Geographical overview and historical introduction to Burgundy

Burgundy (English Burgundy, Latin Burgundia, French Bourgogne?)

The name of a historical region in Western Europe refers to different historical periods. Commonly used to refer to two kingdoms and one principality with other vast territories in addition to the French province of Burgundy in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Between the Jura Mountains and the southeastern end of the Paris Basin is the channel area between the Rhine, Seine, Loire and Rhone rivers.

The Burgundians, a branch of the Germanic people, settled in the Rhone River area in southeastern Gaul (now southeastern France) in the 530s. Around AD 457, the first Kingdom of Burgundy was established with Lyon in present-day France as its center. At that time, the territory included the Rh?ne River Basin in southeastern France and western Switzerland. In 532 AD, it belonged to the Frankish Kingdom. After the Frankish Kingdom split in 843, Burgundy was divided into the Kingdom of Upper Burgundy and the Kingdom of Provence (also known as the Kingdom of Lower Burgundy) located in the coastal area of ????the lower Rh?ne River. Occupying the area east of the Rh?ne and Sa?ne rivers in southeastern France today. In 933, the two kingdoms united to establish the second Kingdom of Burgundy (Al), which was merged with the Holy Roman Empire in 1033. In 877, Charles II (bald) of the West Frankish Kingdom established the Duchy of Burgundy in what is now Burgundy. It was merged into the territory of the French King in 1361. In 1363, King John II of France granted it to his son Philip. (Philippe le Hardi). Philip's descendants used various means to expand their territory to Paris, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Charles le Hardi (1433-1477), Duke of Burgundy, was one of the strongest rulers in Europe when he was in power and competed with King Louis XI of France for supremacy. Charles was defeated by the Swiss in 1476 and died in battle in Nancy the following year. During the reign of King Louis XI (1461-1483), after the war of 1474-1477, the principality was incorporated into France.

French wine country: Burgundy

The Burgundy region is located in central France, including the four provinces of C?te d'Or, Sa?ne-et-Loire, Nièvre and Yonne. The Paris Basin extends into the northwest, and the Central Plateau is in the south, with Dijon as its capital. It covers an area of ??31,582 square kilometers, accounting for 5.7% of France's land area; its population is 1.61 million (1990), accounting for 2.8% of the country's total population.

World-renowned wine

What Burgundians are proud of, and what foreigners are most fascinated by, is the wine produced in the local area. The whole sky of Burgundy is filled with the mellow aroma of wine. It can be said that Burgundy is a kingdom of wine, starting from the Chablis region, to Beaune and Marsun just south of Dijon, and to Bono just north of Lyon. Lai, the first thing that catches the eye is the endless vineyards.

The wines of Burgundy have enjoyed a high reputation since ancient Roman times and have endured for a long time. During the reign of Emperor Charlemagne, wine was vigorously developed, grapes were planted on a large scale and the market was opened. In the 1930s, wines in the Burgundy region were classified. Later, the place of origin was allowed to be used as the name of the wine, and grape growers were encouraged to use the names of their own vineyards as trademarks for production and sales. Therefore, the best wines in Burgundy bear the names of local plantations.

In Burgundy wines, white wines are usually dry, while red wines are rich and mellow. Among them, Chamberlain is known as the "King of Wine" and Homanet Fanti is the "Queen of Wine".

In Burgundy, a wine culture with strong local characteristics has actually formed. From Dijon to Rochebeau, whether it is a castle or a private hotel, the colorful rooftops are filled with unique vineyards. The most famous of these is Beaune's "Hotel of God". In Burgundy's wine culture, one of the most popular monuments, the "Almshouse", once played an important role. The courtyard was built in the 15th century by Nicolas Rolland, the French Lord Privy Seal and Duke Philip of Burgundy, and his wife, with the purpose of providing a refuge for the poor. Today it has become a museum. This tradition of helping the poor has been preserved to this day. Since 1059, a grand charity auction has been held every year during the harvest season, that is, on the third Sunday of November, and many famous actors have come to join in the fun. At this time, all smart wine producers will not miss this great advertising opportunity. So, the auction actually became a wine culture festival.

For the Burgundians, wine is not only a culture, but also an excellent "ambassador". They pay great attention to the image of their wines. Their wine must be stored in oak barrels for at least 16 months before being released for tasting. Burgundy wine is sold all over the world. People know Burgundy through its rich and aromatic Burgundy wine. Countries such as Italy, Chile, and the United Kingdom have imitated Burgundy wine to varying degrees. The wine that most attracted Napoleon at that time was produced in Burgundy. Of course, this also increased Burgundy's international reputation.

Colorful Life Scenery

The most attractive thing about this area is its colorful scenery and various lifestyles throughout the year. In addition to the beautiful glazed tiles in the Burgundy wine region, the gray slate of Malvern is also quite distinctive. This slate is attached to the walls of mountain houses and can withstand the cold wind on Shangfulan Mountain, which is 910 meters above sea level.

Burgundy has a wide range of outdoor activities, but the most fascinating ones are fishing and rock climbing. There are always countless people fishing next to the rapids of the Gul River. But the most ideal place for fishing is the Saone River. There are at least 10,000 fishing enthusiasts in Chalon-sur-Sa?ne, and there is also a fishing club that has won several French championships. The area has even become the capital of freshwater river fishing. Many people also enjoy rock climbing, and the limestone cliffs behind the grape-growing slopes are ideal for rock climbers.

The Burgundians like to eat strong-flavored foods, such as grape cheese and wine. These foods are fragrant and fragrant before they even enter your mouth, making your mouth water. Spicy food is also a pet of the Burgundians. Dijon is particularly famous throughout the country for its spicy mustard and "red juice". At local banquets, the snails are followed by a dish - "eggs boiled in red wine", and before the spiced sugar bread is the fine pork from Charolais, which is chopped with knives and mixed with various spices. Savor the strong mustard, and Burgundy red wine beef stew is also one of the famous French dishes.

Although Burgundy is located in the center of France and far away from the ocean, there is no shortage of fish on the menus of open-air restaurants here. There is a Provence specialty in Verdun, which is fish soup cooked with water or white wine and added with garlic, saffron, olive oil and other condiments. It has a delicious and unique taste and is very popular among tourists.

For centuries, Burgundy has been one of France’s pork supply bases. The locally produced ham is topped with garlic gelatin and garnished with red and green condiments, giving it a very cultural flavor.

The unique climate and soil conditions allow Burgundy to have many local specialties. People can taste vegetable roasted meat in Morvan and polenta and corn cakes in Bresse. Among them, the most tasteful ones are Bresse’s blue-clawed, white-coated and red-crowned poultry and Charolais lamb, which has been exported for more than a hundred years and is now sold to 65 countries. In addition, Macon’s “pants” (a sheep’s milk cheese), the sweet Sito wine made by monks in the suburbs of Dijon, and the strong Epoise wine made from Burgundy grapes are always exciting. Endless aftertaste.

Ancient history, culture and art

Burgundy has a rich historical and cultural heritage. The castle here is particularly fascinating. It was here that Wilson Torix at the Castle of Bracket was proclaimed leader of the Gauls. Today, the ancient castle is becoming a tourist attraction for Celtic culture. Former French President Mitterrand proposed a huge plan to reconstruct Celtic culture, which included the construction of a museum and a European Archaeological Center that would bring together researchers from all over the world. After the implementation of this plan, Europe can be said to have become the world's center for castle tourism and research.

A number of other historic places in Burgundy also have a strong appeal to art lovers from around the world. For example, the Abbey of Fontenay and the Cathedral of Veznet, both listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny, which was once the religious center of Europe in the Middle Ages. All these buildings are but a microcosm of the dozen or so cultural and historical attractions in the area. They each have their own characteristics. Nevers, the hometown of the Duke of Gonzag, is famous for its Italian pottery; Auxerre is famous for its Gothic cathedral and the Benedictine church of St. Germain; the pride of Auton is Its Gallo-Roman history and the pediment on the cathedral built by Gislerberti. ...Each province in Burgundy has its own characteristics, and each province has endless charm. In the land of Jonah, the residents of the village of Saint-Fargo gather every summer to perform a large historical drama, recreating the history of the castle, the Duchess of Montpensier, the "big lady" due to her participation in the aristocratic Fronde ( 1652) and was expelled from the palace.

Edit this paragraph’s list of Burgundian rulers

Burgundian Dynasty

Richard of Autun (880–921)

Raoul (921–923)

Hugues the Black (923–952)

Gilbert of Chalon (952–956) )

Ode of Paris (956-965)

Henry the Great (965-1002)

Otto-William (1002– 1004)

In 1004, the Duchy of Burgundy was merged with France

Henry I (France) (1016–1032)

Capet Dynasty< /p>

Robert I (1032–1076)

Hugh I (1076–1079)

Od I (1079–1103)

Hugh II (1103–1143)

Od II (1143–1162)

Huge III (1162– 1192)

Ode III (1192–1218)

Hugh IV (1218–1272)

Robert II ( 1272–1306)

Hugh V (1306–1315)

Oed IV (1315–1349)

Philip I (1349–1361)

Valois Dynasty

Philip II (1364–1404) (1364–1404)

John the Fearless (1404–1419)

Philip III (the Good) (1419–1467)

Charlie the Bold (1467–1477)

Mary of Burgundy (1477–1482)

In 1477, Charles the Bold was killed in the Battle of Nancy, leaving no male heirs. The Duchy of Burgundy was subsequently annexed by France. Also in this year, Charles' daughter Mary married Archduke Maximilian of Austria. This marriage gave the Habsburgs the remnants of the Duchy of Burgundy, known as the "Heritage of Burgundy", including the most important possessions of the Netherlands. Although Burgundy itself was actually under the control of the French crown, the Habsburgs continued to use the term "Burgundy" to refer to the Burgundian heritage they controlled until the end of the 18th century.

Edit this paragraph's list of Burgundian kings

We use the split of the Frankish kingdom in AD 843 as the starting date. Burgundy was then ruled by Carolingian rulers until 879, after which it began its own history. In 843 AD the Kingdom of Burgundy was divided into two parts by Charles the Bald and Emperor Lothair I. Charles the Bald received a small portion west of the Sa?ne (later developed into the Duchy of Burgundy), while Lothair received most of the east of the Sa?ne-Rhone (later developed into the Kingdom of Upper Burgundy and the Kingdom of Provence) .

Carolingian Dynasty

Lothair I (840-855), after his death the territory was divided into three parts, his three sons Lothair II, Charles and Louis II They won Lotharingia (Lorraine), Provence (Lower Burgundy), and Italy respectively.

Charles the Bald (843-877)

Lothaire II (855-869), received a small northern part of his father's Burgundian territory.

Charlie (855-863), acquired most of Burgundy.

Louis II (863-875), obtained most of Provence after the death of Charles

Charles the Bald (875-877), obtained the Kingdom of Provence after the death of his nephew Louis II and the Kingdom of Italy

Louis the Stutterer (877-879), succeeded his father Charles the Bald to the territory and throne.

In 879 AD, Bosso, the son-in-law of King and Emperor Louis II, opposed King Louis and declared the independence of Provence. In 888 AD, after the death of Charles the Fat, Upper Burgundy became independent under the leadership of Rudolf of the Welf family. So Burgundy was divided into the Kingdom of Upper Burgundy and the Kingdom of Lower Burgundy (Kingdom of Provence) after several divisions and mergers

King of Provence

Boso (879-887), Son-in-law of Emperor Louis II.

Louis III (887-928), blind man, son of Boso.

Hugo (911-933), Bosso’s son-in-law. After Louis III was blinded by King Berengar I of Italy, he took over the affairs of the country as the largest nobleman in the kingdom. In 911 AD, he proclaimed himself the vassal of Provence. He invaded Italy around 926 AD and defeated King Rudolf II of Upper Burgundy to become King of Italy. In 933 AD, on the eve of the invasion by Rudolf II, a compromise was made and the Kingdom of Provence was transferred to the Kingdom of Upper Burgundy. So the Kingdom of Burgundy was unified. After the unification, the Kingdom of Burgundy moved its capital to Arles, the capital of the Kingdom of Provence, so it was more commonly known as the Kingdom of Arles.

King of Upper Burgundy

Rudolf I (888-912), Count of Auxerre. His father, Conrad, had great influence in the Upper Burgundy region. Therefore, after Charles the Fat was deposed in 888, Rudolf was elected king by the nobles.

Rudolf II (912-937), son of Rudolf I. During his reign, he merged Lower Burgundy and unified the Kingdom of Burgundy.

Conrad I (937-993), son of Rudolf II. It can also be regarded as one of the longest reigning monarchs in European history, reigning for 56 years.

Rudolf III (993-1032), son of Conrad. During his reign, he was coveted by the Holy Roman Empire. First Emperor Henry II and then Emperor Conrad II. Eventually the kingdom was consolidated by Emperor Conrad after the death of Rudolf III. This Conrad was the niece-in-law of Rudolf III.

In 1032, the Kingdom of Arles (Kingdom of Burgundy) was merged with the Holy Roman Empire. In 1378 AD, Charles IV, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, transferred the Kingdom of Al to France, which had been encroached a lot by France. So the Kingdom of Al was merged with France until now. But Savoy and Franche-Comté, the other parts of the Kingdom of Arles, were later annexed to France. The last part of the Lake Geneva area eventually became part of the Swiss Confederation.