Burgundian
Quick Summary
The Burgundians were a Germanic people originating from Scandinavia whose original homeland was on the southern shores of the Baltic Sea. By the 1st century CE, they had migrated to the lower Vistula River valley. Serving as auxiliaries in the Roman army, they established a kingdom that, by the early 5th century, extended to the west bank of the Rhine River.1
In the latter half of the 5th century, as the Roman Empire's influence waned, the Burgundians gradually expanded their control across the RhƓne and SaƓne river valleys. Their kingdom reached its peak under King Gundobad, who enacted written laws for both Burgundians and their Gallo-Roman subjects. This kingdom persisted until 534 CE when it was absorbed by the Franks.2
Later, the kingdom of Burgundy was re-established under the Merovingian dynasty and eventually expanded to include territories beyond the former Burgundian lands. This separate kingdom existed until the 8th century when it was subjugated by Frankish Austrasia.2
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
Armagnacā¦formed in opposition to the Burgundians as a result of the murder of Louis, duke of OrlĆ©ans (brother of the mad king Charles VI), by John the Fearless, duke of Burgundy (1407). With the marriage of his daughter to the son of the victim, Bernard came to head what hadā¦
Read Moreā¦formed in opposition to the Burgundians as a result of the murder of Louis, duke of OrlĆ©ans (brother of the mad king Charles VI), by John the Fearless, duke of Burgundy (1407). With the marriage of his daughter to the son of the victim, Bernard came to head what hadā¦
Read More
FranceThe end of Roman Gaul (c. 400āc. 500)By 418, Franks and Burgundians were established west of the Rhine, and the Visigoths settled in Aquitania (Aquitaine). These Germans, however, were nominally allies of the empire, and, mainly because of the energy of the Roman general Flavius Aetius, they were kept in check. The death of Aetius inā¦
Read MoreBy 418, Franks and Burgundians were established west of the Rhine, and the Visigoths settled in Aquitania (Aquitaine). These Germans, however, were nominally allies of the empire, and, mainly because of the energy of the Roman general Flavius Aetius, they were kept in check. The death of Aetius inā¦
Read More
FranceThe conquest of Burgundyā¦two campaigns to overcome the Burgundian kingdom. In 523 Clodomir, Childebert I, and Chlotar I, as allies of Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths, moved into Burgundy, whose king, Sigismund, Theodoricās son-in-law, had assassinated his own son. Sigismund was captured and killed. Godomer, the new Burgundian king, defeated theā¦
Read Moreā¦two campaigns to overcome the Burgundian kingdom. In 523 Clodomir, Childebert I, and Chlotar I, as allies of Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths, moved into Burgundy, whose king, Sigismund, Theodoricās son-in-law, had assassinated his own son. Sigismund was captured and killed. Godomer, the new Burgundian king, defeated theā¦
Read More
Hundred Yearsā WarHenry IV, the Armagnacs, and the Burgundiansā¦France was divided between the Burgundian faction and the Armagnacs, the latter taking their name from Bernard VII, count of Armagnac, who became the leader of the movement to avenge the dukeās murder. Under these circumstances, both sides in the civil war in turn sounded Henry IV in an attemptā¦
Read Moreā¦France was divided between the Burgundian faction and the Armagnacs, the latter taking their name from Bernard VII, count of Armagnac, who became the leader of the movement to avenge the dukeās murder. Under these circumstances, both sides in the civil war in turn sounded Henry IV in an attemptā¦
Read More
BurgundyHistory of BurgundyThe Burgundians were a Scandinavian people whose original homeland lay on the southern shores of the Baltic Sea, where the island of Bornholm (Burgundarholm in the Middle Ages) still bears their name. About the 1st century ce they moved into the lower valley of the Vistulaā¦
Read MoreThe Burgundians were a Scandinavian people whose original homeland lay on the southern shores of the Baltic Sea, where the island of Bornholm (Burgundarholm in the Middle Ages) still bears their name. About the 1st century ce they moved into the lower valley of the Vistulaā¦
Read More
SwitzerlandGermanic invasionsā¦Germanic tribes such as the Burgundians, Alemannians, and Langobardians (in Ticino). Few in number, the Burgundians occupied the lands of western Switzerland. They retained political control in Switzerland but lost contact with their former homelands and were assimilated into the Roman Celtic population. The French-speaking part of present-day Switzerland isā¦
Read Moreā¦Germanic tribes such as the Burgundians, Alemannians, and Langobardians (in Ticino). Few in number, the Burgundians occupied the lands of western Switzerland. They retained political control in Switzerland but lost contact with their former homelands and were assimilated into the Roman Celtic population. The French-speaking part of present-day Switzerland isā¦
Read More
