Borgoigne, Borgoine, Bourgoigne, Burgoigne, Burgon, Burgoyne, Burgundia
A region of southeast France.
In Wace, it was part of Arthur’s empire, and ruled by Ligier (Leodegar).
In Layamon, after Arthur won the war against Lucius, he established his European capital in Burgundy. From here, Arthur planned to launch his attack on Rome, but had to depart the area when he heard of Mordred’s treachery. Lucius, according to Malory, pillaged and burned areas of Burgundy in the war. According to one medieval source, Burgundy was the birthplace of Guenevere.
In the Welsh tale of Geraint, the father of Arthur’s warrior Ondyaw is called the Duke of Burgundy. In the Vulgate Merlin, Dyonas, the Lady of the Lake’s father, is a vassal of the Duke of Burgundy.
Burgundy | 400-550 AD
The Burgundians were an East Germanic tribe that originated in Scandinavia. In the early fifth century, they migrated southward and settled in the region that came to be known as Burgundy, situated in present-day France and Switzerland. The Burgundians established a kingdom in the Rhône Valley, with Geneva as its capital.
The kingdom expanded its territories and had a complex relationship with the Western Roman Empire. At times, the Burgundians allied with the Romans against common foes, while at other times, they clashed with the Roman forces. During this period, the Western Roman Empire was in decline, and various barbarian groups were encroaching upon its territories. The Burgundians, as well as other Germanic tribes, came into contact with the Romans and were influenced by their culture and institutions. The Burgundian kings adopted Roman titles and established a relatively stable kingdom within the region.
The Burgundians formed alliances with other Germanic tribes and often fought alongside them. For instance, they were initially part of the Hunnic Empire under Attila the Hun but later switched sides and fought against the Huns with the Roman general Aetius in the famous Battle of Châlons in 451 AD.
In the mid-sixth century, the Burgundian kingdom was conquered by Clovis, the king of the Franks, who established the Merovingian Dynasty. The Burgundians were integrated into the Frankish Empire, which eventually evolved into the Carolingian Empire under Charlemagne.
See also
Viviane | The Legend of King Arthur
Sources
Roman de Brut | Wace, c. 1155
Brut | Layamon, late 12th century to mid-13th century
Vulgate Merlin | 1220-1235
Geraint and Enid | 13th century
The Awntyrs off Arthure at the Terne Wathelyn | Late 14th century
Prose Merlin | Mid-15th century
Le Morte Darthur | Sir Thomas Malory, 1469-1470