Burgundian Kingdom: Map & History
The Kingdom of the Burgundians, or First Kingdom of Burgundy, was one of the so called "barbarian kingdoms" of the late Western Roman Empire in the fifth and sixth centuries.
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The Kingdom of the Burgundians, or First Kingdom of Burgundy, was one of the so called "barbarian kingdoms" of the late Western Roman Empire in the fifth and sixth centuries. It began in what is now western Switzerland and southeastern France, and was ruled by Burgundian kings who were successors of the older House of Gibichung, but also held office as Roman military officers. In 451, the Burgundians helped the Roman-led allies defeat Attila at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains, and in 455, they helped Roman-mandated forces led by Theodoric II, king of the Visigothic Kingdom, to defeat the Kingdom of the Suebi. After this, the Burgundians were able to expand their territories and their role in the Roman empire, and they moved their capital from Geneva to Lyon. In 534, the rule of the Burgundian kings ended and the kingdom became part of Francia.
Modern Countries Once Part of Burgundian Kingdom
At its mapped extent, Burgundian Kingdom covered territory in 6 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Luxembourg612–616 CE · nearly all
- France443–660 CE · most
- Switzerland443–660 CE · a large part
- Netherlands612–616 CE · a large part
- Belgium612–660 CE · a large part
- Germany612–616 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Burgundian Kingdom's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Burgundian Kingdom in Depth
History
The only source to date the Burgundian settlement near Lake Geneva is the unreliable Gallic Chronicle of 452, which records that in 443 “Sapaudia was given to the remainders of the Burgundians to be divided with the indigenous inhabitants.” Its exact boundaries are uncertain, but it lay in the Roman province of Maxima Sequania and included Geneva, and Neuchâtel.
The Lex Burgundionum law code, issued under Gundobad, nonetheless invokes earlier kings back to Gundahar, and beyond. One clause confirms the freedom of persons proved to have been freeborn under earlier “predecessors of royal memory” including not only his father and uncle (Gundioc and Chilperic) but also “Gibica, Gundomar, Gislahar, and Gundahar”.
Background
The Burgundians who were settled near Lake Geneva saw themselves as a continuation of the Burgundians led by Gundahar who lived west of the Rhine after about 406, and were slaughtered by the Romans and Huns in 436. The legal code made for the kingdom of the Burgundians by King Gundobad (died 516), mentions his royal predecessors (auctores) as not only his father (Gundioc) and paternal uncle (Chilperic I), but also Gibica, Gundomar, Gislahar, and Gundahar. As apparent descendants (or at least successors) of Gibica, this line of kings are referred to today as the Gibichung dynasty, a name which is drawn from medieval heroic legends, including the Niebelungenlied and the Völsunga saga, which depict the memorable defeat of Gundahar by the Huns in highly fictionalized forms.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kingdom of the Burgundians (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Burgundian Kingdom: Key Facts
| Capitals | Worms, Lyon |
|---|---|
| Founded | 411 CE |
| Dissolved | 534 CE |
Preceded by
Facts from Wikidata Q13590051 (CC0).
Burgundian Kingdom Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Burgundian Kingdom appears, with the other states of the time.
Burgundian Kingdom Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 583,653 km² in 614 CE.
Burgundian Kingdom: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Burgundian Kingdom exist?
The Burgundian Kingdom is dated to 414 CE – 660 CE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of the Burgundian Kingdom?
The capital of the Burgundian Kingdom was Lugdunum (461-534).
How large was the Burgundian Kingdom at its peak?
At its peak in 614 AD the Burgundian Kingdom covered about 583,653 km².