of a side branch of the younger House of Burgundy?
The last Duke of Burgundy, Charles The Bold, dreamed of elevating his title to royal, and was close to this goal, but after his death, Burgundy also disappeared.
Our micronation, Grand Duchy of the Burgundians, was created in memory of a distant historical era, Medieval Europe. Our micronation has its own heraldry and noble titles. Our micronation is a non-state sovereign entity with legal sovereign status as established by its Declaration of Sovereignty, existing in the virtual space. We do not petition to hold land, we do not conflict existing claims of statehood or rights to territorial land. We do not pursue any goals other than restoring the memory of the history of Burgundy. Burgundy's historical and cultural heritage is part of a unique concept of sovereignty based on citizens' self-identification rather than territorial claims.
The idea of creating a micronation belongs to HRH Grand Duke Mikhail. The portrait resemblance of his father to Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, noticed many years ago, is amazing! Maybe it's just a random resemblance. Or maybe he has the blood of a side branch of the younger House of Burgundy?
| Welcome! |
FROM HISTORY
For anyone interested in history, there are many opportunities to read and study historical materials in books, in libraries and on the Internet. Read books, watch movies, study history! Various historical festivals also create a magnificent atmosphere of the Middle Ages. All this is very interesting and informative.
Here we have briefly outlined the chronicle of the history of Burgundy. We hope that you will be interested in Burgundy, the Middle Ages, the era of kings, dukes, counts, the times of chivalry, heraldry and titles. We apologize in advance for possible errors in the text (we used an electronic translator).
The Kingdom of the burgundians.
The history of Burgundy begins with the Kingdom of the burgundians, one of the "barbarian kingdoms" created in the 5th century on the ruins of the Roman Empire. In 413, the ancient Germanic Burgundian tribe, led by King Gundahar, founded a state on the left bank of the Rhine, with its capital in Worms. After the revolt against the Romans, in 435 a mercenary army of the Huns devastated the Burgundian state. King Gundahar was killed, the Burgundians were resettled by the Roman commander Aetius in Sabaudia (Savoy).
Here King Gundioch founded a new Burgundian state in the Rhone River region. Under his sons Gundobad, Godegisele and Chilperic II, Burgundy split into three parts, with the main cities of Lyon, Vienne and Geneva. Gundobad killed his brothers and united all the Burgundians under his rule. He published the Lex Gundobada, the first code of laws of Burgundy. His successor Sigismund was defeated by the sons of the Frankish king Clovis I and killed.King Godomar II defeated the Franks at Weatherons in 524, but was later defeated by them in 534 at the Battle of Autun, and Burgundy was annexed to the Frankish state, becoming one of its constituent parts.
The Kingdom of Burgundy as part of the Frankish State.
In 561, the Frankish state was divided among the four sons of Chlothar. Burgundy, supplemented by the lands of central France and most of Provence, went to Guntram, who became king of Burgundy. Later, Burgundy, as part of various lands, repeatedly became part of the possessions of other rulers from the Merovingian dynasty.
In 843, the Frankish Empire founded by Charlemagne was divided according to the terms of the Treaty of Verdun between his heirs. Three large states were formed on its territory: The West Frankish Kingdom (future France), the East Frankish Kingdom (future Germany) and the "Middle Kingdom", which included Italy and a vast strip of land from the Netherlands to Provence. The "Middle Kingdom", headed by Emperor Lothair I, took over most of the former Frankish kingdom of Burgundy, with the exception of a small northwestern part west of the Saone, which was assigned to the West Frankish Kingdom and on whose territory the Duchy of Burgundy was subsequently formed.
The Kingdoms of Upper and Lower Burgundy.
The Kingdom of Burgundy did not exist for long, and in 879 it split into Upper and Lower Burgundy. Lower Burgundy included the southeastern part of modern France: Provence, Dauphine, Comte-Venesse, Savoy, as well as some territories on the right bank of the Rhone (Lyonnais and Vivare). Upper Burgundy included the western part of modern Switzerland, Franche-Comté and Chablais.
The Kingdom of Burgundy (Arelat).
In 933, Upper and Lower Burgundy were reunited into the Kingdom of Burgundy (or the Kingdom of Arelat, after the Latin name of the capital, the city of Arles) under the rule of King Rudolf II (the former king of Upper Burgundy). The central government in Arelat was weak. In 1034, the state became part of the Holy Roman Empire as a third kingdom (along with Germany and Italy), since the deceased King of Burgundy Rudolf III had no sons and bequeathed the throne to the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. The Burgundian aristocracy and clergy swore allegiance to Emperor Conrad II, electing him King of Burgundy. The title of King of Burgundy (King of Arles) has since belonged to the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. The central government in Burgundy itself has weakened. Part of the Burgundian territories (bishoprics of Basel, Lausanne, Geneva, Sion) actually became independent principalities. Provence has been ruled by the House of Anjou-Sicilian since 1246. In 1305, Vivare, Conta-Venessen and Avignon became the possession of the Popes. In 1349, Dauphine was actually annexed by France. In 1365 The County of Savoy was annexed by the Emperor to Germany. In 1384, Franche-Comté fell under the rule of the French House of Burgundy.
The County of Burgundy (Franche-Comté).
The County of Burgundy was a medieval county, then the Palatinate, formed as part of the Kingdom of Upper Burgundy and included territories between the Saone River and the Jura Mountains. By the 11th century, the county had acquired independence as part of the Holy Roman Empire.
When King Rudolf III of Burgundy, who had no sons, recognized his nephew, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire Henry II, as his heir, he demanded a vassal oath from the rulers of the Burgundian counties, which caused an uprising. In 1032, Rudolf III died, bequeathing the kingdom to Emperor Conrad II before his death. This death triggered the War of the Burgundian Succession of 1032-1034, which ended with the annexation of the Kingdom of Burgundy to the Empire. However, the County of Burgundy turned out to obey Conrad and for ten years did not recognize the suzerainty of the Empire, until the defeat of the army of Ed de Blois and his death at the Battle of Ganola in 1037. Renaud, who acted on his side, recognized himself as a vassal of the emperor, receiving from him the title of governor (Palatine) of Burgundy, which his descendants began to use.
Subsequently, the County of Burgundy was ruled by various dynasties. In 1156, the county came under the control of Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa as his wife's dowry, and then his sons: Otton I, Otton II and Othon III. Palatine Otton IV in 1291 married Mago, the daughter of Count Robert II of Artois, which brought him closer to the French royal court. Later, he signed a secret treaty with King Philip IV of France, according to which he pledged to give his eldest daughter, Jeanne, to the king's second son, Philip, and transfer the county of Burgundy as a dowry. By the same agreement, the second daughter, Blanca, was betrothed to the king's youngest son, Charles. In 1295, Philip the Handsome, unwilling to wait for marriage, forced Otto to cede the county for 100000 livres. However, most of the nobles refused to recognize Philip as the ruler, uniting around Jean de Chalon-Arles. The uprising was supported by England and the Emperor, who financed it. It was only in 1301 that the county's nobles submitted to the king. Otto IV, who continued to bear the title of Palatine of Burgundy, served King Philip. His infant son Robert held the title of Palatine until his death in 1315, but in reality the county was ruled by King Philip IV of France. In 1306, he appointed Jean de Chalon-Arles as governor of the county. The marriage between King Philip V's son and Otton IV's daughter Joan II, which took place in 1307, did not change anything; Jean de Chalon-Arles continued to govern the county on behalf of the king. In the same year, a new uprising took place, which ended in vain. After the death of King Philip IV in 1314, Joan and Philip V were able to take over the county. After becoming king in 1316, Philip entrusted the management of the county to his wife, who (with the help of her mother Mago, Countess of Artois) ruled it until her death in 1330. Since King Philip V died without leaving any sons, the heiress of the counties of Burgundy and Artois became their eldest daughter, Jeanne III, who had previously been married to Duke Ed IV of Burgundy. After the death of Joan II in 1330, the County of Burgundy (which from 1336 in official documents became known as Franche-Comte), together with the county of Artois, became part of the Duchy of Burgundy, which it was until 1361, when Duke Philippe of Rouvres died childless, After which both counties were inherited by the youngest daughter of King Philip V and Joan II - Margaret I, who ruled them until her death, and then to her son, Count Louis II of Flanders, and after his death - to his daughter, Margaret II, who was married to the Duke of Burgundy, Philip II the Bold. After this marriage, Franche-Comté finally became part of the Duchy of Burgundy and as an independent possession no longer existed.
The Duchy of Burgundy.
The Duchy of Burgundy was formed on the lands of the former Kingdom of Burgundy, lying to the west of the Saone and ceded by the Treaty of Verdun in 843 to the West Frankish Kingdom. At the end of the IX — beginning of the X century, Richard, who united several counties in Burgundy, first assumed the title of margrave (898), and then Duke of Burgundy (918), after which he moved the capital from Autun to Dijon. Later, during the tenth century, the state was in a state of almost continuous wars with neighboring feudal lords, recalcitrant vassals and external enemies. Since 1034 Burgundy was ruled by dukes from the senior Burgundian house of the Capetian dynasty. In 1361, after the death of the childless Duke, Burgundy returned to France. In 1363, the French King John the Good of the Valois dynasty transferred the duchy to his son Philip II the Bold, who became the founder of the Younger Burgundian House of Valois.
In 1369, Philip married Marguerite, widow of Philippe of Rouvres, heiress of his father, Count of Flanders, Nevers and Rethel, his grandmother Marguerite of France, Countess of Burgundy and Artois, and his aunt Jeanne, Duchess of Brabant and Limburg, Margravine of Antwerp and Seigneur of Mechelen. After the death of his father-in-law in 1384, Philip received (by right of his wife) Flanders, Franche-Comté, Nevers, Rethel and Artois, laying the foundations for the wealth and power of the Dukes of Burgundy. Thus, they had vast possessions in their hands, including the Netherlands, as a result of which, by the middle of the XV century, the duchy had turned into a virtually independent Burgundian state, whose rulers played an important role in European politics, competing with France.
In the Hundred Years' War, Burgundy initially supported England, but after the Treaty of Arras in 1435, it sided with France. During the Hundred Years' War, Philip III the Good, Duke of Burgundy, annexed many new lands to his duchy. In 1429, he annexed the Margraviate of Namur, after the death of its childless ruler Jean III, which had previously been bought from him. After the death of his cousin Philippe de Saint-Paul in 1430, he inherited the Duchy of Brabant and the Margraviate of Antwerp. In 1432, he annexed Friesland and Zealand. In 1433, he forced Countess Jacob to cede to him the rights to the county of Holland. In 1443, he bought the Duchy of Luxembourg from his aunt Elisabeth von Goerlitz. After that, Philip began to call himself the "Grand Duke of the West."
The expansion of the territory of Burgundy during the reign of Philip the Good was accompanied by an increase in the number of ducal residences, which were located in Dijon, Brussels, Salle, Lille, Bruges.
The last Duke of Burgundy from the Valois dynasty was Charles The Bold (November 10, 1433 - January 5, 1477), the son of Duke Philip the Good. Charles sought to raise his title to the royal one and almost achieved this goal. At the peak of its power, the state included two large groups of provinces: the Burgundian Netherlands and Burgundy, between which were (under Burgundian influence) the possessions of the Dukes of Lorraine. These two large groups of provinces were called "lands on this side" and "lands on the other side". Although the historical capital of the Dukes of Valois-Burgundy was Dijon, the ducal court moved between different residences and most often stops in Brabant (Brussels) or in Flanders (Lille, Bruges, Ghent). In foreign policy, Charles opposed King Louis XI of France, and also tried to subdue Lorraine, Alsace and Switzerland, but was defeated in this war, was finally defeated in 1477 at the Battle of Nancy and died. His death was a turning point in European history.
After the death of Charles, his vast possessions were divided between France and the Habsburgs (after the marriage of Prince Maximilian with his daughter and sole heiress, the heiress Marie of Burgundy). However, neither side was happy with the results of the partition, which led to the war of the Burgundian succession and the confrontation of the French kings with the Habsburgs, which lasted several centuries. As a result, in 1482, the Treaty of Arras was concluded, according to which Marguerite (Maximilian's daughter) was to marry the French Dauphin (the future King Charles VIII), bringing the Burgundy County (Franche-Comte) and the county of Artois to the French crown as a dowry. The County of Flanders was transferred to the Habsburgs. Burgundy was incorporated into the royal domain as a privileged province. Finally, the issues related to the Burgundian inheritance were resolved in 1493 by the Treaty of Senlis.
Mary of Burgundy.
After the death of her father, Charles the Bold, Mary inherited the throne of the Dukes of Burgundy, and became one of the richest and most desirable brides in Europe. Mary had the titles of Duchess of Burgundy, Duchess of Brabant, Limburg, Luxembourg, Gueldern, Margravine of Namur, Countess of Hennegau, Holland, Zealand, Artois, Flanders, Burgundy (Franche-Comté), Nevers and Charolais. French King Louis XI, who seized part of the Burgundian lands and returned the Duchy of Burgundy to the royal domain, offered Mary to become the wife of his seven-year-old son, the Dauphin Charles. But many of the Duchess's subjects considered France their enemy and were against French rule.
On August 14, 1477, Mary married Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg in Ghent. Mary and Maximilian fell in love with each other. In 1482, at the age of only 25, Mary fell from her horse during falconry and died of her injuries. Subsequently, all the possessions remaining under the rule of Burgundy became part of the family possessions of the House of Habsburg. The Order of the Golden Fleece, founded by her grandfather, Duke Philip the Good, in 1430, also passed to Mary's descendants.
Bataille de Montlhéry
Musée Dobrée, Nantes
Declaration of Sovereignty
I, Michael, Grand Duke of the Burgundians, the spiritual heir of my distant noble ancestors, symbolically on the birthday of Duchess Mary of Burgundy, the only daughter and heiress of Charles The Bold, the last ruler of the duchy from the House of Valois-Burgundy, driven by the desire to restore the historical memory of medieval Burgundy in the hearts of people who have preserved and live through the centuries the spiritual heritage of the Middle Ages, handed down to us by our ancestors, inspired by the example of many existing micronations, I announce the foundation of a new micronation, referred to as the Grand Duchy of Burgundians, as a non-governmental sovereign entity existing in the virtual space. I declare the Grand Duchy to be a subject of the micronational community with all the rights, privileges and honors related to it.
We do not claim historical rights to the Burgundian inheritance, for which the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire of the Habsburgs fought for many years. We are only interested in studying the history and memory of Burgundy. We recognize the current political realities that make it impossible to restore medieval Burgundy to its former historical lands. Therefore, we renounce any territorial claims.
Our name, the Grand Duchy of the Burgundians, means that we are a micronation without the physical territory of Burgundy. At the same time, we call ourselves Burgundians, because the spiritual heritage and historical memory of medieval Burgundy live in our hearts. The French Constitution also gives anyone the right to independently determine their nationality.
In addition, so that our presence in the world can be established, we affirm that Burgundy will be present and manifest in the hearts and thoughts of people who have joined the micronation, as well as in the virtual information space of the micronational community. Belonging to the Burgundian micronation has a spiritual and cultural character and does not conflict with the legislation of the country of residence, remaining under civil rule and the laws of other host countries.
The Grand Duchy of the Burgundians hereby renounces the use of force, rebellion, coercion, and we strive to exist as a noble, peaceful and benevolent micronation in accordance with principles recognized and shared by the global and micronational community.
Signed on this day, February 13, 2024,
Michael, Grand Duke of the Burgundians
Flag and coat of arms.
The flag depicts heraldic lilies (Fleur de Lis); the colors of the flag are "burgundy" and white, symbolizing a new beginning.
The coat of arms is a red shield with a sanguine saltire cross, studded with thirteen silver heraldic lilies, and accompanied by a golden flame at the corners. The colors of the coat of arms were not chosen by chance: red was associated with chivalry and nobility in medieval Europe. The silver color symbolizes purity, light and a new beginning. The flame in heraldry is a symbol of purity, sincerity, glory and nobility. It is also a symbol of renewal and a new birth.
The flag depicts heraldic lilies (Fleur de Lis); the colors of the flag are "burgundy" and white, symbolizing a new beginning.
The coat of arms is a red shield with a sanguine saltire cross, studded with thirteen silver heraldic lilies, and accompanied by a golden flame at the corners. The colors of the coat of arms were not chosen by chance: red was associated with chivalry and nobility in medieval Europe. The silver color symbolizes purity, light and a new beginning. The flame in heraldry is a symbol of purity, sincerity, glory and nobility. It is also a symbol of renewal and a new birth.
Welcome to the Grand Duchy of the Burgundians!
If you are a fan of Medieval Europe, chivalry, heraldry, medieval castles, noble titles, if you want to become the lord of the Grand Duchy of the Burgundians, join our micronation!
Submit an application in any form to our email
indicating your first name, last name, country of residence, e-mail address,
and we will send to your email a magnificent Certificate of registration of the Lordship
of the Grand Duchy of the Burgundians.
In the future, if you have merit to the Grand Duchy of the Burgundians,
you may have the opportunity to receive the noble titles of baron, viscount, count, margrave (marquess).
Enjoy your noble title and feel the spiritual heritage of Medieval Europe in your heart!
"Accolade"
Edmund Leighton. 1901
February 13, 2024.
On this day, the Declaration of Sovereignty of our micronation was published!
May 10, 2024.
The Grand Duchy of the Burgundians has already established friendly contacts with 13 micronations:
Republic of Molossia; Empire of Austenasia; Principality of Sancratosia; Democratic Republic of Satoshi; Parliamentary Monarchy of Duckionary; Republic of Todia; Republic of Ceneda; United Republic of Obscurium; Principality of Deux-Acren, Grand Duchy of Flandrensis, Duchy of Bardo, Kingdom of the Golliez, Rank Republic of Bolgajna.
On this day, the Declaration of Sovereignty of our micronation was published!
May 10, 2024.
The Grand Duchy of the Burgundians has already established friendly contacts with 13 micronations:
Republic of Molossia; Empire of Austenasia; Principality of Sancratosia; Democratic Republic of Satoshi; Parliamentary Monarchy of Duckionary; Republic of Todia; Republic of Ceneda; United Republic of Obscurium; Principality of Deux-Acren, Grand Duchy of Flandrensis, Duchy of Bardo, Kingdom of the Golliez, Rank Republic of Bolgajna.
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of the Burgundians
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