Although the Dukes of Burgundy were not kings, they sure acted like they were. The Burgundian Court was one of the largest, most extravagant, and most magnificent in all of Europe. It was a center of artistic patronage, elaborate events, and grand displays. In fact, the Burgundian Court was so central to the identity of the Dukes and the administration of their lands, that some historians have claimed that Burgundy was a Theater State.

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By the Autumn of 1451, it looked like the political conflict between Ghent and Philip the Good had worked itself out, but this episode isn't called the Ghent Revolt for nothing. The recently pacified city would erupt into revolutionary violence before the end of the year.

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Time Period Covered: 1451-1453

Notable People: Philip the Good, Lievin Boone, Simon de Lalaing, John of Nevers Count of Etampes, Cornille of Burgundy, Jacques de Lalaing

Notable Events/Developments: The Ghent Revolt, Wapening of 1451, Battle of Gavere, Death of Cornille of Burgundy, Death of Jacques de Lalaing

In 1447, Philip the Good pitched a new Tax to the Grand Council of Ghent and when the body refused his request, the Duke of Burgundy became determined to humble the proud city. But by provoking a conflict with Ghent, Philip may have gotten more than he bargained for.

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Time Period Covered: 1447-1451

Notable People: Philip the Good, Daneel Sersanders, Lievin Sneevoet, Lievin de Pottere

Notable Events/Developments: Attempted Burgundian Gabelle, Beginnings of the Ghent Revolt

If the 30's were Burgundy's Critical Decade, the 40's were...less critical. But that's not to say that nothing happened, over the course of the 40's Philip the Good and his government continued to work on centralizing the Burgundian State and bringing it's component pieces into alignment.

Time Period Covered: 1438-1450

Notable People: Philip the Good, Nicolas Rolin, Hugh de Lannoy, William de Lalaing, Jean de Lannoy, Frank van Borselen, Reinoud van Brederode, Goeswijn de Wilde, Bengaert Say

Notable Events/Developments: Creation of the Rekenkamer in Holland, Reform of the Burgundian Council, Rise of the Middle Class in the Burgundian Administration, Creation of the Epargne

And 116 years later, the Hundred Years War comes to an End.

Time Period Covered: 1448-1453

Notable People: Charles VII of France, Henry VI of England, John of Orleans Count of Dunois, Arthur de Richemont Constable of France, John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury, Edmund Beaufort Duke of Somerset

Notable Events/Developments: Seizure of Fougeres, Breakdown of the Truce of Tours, Norman Campaign (1449-1450), Battle of Formigny, Gascon Campaign (1450-1451), Battle of Castillon

Believe it or not, the Hundred Years War is still going on, but now it's become a bit on-again-off-again. The Truce of Tours, agreed to in 1444, gave both sides the chance to take a breath and prepare for the future, whatever that might hold.

Time Period Covered: 1440-1448

Notable People: Charles VII of France, Henry VI of England, Philip the Good, Isabella of Portugal, Louis XI of France, Antoine de Chabannes, Thibaud de Neuchatel, Alienor de Poitiers

Notable Events/Developments: Truce of Tours, French Military reforms of the 1440s, Handover of Maine

In the mid-1440s, Frederick III the King of Germany and Duke Philip the Good entered into negotiations over the prospect of giving the Duke a crown. While Frederick pictured simply elevating one of Philip's territories from Duchy to Kingdom, the Duke of Burgundy was more ambitious and attempted to resurrect the old Frankish Kingdom of Lotharingia.

Time Period Covered: 1440-1457

Notable People: Philip the Good, Frederick III, Duke Adolph IV of Cleves, Duke John I of Cleves, Adolph of Cleves Lord of Ravenstein, Count Freidrich IV of Mors, Dietrich of Mors Archbishop of Cologne, Arnold of Egmond Duke of Guelders, Duke Adolph of Julich-Berg, Duke Gerhard of Julich-Berg, Rene of Anjou, Antoine Count of Vaudemont, Ferry of Vaudemont, Charles VII of France, Louis XI of France

Notable Events/Developments: Soest Feud, Münster Diocesan Feud, Battle of Saint Hubert's Day, Siege of Metz (1444)

After adding the Duchies of Brabant and Limburg and the Counties of Hainault, Holland, Zeeland, and Namur to his domains, Philip the Good set his sights on the Duchy of Luxembourg. But the Duke of Burgundy wasn't the only with designs on the Duchy.

Time Period Covered: 1436-1443

Notable People: Philip the Good, Elizabeth of Gorlitz, Ladislaus the Posthumous, William III of Saxony, Rupert of Virneburg, Ernst of Gliechen, Frederick III, Jacob von Sierck, John of Nevers, Cornille of Burgundy, Anthony of Burgundy

Notable Events/Developments: Burgundian Acquisition of Luxembourg

After the Kingships of Rudolf and Albert, the Habsburg's fortunes on the Imperial Stage diminished, but the family was still one of the leading Houses in the Holy Roman Empire, and their story is far from over.

Time Period Covered: 1290-1440

Notable People: Albert II of Habsburg, Rudolf IV of Habsburg, Leopold III of Habsburg, Frederick of the Empty Pockets, Ernst the Iron, Albert V of Habsburg, Frederick III

Notable Events/Developments: Birth of the Old Swiss Confederacy, Battle of Mortgarten, Battle of Sempach, Habsburg Acquisition of Carinthia and Carniola, Habsburg Acquisition of Tyrol, Privilegium Maius

When the Electors of the Holy Roman Empire chose Rudolf of Habsburg to be the new King of Germany, they were hoping that he'd be someone they could control. But Rudolf, despite being a minor Count from Swabia, would prove to be nobody's puppet, and over the course of his reign he transformed the fortunes of his family, and the Empire as a whole.

Time Period Covered: 1250-1330

Notable People: Rudolf I of Germany, Albert I of Germany, Ottokar II of Bohemia, Frederick the Fair, Ludwig the Bavarian

Notable Events/Developments: Great Interregnum of the Holy Roman Empire, Election of Rudolf I, The Battle on the Marchfeld, Establishment of Landvogts, Habsburg acquisition of Austria, Election of Adolf of Nassau, Election of Albert I, Double Election of Frederick the Fair and Ludwig the Bavarian