The Burgundians: A Vanished Empire: A History of 1111 Years and One Day

You think it might be a book about the Franche-Comte and it is strictly the lowlands and specifically Belgium. If you think WWI and WW2 the worst thing the Belgian people could face, read this book about their remarkable courage and standing power. Makes me very clear on why the Reformation started!

TOOK A WHILE TO GET. A GREAT STORY,POST ROMAN TRIBE MIGRATED TO NW GAUL BECAME A HIGH MEDIVAL POWERHOUSE OF WEALTH & AMBITION. THEY PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN THE BIRTH OF MODERN FRANCE,BELGIUM & THE NETHERLANDS.

This monumental work almost cured me of my obsession with the ruling houses of the Middle Ages. It tells the story of the House of Burgundy, an ambitious but second-tier player on the European continent from the 9th through the 15th centuries. These dukes held lands that were not contiguous and they wielded influence mostly though family alliances, trade, taxes and brutality and not by divine right. Although they were far wealthier than their French and English cousins, their vassal status impeded their territorial ambitions or monarchist dreams. Yet this fact did not deter successive dukes from acting like kings. That hubris gave rise to their power before leading to their spectacular downfall. So why resurrect a family of entertaining but conquered poseurs? What hooked me was how the high-living Burgundians used their enormous wealth (from trade in wool – and taxes) to hire court artists such as painters Jan van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden, and sculptor Claus Sluter. Their outsized patronage launched the Northern Renaissance. What’s ironic is that the Burgundians are remembered for their patronage of the peaceful arts and not their battlefield campaigns. You’ll read more about the latter than the former, in this deeply researched book. But author Bart van Loo takes the reader on such a vibrant tour of this strange and largely forgotten dynasty that I kept turning through the 600-plus pages. His writing style is colloquial and congenial, which makes the huge and redundant arc of the story more accessible and engaging.

Who knew that a kind of minor tribe from an island in the Baltic sea had such lasting influence to Western European history. Bart van Loo has an engaging style of relating history. His ramblings give enormous detail and depth to the time and people covered. Going into this book, i thought the Burgundians were winemakers, now i understand their role as a people who helped to create the Low Countries. Good fun

Incredibly lively and fun writing, especially given the topic (medieval history)

Is the constant barrage of clichés in The Burgundians the style of its translator? Or is this book’s appearance in English an accurate presentation of the author’s original narrative? The rich history of Burgundy deserves better! Andrew Laurie Stangel, PhD Professor of History and Civilization

I can't add anything to all the kudos already published, but i'd urge you to consider springing for the hardbound format if you can find (and afford) it, or perhaps the flexibound version. truly, the typeface in the paperback is so small as to be all but illegible.

My general history classes in high school and college barely touched on this aspect of European history. I actually learned initially from the novels by Dorothy Dunnett. Loo gives me the background and motivations this lineage took upon. Extremely fascinating glimpse into 14th century power and helplessness.

The perfect sequel to Dan Royal's - The War of the Rose's. Giving a detailed perspective of the Burgundy history leading into the 15th century drama of the Hundred Years War.

I've read a lot of history books and this is one of the best I've read in terms of sheer pleasure as well as improving my understanding of the period. This book covers many centuries of the history of Burgundy, with a hefty dose of French history and a sprinkling of English, featuring the mad, the bad and the dangerous to know characters of every period. The food, the pomp, the intrigues are all covered, as well as a recognition of the economics and politics underpinning it all. It's hard to convey just how well this book covers its subject and with what panache. Even if you've never heard of the duchy of Burgundy, if you like history, you'll love this.

The subject of Burgundy (and in the background, the beginnings of Belgium and Holland) is a very interesting topic indeed. And the author makes it even more captivating with the way he writes—light, entertaining, but without making a clown of himself or the reader. I liked it a lot. The only problem is that now I want to go to Belgium and see all the works of art and architecture from this book

Fabulous book and paintings

This is a well written and easy to read history of Burgundy, and in these trying times, we all could use a little more Burgundy and a good read. Author engages you on the first page. Enjoy