How did Maximilian I’s marriage to Mary of Burgundy expand Habsburg influence?

The marriage of Maximilian I to Mary of Burgundy in 1477 was a pivotal event that significantly expanded Habsburg influence and territorial reach.12

By marrying the heiress to the Burgundian state, Maximilian acquired vast territories in the Netherlands and along the eastern frontier of France. This acquisition laid the foundation for the Habsburgs' future dominance in Europe by joining these wealthy northern lands with their traditional Austrian possessions.213

The influence of this union was further amplified by the subsequent marriage of their son, Philip the Handsome, to Joanna the Mad of Spain. This strategic alliance ultimately allowed their grandson, Charles V, to inherit a massive empire that included the Burgundian Netherlands, Spain, and the Habsburgs' Austrian lands, effectively encircling France and establishing the Habsburgs as a central power in European diplomacy for over a century.14