Burgundy

Primary culture

Burgundian (French)

Capital province

Bourgogne (192)

Government

Feudal Monarchy

State religion

Catholic

Technology group

Western

Burgundian ideas

Traditions:

+10% Morale of armies

+1 Diplomatic relation

The Order of the Golden Fleece

+1 Yearly prestige

The Compagnies d'Ordonnance

−15% Mercenary maintenance

Promote the Estates General

+50% Available mercenaries

Reform of the Feudal Army

+5% Discipline

Integrate the Towns in the Estates General

+10% Trade efficiency

Allow Freedom of Worship

+2 Tolerance of heretics

Create the Regimental System

+25% National manpower modifier

Ambition:

+15% Goods produced modifier

For the area, see Burgundy (area).

The Bourgogne branch of the Valois dynasty not only rules the duchy of Burgundy, de jure a French possession, but also a significant part of the Low Countries, Vermandois and the county of

Nevers. In short time they have created a realm that straddles some of the richest parts of

France and the Holy Roman Empire. Taken together the dukes of Burgundy can command an enormous wealth. These economic resources have been used by Philippe III, the Good, to expand the influence of his family even further, acquiring title after title along the Meuse and Rhine in an attempt to connect his realm.

While France has spent the last century being torn asunder in the on-going feud between English and French claimants to the French throne, Burgundy has grown to be the cultural and economic center of western Europe. Nowhere are the knightly ideals of the late middle ages as alive as in Burgundy, with great tournaments, grand feasts, and of course the Order of the Golden Fleece itself. A knightly order created by the Duke, aspiring to recreate the knighthood of the Arthurian legends or Greek myths. The Burgundian court also dominates fashion and art, with fortunes being spent on silk, paintings and fantastic illuminated manuscripts.

The Duchy of Burgundy already rival many kingdoms in influence, income and even military might. By playing off the English and French against each other the Dukes have for a long time been practically independent. De jure however the Dukes remain both subjects to France and to the Holy Roman Empire. With the Hundred Years War nearing, what looks like, its conclusion, the future of the Duchy seems uncertain. If it continues its meteoric rise Burgundy could be the embryo of a new kingdom. A strong state in the middle of Western Europe. But the dukes have also gained many enemies in this short time. Should Philippe and his successors play their cards right there may be a crown in their future, but that requires taking risks that might well cost them everything, potentially reducing their glorious domain to a footnote in the annals of history.

Missions[edit]

Main article: Burgundian missions

Events[edit]

Main article: Burgundian events

Burgundian events centre around the Low Countries and the Burgundian Succession.

Decision[edit]

Burgundy is the only non Dutch/Flemish nation that can form Netherlands

Form Dutch Nation

The Dutch are emerging as one of Europe's most capable naval and colonial powers. Lucrative trade opportunities, locally and overseas, have resulted in a swift evolution for the country into one of the first capitalist countries in the world.


Potential requirements Playing with normal or historical nations Has not formed Netherlands before Is not The Papal State Is not Netherlands Is not Holy Roman Empire Primary culture is Dutch or Flemish or is Burgundy	Allow Administrative technology is at least 10 Is independent or a tributary Is not a steppe horde Is not at war Netherlands does not exist Owns core provinces Breda (95), Zeeland (96), Amsterdam (97), Utrecht (98), Gelre (99), Friesland (100) and Den Haag (4383)

Effects If not an Elector of the Holy Roman Empire and not the Holy Roman Emperor, remove all owned provinces from the Empire If country is Burgundy: Change primary culture to Dutch Change capital to Holland If country is Burgundy and France exists: All provinces in France region owned by Burgundy or their subject: owner and Burgundy loses the core France gains a core Cede province to France If government is Theocracy and religion is Catholic: Change government to Administrative Monarchy The Papal State gains opinion modifier "Displeased" (-50, decaying by +2 per year for 5 years) towards our country If government is Theocracy and religion is not Catholic: Change government to Administrative Monarchy Country becomes Netherlands Netherlands gains a permanent claims on all non-owned provinces in Low Countries region and Picardy area except Calais and Picardie If government rank is Duchy: Set government rank to Kingdom Gain 25 prestige Trigger country event "New Traditions & Ambitions" unless using custom ideas or already using Dutch ideas

AI Burgundy will not take this decision.

Provinces in orange must be owned and cored to form the Netherlands. Forming the Netherlands grants permanent claims on the shaded area.

Strategy[edit]

Opening moves[edit]

Burgundy's strategy isn't dependent on who has rivalled you, but in order to expand into England and/or France it is wise to rival your rivals first and then decide your ally through that. Castile often rivals England and France, sometimes both, so they make a great ally. They will become even more helpful in wars when the Iberian Wedding wedding has escalated and they have Aragon and Naples as junior partners. If for some reason allying Castile is not possible, Austria will always be friendly with Burgundy from the beginning and thus make a good ally, especially against France whom Austria will often rival from the beginning. Whether you want to start a war with England or France, it is advisable to do so when the surrender of Maine event has escalated. Don't start a war against either country even if their allies wouldn't join as Burgundy is simply too weak in the beginning, even with the help of its subjects Brabant, Flanders, Holland and Nevers.