The Politics of Space of Burgundy Dukes in the 12th-14th Centuries

With the height of the Middle Ages, Burgundy, including Dijon and Chalon, experienced a vibrant urban economy. The Dukes of Burgundy rediscovered the political and economic significance of ‘roads’ and ‘paths’ Particularly, Burgundy’s geographical location necessitated constant spatial politics involving the Kings of France, the Holy Roman Emperors, and the Pope. The Burgundian domain, expanding through routes such as the salt road, the Mediterranean coastal road, and the Great St. Bernard Pass connecting Champagne and Italy, faced new changes. This paper also focuses on the political strategies of the Dukes of Burgundy in expanding their authority through ‘spaces’ such as roads, rivers, markets, and fairs, which enabled the expansion of Burgundian lordship from the 12th to the 14th centuries. It highlights how the Dukes extended their power within the economic space of ‘via(roads)’, where markets, fairs, merchants, and currency moved, including the communes of Dijon and Chalon. The routes connecting Dijon, Chalon, and the Saône River were spaces that solidified the political standing of the Burgundian domain. Finally, the fairs and money of Burgundy were not only attractive sources of revenue for the Dukes of Burgundy but also indicators of their authority.