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% Mercenary manpower

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/Frisian 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, Flemish or Frisian 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.

Strategy[edit]

A Wise King Never Seeks Out War But Must Always be Ready For It[edit]

Keep that in mind, Burgundy's strategy isn't dependent on who has rivaled you, but depends on who you target first. To expand into England, Austria and/or France, player should rival your rivals first and then decide your ally through that.

Your starting ruler is a 5 5 5 strong but old king, so make sure you ahead of your enemy's military tech and keep the king safe. Remember! A wise king could turn a bad condition into a good one. Most of the time, you would want to start a war with England or France first, it is advisable to do so when the Surrender of Maine event has escalated.

Diplomacy[edit]

Never 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. HRE Diplomacy is important, but at the start, Burgundy is not ready for it, especially the emperor Austria always defend for it.

France and England on the other hand are fighting each other, so the chance is obvious. Crushing France basically is a must for Burgundy, while England is not much a threat due to weaker army. 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 sometimes is friendly with Burgundy from the beginning and thus make a good ally, especially against France Aggression whom Austria will often rival from the beginning. Besides, as a Catholic nation, it is better to get pope supporting you. Savoy is a good short term ally as they usually friendly with you and may find useful to kill big nations such as Austria and France. However, Savoy might be a target for Burgundy, so don't hesitate to kill them after the shadow kingdom event, if you want to.

Expansion[edit]

Mercenaries are very crucial, even in the first battle. Don't hesitate to take out loans often, because you will need them. Declare the first war on France could be tricky, as France could get strong allies such as Aragon, Castile, Venice or even Denmark. However, declare Provence could bring Savoy and Papal States to fight with you. France should be broken by that. You might want England taking some French lands, so that when you declare them. They could give a high price.

If you just want the achievement, after your invasion on French and English one by one, player could take steps in Italy and HRE to reach Austria. The Burgundian Conquest requires both France and Austria becoming vassals. Poland, Bohemia or even Ottomans could be your future ally. However, the further expansion at this stage should be no big problem.

Ideas[edit]

Burgundy's idea is more focused on economy and mercenary while having good diplomacy, so a small Burgundy could do many style as you want.

Economic ideas is a powerful idea group allowing the player to build a strong economy just to be prosperous .
Influence ideas allows you a vassal swarm as well as getting faster inheritance from your PU subjects.
Diplomatic ideas helps you to control HRE electors and thus expand eastern without the need of colonization.
Innovative ideas may be desired for a further mercenary cost reduction and cheaper technology.
Exploration ideas is usually tough for Burgundy because of survival and mediocre location. However, after Annexing France, their economy should be great to hold colonies.
Expansion ideas with exploration ideas, Burgundy has the best trade nodes, money from the new world should overcome the cost of colonization.
Administrative ideas would be a very good choice for its mercenary benefits. If the player is very aggressive, the core-creation cost reduction will also be beneficial.
Quantity ideas a small burgundy could do huge army with many forts, essential to defend big nations and expand rapidly.