How did Burgundian rule bring greater political unity to the Low Countries?

Burgundian rule fostered political unity in the Low Countries by transitioning from a collection of independent principalities toward a centralized power structure, primarily through the personal union of territories under the dukes of Burgundy.1

To bridge regional differences and exert control, the dukes implemented several key strategies:

• Centralized Administration: They appointed stadtholders to govern regions and established regional courts and exchequers to enforce central authority in judicial and political matters.1
• Institutional Integration: Duke Philip III the Good incorporated regional nobilities into his court and created the Order of the Golden Fleece to unify the elite across his territories.1
• Centralized Jurisdiction: The Great Council’s judicial tasks were assigned to specialized councillors, increasing the influence of central law over local customs.1
• The States-General: This assembly united delegates from various states to address financial demands, eventually becoming a platform for closer collaboration among the provinces, particularly in organizing defense against France and securing collective rights like the 1477 Groot-Privilege.1