The Tree of Europe · Person

Charles I of Burgundy

«the Bold»

The last great Valois duke of Burgundy. He died outside Nancy in 1477; the French Crown incorporated the duchy, while his daughter Mary inherited rights over the Low Countries and Franche-Comté. The inheritance was disputed and did not remain a united state.

1433 – 1477DukeValois-Burgundy

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Contemporary portraitPortrait of Charles the BoldAttributed to Rogier van der Weyden · c. 1454Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin · inv. 545Public domain · PD-Art / PDM 1.0 · Source

Biography

Life of Charles I of Burgundy

Philip the Good’s heir

The son of Philip III of Burgundy and Isabella of Portugal, he was born in Dijon in 1433. As Count of Charolais, he opposed Louis XI in the League of the Public Weal (1465) and succeeded his father in 1467.

References: Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

The dream of a crown

He wanted to unite his Burgundian and Netherlandish domains in a kingdom between France and the Empire. He negotiated with Emperor Frederick III at Trier (1473) without obtaining a crown. He occupied Lorraine and Guelders, but his campaigns against the Swiss ended in defeats at Grandson and Murten (1476).

References: Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

Nancy and the inheritance

He died at the Battle of Nancy in January 1477. Louis XI occupied the Duchy of Burgundy, while his daughter Mary retained the Low Countries and married Maximilian of Habsburg. This began the Habsburg presence in the Low Countries.

References: Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 10 November 1433 Documented

Death: 5 January 1477 Documented

Role: Duke

Dynasty: Valois-Burgundy

Territories: Burgundy (ES) · Flanders (ES) · Brabant (ES) · Limburg (ES) · Holland (ES) · Hainaut (ES) · Zeeland (ES) · Guelders (ES) · Namur (ES) · Luxembourg (ES) · Artois (ES) · County of Burgundy (ES) · Auxerre (ES) · Ponthieu (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

Duke · Burgundy · Duchy Documented1467–1477Effective rule

Count · Flanders · County Documented1467–1477Effective rule

Duke · Brabant · Duchy Documented1467–1477Effective rule

Duke · Limburg · Duchy Documented1467–1477Effective rule

Count · Holland · County Documented1467–1477Effective rule

Count · Hainaut · County Documented1467–1477Effective rule

Count · Zeeland · County Documented1467–1477Effective rule

Duke · Guelders · Duchy Documented1473–1477Effective rule

Count · Namur · County Documented1467–1477Effective ruleBurgundian inheritance arising from Philip the Good’s acquisition of the county.

Duke · Luxembourg · Duchy Documented1467–1477Effective ruleDuchy incorporated into the Burgundian patrimony by Philip the Good in 1443.

Count · Artois · County Documented1467–1477Effective rule

Count · County of Burgundy · County Documented1467–1477Effective rule

Count · Auxerre · County Documented1467–1477Effective ruleFrench county distinct from the Burgundian duchy.

Count · Ponthieu · County Documented1467–1477Effective ruleThe cession of 1435 reverted to the French Crown after the duke’s death.

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

Philip III of BurgundyDocumentedIsabella of PortugalDocumented

Partners

Catherine of Valois · ESDocumentedIsabella of Bourbon · ESDocumentedMargaret of York · ESDocumented

Children

Mary of Burgundy

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Charles I of Burgundy. Each title retains its own status.

Period

Governments in 1473

Burgundian State14 titles and offices
View titles and jurisdictions
- Burgundy · ESDuke · Effective rule1467–1477
- Flanders · ESCount · Effective rule1467–1477
- Brabant · ESDuke · Effective rule1467–1477
- Limburg · ESDuke · Effective rule1467–1477
- Holland · ESCount · Effective rule1467–1477
- Hainaut · ESCount · Effective rule1467–1477
- Zeeland · ESCount · Effective rule1467–1477
- Guelders · ESDuke · Effective rule1473–1477
- Namur · ESCount · Effective rule1467–1477 · Burgundian inheritance arising from Philip the Good’s acquisition of the county.
- Luxembourg · ESDuke · Effective rule1467–1477 · Duchy incorporated into the Burgundian patrimony by Philip the Good in 1443.
- Artois · ESCount · Effective rule1467–1477
- County of Burgundy · ESCount · Effective rule1467–1477
- Auxerre · ESCount · Effective rule1467–1477 · French county distinct from the Burgundian duchy.
- Ponthieu · ESCount · Effective rule1467–1477 · The cession of 1435 reverted to the French Crown after the duke’s death.
Fiefs brought together under the Valois dukes of Burgundy from 1384 and their heirs. Before sharing a duke, each county keeps its colour; the grouping excludes other kingdoms held by the same sovereign. Source for this grouping

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

How these titles came together

1467 · Flanders · Brabant · Holland · Hainaut · ZeelandInheritance
Charles the Bold inherited from Philip the Good. A shared heir did not turn the separate counties and duchies into a single title.
Reference Reference
1473 · GueldersAgreement · Conquest
Charles the Bold invoked Arnold’s cession of rights and occupied the duchy militarily. The agreement alone did not guarantee territorial control or extinguish the Egmond claim.
Reference Reference

Selected explained accessions. Other titles remain in the profile’s list of recorded governments.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

27 recorded claims · 0 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
10 November 1433
The authority record gives the birth as 1433-11-10.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Karl, Burgund, Herzog · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
5 January 1477
The authority record gives the death as 1477-01-05.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Karl, Burgund, Herzog · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (5/5 with a precise source)

FatherDocumented
Philip III of Burgundy
Paternal relationship confirmed by the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
MotherDocumented
Isabella of Portugal
Maternal relationship confirmed by the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Catherine of Valois
Marriage confirmed by the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Isabella of Bourbon
The authority record identifies Isabella of Bourbon (GND 13285662X) as spouse.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Karl, Burgund, Herzog · Relationships: spouse → GND 13285662X
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Margaret of York
The authority record identifies Margaret of York (GND 118886452) as spouse.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Karl, Burgund, Herzog · Relationships: spouse → GND 118886452
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Governments (14/14 with a precise source)

GovernmentDocumented
Duke · Burgundy · 1467–1477
Duke of Burgundy, 1467–1477, checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Count · Flanders · 1467–1477
Count of Flanders, 1467–1477, checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Duke · Brabant · 1467–1477
Duke of Brabant, 1467–1477, checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Duke · Limburg · 1467–1477
Duke of Limburg, 1467–1477, checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Count · Holland · 1467–1477
Count of Holland, 1467–1477, checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Count · Hainaut · 1467–1477
Count of Hainaut, 1467–1477, checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Count · Zeeland · 1467–1477
Count of Zeeland, 1467–1477, checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Duke · Guelders · 1473–1477
Duke of Guelders, 1473–1477, checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Count · Namur · 1467–1477
Burgundian inheritance arising from Philip the Good’s acquisition of the county.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Duke · Luxembourg · 1467–1477
Duchy incorporated into the Burgundian patrimony by Philip the Good in 1443.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Count · Artois · 1467–1477
Count of Artois, 1467–1477, checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Count · County of Burgundy · 1467–1477
Count of the County of Burgundy, 1467–1477, checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Count · Auxerre · 1467–1477
French county distinct from the Burgundian duchy.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Count · Ponthieu · 1467–1477
The cession of 1435 reverted to the French Crown after the duke’s death.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Successions (6/6 with a precise source)

SuccessionDocumented
Guelders · Arnold of Egmond → Charles I of Burgundy · 1473
Succession checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
SuccessionDocumented
Flanders · Philip III of Burgundy → Charles I of Burgundy · 1467
Succession checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
SuccessionDocumented
Brabant · Philip III of Burgundy → Charles I of Burgundy · 1467
Succession checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
SuccessionDocumented
Holland · Philip III of Burgundy → Charles I of Burgundy · 1467
Succession checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
SuccessionDocumented
Hainaut · Philip III of Burgundy → Charles I of Burgundy · 1467
Succession checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
SuccessionDocumented
Zeeland · Philip III of Burgundy → Charles I of Burgundy · 1467
Succession checked against the source.
Treccani · Enciclopedia Italiana · Carlo il Temerario, duca di Borgogna · Dijon, 10 November 1433; son of Philip the Good; married Catherine of France (1439), Isabella of Bourbon (1454) and Margaret of York (1468); took Guelders in 1473; killed outside Nancy on 5 January 1477.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Biographical and contextual references (19)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

Follow this person through history

Story

Burgundy: the kingdom that never was

Charles the Bold: a crown prepared, death at Nancy and a European inheritance

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More paths from Charles I of Burgundy

Life of Charles I of Burgundy

Philip the Good’s heir

The dream of a crown

Nancy and the inheritance

Key details

Recorded relationships

Their titles over time

Governments in 1473

Sources for this profile

Evidence for this profile

Follow this person through history

Burgundy: the kingdom that never was

More paths from Charles I of Burgundy

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