Episode 2: From Kingdom to Duchy

06/13/22 • 25 min

1 Listener

Grand Dukes of the West: A History of Valois Burgundy

In this episode we're covering the centuries between King Clothair's conquest of the Kingdom of Burgundy and King Robert II's conquest of the Duchy of Burgundy. A lot changed in that period and we're going to look at the decline of the Merovingians, the rise and fall of the Carolingians, the rise of Feudalism, some of the big events of Frankish History, and how Burgundy became a Duchy. I hope you'll join me!

Time Period Covered: 561 - 1016

Notable People: Pepin de Herstal, Charles Martell, Lothar I, Richard the Justiciar, Hugh the Great, King Robert II

Notable Events: Battle of Tertry, Battle of Tours, Treaty of Verdun, Capitularies of Charles the Bald, Viking Raids in France

Cover Art by Brandon Wilburn

Music by Zakhar Valaha

Time Period Covered: 561 - 1016

Notable People: Pepin de Herstal, Charles Martell, Lothar I, Richard the Justiciar, Hugh the Great, King Robert II

Notable Events: Battle of Tertry, Battle of Tours, Treaty of Verdun, Capitularies of Charles the Bald, Viking Raids in France

Cover Art by Brandon Wilburn

Music by Zakhar Valaha

Previous Episode

Episode 1: The Burgundians and Their Kingdoms

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Welcome to Grand Dukes of the West! This episode begins with an introduction to the show and continues with a history of the Late Antique kingdoms of the Burgundians. The Burgundians were not the most famous of the Germanic Tribes that menaced the Roman Empire in its twilight days, but they did leave a lasting legacy.

Time Period Covered: 406-534

Notable People: Gundahar, Aetius, Gundabad, Clovis

Notable Events: The Crossing of the Rhine, Fall of the Roman Empire, Battle of Vouille, Frankish Conquest of Burgundia

Cover Art by Brandon Wilburn

Music by Zakhar Valaha

Next Episode

Episode 3: The House of Burgundy

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Before there were Valois, there were Capetians, both in France and in Burgundy. The Capetian House of Burgundy ruled the Duchy for over three centuries and transformed it from a collection of territories to a single political unit. These dukes set the stage for their Valois successors to rise to great heights.

Time Period Covered: 1016-1350

Notable People: Hugh Capet, King Robert II, Duke Odo IV

Notable Developments: Monastic Reform (Cluny and Cistercian Orders), Peace of God Movement, Ducal Bailiffs, The Hundred Years War

Cover Art by Brandon Wilburn

Music by Zakhar Valaha