Book contents
- Front Matter
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- Map
- Introduction
- 1 The splendours of the Burgundian court, or the limits of symbolic communication
- 2 Nobles in need of love and recognition
- 3 Opportunism and ethics in politics
- 4 The jewels in the crown
- 5 Awake, Picards and Burgundians!
- 6 Measuring and imagining: reflections on territorial consciousness
- 7 ‘Burgundianisation’, or the fantasy of a Burgundian nation
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
4 - The jewels in the crown
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 February 2026
Book contents
- Front Matter
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- Map
- Introduction
- 1 The splendours of the Burgundian court, or the limits of symbolic communication
- 2 Nobles in need of love and recognition
- 3 Opportunism and ethics in politics
- 4 The jewels in the crown
- 5 Awake, Picards and Burgundians!
- 6 Measuring and imagining: reflections on territorial consciousness
- 7 ‘Burgundianisation’, or the fantasy of a Burgundian nation
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
A further key cause of Burgundian political differences was the issue of sovereignty. Before the reign of Charles the Bold, the dukes saw themselves as French princes and there was no idea of an independent state until 1473 and the creation of the Parliament of Malines. Charles the Bold was the architect of this project, and his idea of sovereign power was linked to kingship and his desire for a crown, whatever it was. But the crown was not enough, and a prince needed to create a unified community with his people if he was to be successful.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The illusion of the Burgundian state , pp. 122 - 177Publisher: Manchester University PressFirst published in: 2026
Accessibility standard: Unknown
Why this information is here
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.Accessibility Information
Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this chapter is currently unknown
and may be updated in the future.