Their territory was long and thin, stretching from the hills of Burgundy proper in the south, up through the Low Countries to the North Sea. It was disconnected and difficult to defend. The Dukes dreamed of linking their northern and southern lands, potentially absorbing Lorraine and Alsace to create a contiguous "Middle Kingdom."
Under Philip, Burgundy reached its cultural zenith. He founded the Order of the Golden Fleece and became the wealthiest prince in Europe. He also famously captured Joan of Arc and handed her over to the English. duchy of burgundy
For much of its early history, it was ruled by a branch of the House of Capet. However, its true rise to greatness began in , when King John II of France granted the duchy to his youngest son, Philip the Bold . This established the House of Valois-Burgundy, the dynasty that would transform a provincial territory into a European superpower. 2. The Four "Great Dukes" Their territory was long and thin, stretching from