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 fued 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.

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Strategy[edit]

At the start, Burgundy is a nation with two distinct areas. Situated in modern eastern and northeastern France, as well as most of modern-day Belgium, Burgundy is the biggest rival for the French King to unify and control the French region, but at the game's start it is still a feudal patchwork of royal lands (territory owned directly), vassals and independent states. Historically, Burgundy's French ambitions were terminated in the Hundred Years' War when they sided with the English king, but it still remains a great land power in its own right, with its potential economic, military and political power mainly situated in the Low Countries rather than the French lands from which it originally came. Burgundy is hence well positioned to colonize or even form the Netherlands. Alternatively the imperial throne can be claimed, though actual eastward expansion can be slow and costly. Be mindful of the Channel, as although the English may purport to be allies, if they declare war on France within the first five years to force a union and win they may come after Burgundy next. This is no reason to fear, as a good Burgundy player can control, and defeat both the Germans and the French.

Strategy 1: Going for France[edit]

The Diplomatic Situation:

Burgundy starts off as one of the most prominent yet precarious nations in Europe. Holding 4 subjects, three of which are Personal unions and one of which is a Vassal; Burgundy has very limited options for diplomacy if the player wishes to not have their dip power points suffer. Starting relations with other nations can vary but the two most consistent nations with a 'friendly' attitude are Austria and Castile. This does not mean that they are the best allies however. While Austria is certainly one of, if not, the most powerful nation in Central Europe, they will not join an offensive war with France without the requisite 10 favors due to the Austrians not desiring any French land. But for the sake of keeping the Emperor amicable and for the coalition protection that having a powerful ally will incur, Austria is a fair choice. A Burgundian player's first immediate goal should be the neutering of France. For this job therefore Aragon and Castile are the best options. When the game first starts before un-pausing, check to see if either of the Iberian nations have rivaled France and check to see if either of the two nations desire French lands. This will enable a Burgundian player to promise land and start a two front war with France as soon as they wish. Due to the new Burgundian missions expansion to the south in Savoyard and Swiss territory is much more desirable. Thus, the choice of rivals should naturally fall to France,Savoy or Switzerland, and Provence. Due to all four of these nations holding land key to Burgundy's success.

The War with France:

The Objective:

Like with most rivals, the first war with France is the most important as it will allow Burgundy to quickly snowball at the expense of France. There are two possible war goals: the first being more risky but with greater reward and the second being safe yet profitable. The acquisition of Reims and surrounding territory would link the holdings in Burgundy with the Low Countries and gain considerable trade power in the Champagne trade node. This comes at the cost of a possible coalition. The annexation of Lyonnais would allow Burgundy to tap into the lucrative Genoa trade node. But this comes at the cost of a still halved realm and a more powerful France.

Preparation:

In order to make this war as favorable towards Burgundy as possible one should follow the diplomatic guide listed above and hire an 'Army Reformer' advisor for the morale or 'Military Engineer' for the fort defense. The extra morale coupled with Burgundian Traditions will allow the Burgundians to have a 20% morale boost right at the start, thus having a better army over France (who will most likely still have the better general advantage however) while the fort defense advisor coupled with the 'Defensive Edict' will net an astounding 53% fort defense to Burgundian forts, virtually ensuring no French gains will be made. The most important move to make is for the 'Surrender of Maine' event to fire. This is where one may wish to restart as for the war with France to be won very early on, England needs to refuse the surrender of Maine and declare war. If however one does not wish to restart, setting the national focus to military and demanding mil power from the nobility estate will allow Burgundy to gain the tech advantage on the French fairly quickly. Keep in mind however, that the subjects and allies of the Burgundian crown will be on the same tech level as France.

The War Itself:

If England's decision was to declare war, a few months should pass in order to get the French forces occupied with the forts in Normandy and Aquitaine before declaring war. This is where Burgundy could use their vassals in two different ways; once again, one way having higher risk higher reward, and the other being a safer, albeit costly (in terms of Attrition) strategy. The first way to use the vassals would be to set them all to siege down the province of Barrois or Paris while the actual Burgundian army goes south to help link the Iberian armies with Burgundy's. This strategy would allow Burgundy to rack up considerable warscore against France while also uniting Burgundy with their allies. But the cost is that the French forces may peel off from their English sieges and steamroll the vassal forces, leaving the Burgundian player significantly weaker. The second strategy of combining the vassal and Burgundian forces together will allow for a massive army that will have a much harder time being tackled by the French. This comes at the cost of massive attrition as this army will easily number in the 30-40k range, which is outside of the supply limit for many provinces in this time period so Manpower may become an issue. Another cost would be tactical inflexibility: Burgundy will have to pick one area and stick to it in order to make any gains there. Sieging Paris or Barrois is recommended as this will both accrue warscore (Paris especially) and allow movement from Burgundy to the Low Countries. Once these two primary objectives are completed the war with France should be taken slowly and thoughtfully, as the French still have the capacity to utterly annihilate Burgundy's forces.

The Remaining 15th Century:

Should the war with France be successful, depending on whether or not the Burgundian player has chosen to annex Champagne or Lyonnais Burgundy will either spend a few or many years to wait for AE to decay while consolidating and managing the realm in preparation for the next war with France (which should be much easier if the Champagne route was chosen). Expansion into Imperial lands is highly unrecommended at this time as the AE penalty will certainly cause a coalition war to fire when combined with the previous French conquests. Waiting for the 'Shadow Kingdom' in the 1480's to 90's is a necessity for expansion into Savoy as this will avoid the wrath of the Emperor and the AE caused by annexing HRE provinces. Also what will most likely occur is the loss of the alliance with Castile or Aragon (unless the promise for land was fufilled, but this is impossible while simultaneously acquiring the Champagne region). The vassal Nevers should be annexed by now, freeing up a diplomatic slot for more alliances. A strong Northern Italian state such as Milan or Genoa is recommended to help with expansion into Savoy and Provence. Another good choice would be an Imperial Elector such as Trier or Cologne. For if Burgundy wishes to expand into the HRE at all, they must either be the Emperor themselves or hope a weak Emperor gets elected to the position. Being elected to the Imperial Throne consistently will cause Austria to lose much of their luster. Allowing for their eventual defeat at the hands of the Burgundians and the acquirement of 'The Burgundian Conquest' achievement.

Idea Groups:

Idea groups are very often a matter of personal preference and in-game situations so recommendations are hard to make. But if the general rule of picking idea groups that further augment the National Ideas of the nation the player is controlling then Influence or Humanist should be the first idea group Burgundy should invest in. Influence would be the better of the two as this would solve two problems facing an early Burgundy game: Aggressive Expansion and Diplomatic Relations. While Humanist does help with AE, and when stacked with the Burgundian National Idea will allow for total or near total toleration of Heretics, it does not solve the diplomatic relations issue and many of the ideas in the group aren't needed until the Protestant Reformation. Military groups that come recommended are either Defensive or Offensive. Defensive would be a huge early game boon for Burgundian armies, as just the second idea of the group will allow the Burgundian Army to acquire a remarkable 25% land morale over other nations. The Fort Defense is very nice due to Burgundy having to rely on many forts because of their flat and open terrain. While the reduction in Fort Maintenance will save many ducats per month, as Burgundy starts with a large amount of forts. Thanks to the new policy system making them much more viable, Defensive offers fairly good policies when coupled with Humanist or Influence. Combing with influence will grant a minor Fort Defense boost and a rare War Exhaustion reduction per month. Offensive has great synergy with the Burgundian Ideas as this will allow Burgundy to acquire 10% discipline to augment their forces. Having generals with better fire and shock pips is always a plus no matter what situation one might find themselves in. Another reason to pick the Offensive Idea Group would be the excellent policies: when coupled with Humanist Burgundy will gain a further reduction in National Unrest and halve Years of Separatism. This makes the process of annexing newly conquered provinces much easier and rebel-free.

Strategy 2: Joining the HRE[edit]

At game start, if Austria is rivaled, it may be best to restart to avoid unlawful imperial territory later on. Provence, France, and England work best as rivals, to take land cheaper and with less ae.

To join the HRE, the player will have to obtain 200 (or more, depending on where the capital is being moved) administrative points. Then, while the game is paused, grant the province of Artois to Flanders and Charolais to Nevers (*). Then, the player will have to sell Picardy to Brittany and move their capital to Picardy and grant Bourgogne to Nevers. Then, the province will be sold to Brittany, forcing the players capital to be in the HRE. There may be problems with liberty desire, but as long as Burgundy keeps a large enough army, there shouldn't be any problems. At this point, the player can attack Liege, England, and possibly France when they are at war with a larger power (such as England in the Hundred Years War). This is so the player can attack Provence and peace out with France easier (since they will have high war exhaustion), annexing the eastern portion of Provence, along with Lorraine, as they are Burgundy's primary culture. If Champagne and Nemours can be taken, that would be optimal, as they can bring the player closer to Paris and give the ability to fabricate more claims. However, Liege is a preferable first target so AE can decay over more years, while not having any problems from losing too many troops (leading to liberty desire being higher). England can be attacked next, since Calais will probably have the modifier that gives extra tax and production. If they weren't taken, Normandy, Caux, Alencon, and Maine can be taken as well. (If possible and the English fleet is distracted, one can land troops in England, siege London, and give it to a PU). From there, the player should take over the rest of the low countries and move their capital (Antwerpen is a good pick because of the coastal center of trade) there to prevent the Dutch revolts. Also, Dutch and Flemish are good cultures to accept for the bonuses. For ideas, Influence and Administrative are necessary, to lower the cost of annexation of PU's and provinces. Administrative also synergizes with Burgundy's idea for on lower mercenary maintenance. Influence, however, can only be taken if one does not go for exploration first for colonies. One can choose to become the Holy Roman Emperor, colonization, or European expansion.

(*) is supposed to signify that if the player wishes, they can add Charolais to the HRE by manually setting the date to 1821 and back to 1444, which expands the borders of the HRE. Then Charolais would not have to be given to Nevers.