Burgundy

Republic of Burgundy Republica de Borgonha
Flag
Motto: "Ab ira leonis" "From the angry lion"
Anthem: "---"
Capital	Arles
Largest city	Lyon
Official languages	Occitan Arpitan
Recognised national languages	Occitan Arpitan Catalan Italian French German
Religion	Secular
Demonym(s)	Burgundian (Borgonhon)
Government	Unitary Semi-direct democratic directorial Republic
• The National Council	---
• National Chancellor	---
Establishment
• Kingdom of the Burgundians	411-534
• Merovingian Burgundy	534-751
• Carolingian Kingdom of Burgundy-Provence	855-863
• Synod of Mantaille	15 October 879
• Synod of Arles	--
Population
• 2019 estimate	26,693,542
GDP (PPP)	2020 estimate
• Total	$1.370 trillion
• Per capita	$51,324
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	$1.344 trillion
• Per capita	$50,366
Gini (2020)	30.2 medium
HDI (2020)	0.911 very high
Time zone	UTC (WET) UTC+1 (WEST)
Date format	dd/mm/yy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+42
Internet TLD	.bu

Burgundy (Occitan: Borgonha) (Arpitan: Borgogne), officially the Republic of Burgundy (Occitan: Republica de Borgonha) is an Alpine European country situated in Western Europe. The country stretches from its southern Mediterranean coast along the river Ròse, to its northern regions of Romandie and Upper Burgundy. Burgundy is bordered by Italy and Monaco to the south east, and France which stretches across the whole western border. The country is geographically divided into two major parts, the fertile plains around the rivers Ròse and Sòna to the west and the Alps to the east. Despite the Alps making up a considerable amount of Burgundy's territory, the majority of the population is concentrated around the two rivers where most of the largest cities and economic centres lay. Such as Lyon, Geneva, Chalon de Sòna and Arles. Traditionally, Burgundy can also be divided based on cultural lines with the north, known as Upper Burgundy, being viewed as the traditionally Arpitan region. While the south, or Lower Burgundy, being viewed as the traditionally Occitan/Provençal region of Burgundy. The whole population of Burgundy is approximately 26,693,542 inhabitants, with the largest city being Lyon with 516,092 inhabitants despite Arles being the national capital. Only having 267,482 inhabitants. Lyon also is the largest metropolitan area in Burgundy, making up with the surrounding areas 2,323,221 inhabitants.

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Etymology

The name Burgundy is originally derived from the Medieval Latin Burgundia, from Late Latin Burgundiones, which literally meant “highlanders”, which is also derived from the Proto-Indo-European bʰérǵʰonts which meant “high, mighty”. The name originally was used to refer to an ancient Germanic migratory peoples that originated from Scandinavia, the Burgundians. After the Burgundians were resettled in Sapaudia (Savoy) they formed their own Barbarian kingdom in the Alps known as Regnum Burgundionum,the Kingdom of the Burgundians.

Since then, the name Burgundy after the kingdom of the Burgundians was conquered by the Franks was used to refer to various political entities and titles. The Merovingian kings of the Franks often used the title “King of Burgundy", with Burgundy being one of the three main polities that made up the Frankish core together with Neustria and Austrasia. The name Burgundy also was used for the duchy of Burgundy within West Frankish realm and also the county of Burgundy in modern day Upper Burgundy.

However, ever since the unification of Lower Burgundy and Upper Burgundy into one realm during the 9th century, the name Burgundy and Burgundians started being commonly used to refer to the Kingdom (and the modern state) of Burgundy. This usage has remained to this day.

History

(In development, will be updated in parts)

Geography

Existing in Southern-Western Europe at the crossroads between the Italian peninsula and France, Burgundy has gathered many influences. The population of Burgundy is approximately 26,693,542 (2020 est.) with the average population density being - inhabitants per square kilometre. The nation sits between the latitudes of 42° and 48° N and longitudes of 4° and 8° E. Burgundy extends from its southern Provençal coast on the Mediterranean sea, surrounded by the Alps and Cevenas mountains in the Massís Central, stretching across the extent of the Ròse and Sòna rivers to its northern borders in the Jura mountains and near the Vosges mountains in France and Alsace. Due to this Burgundy possesses a great variety of landscapes and climates.

The nation is topographically divided into two major geographical parts. The relatively flat lowlands in the western side of Burgundy around the Ròse river, including its tributaries such as the Sòna and the Doubs to the north in Upper Burgundy. And the mountainous eastern side of Burgundy which is nearly completely dominated by the Alps from the south to the Jura mountains in the north. The largest flat geographical feature however worthy of notice in eastern Burgundy is the Transjurane plateau which contains the majority of the population that inhabits the eastern region. Majority of the population of Burgundy inhabits the western side along the rivers and the southern Provençal coast, both of which hold the majority of the major population centres with the exception of Bèrna and Genèva which are in the eastern side in the Transjurane plateau. Eastern Burgundy however is famous for its many glaciers that can be found in the Alpine valleys of Burgundy, which are also responsible for the formation of many major rivers in the region including the Ròse and the Dora Riparia rivers, and also responsible for the formation of lakes such as lac Léman (lake Geneva) and lac Anecí (lake Annecy). The largest mountain in Burgundy, Mont Blanc, can also be found on the eastern side including much of the country’s freshwater.

Rivers and lakes

the river Ròse in Lyon

Gòrgas de Verdon on the Verdon river

Lake Geneva seen from Chillon Castle

(In development)

Lake Annecy in the province of Savoy

Mountains

The Alps is by far the most dominant mountain range in Burgundy, making up a considerable amount of Burgundy’s total area. The country possesses nearly the entire Western Alps and a part of the Central Alps, stretching from the southern Maritime and Provence Prealps in Provence to the Transjurane Prealps in Romandy, the Alps mountains most northern extent in Burgundy as according to the Partizione delle Alpi (Partition of the Alps). All the tallest mountains of Burgundy can be found in the Burgundian Alps. Mountains such as Burgundy’s tallest mountain, Mont Blanc at 4,809 m, one of the tallest mountains in Europe and the tallest in the European Union. Other mountains include Mont Rosa, Burgundy’s second tallest mountain at 4,634 m which it shares with Italy. The third largest mountain the Dom at 4,545 m, Cèrvino at 4,478 m and la Barra de las Écrins in the Dalfinat Alps at 4,102 m.

The Jura mountains are the northmost mountain range in Burgundy, extending from the area around the town of Belley, around the lakes Geneva and Neuchatel, eastward into Germany ending around Basel. The highest peak in the Jura mountains is the la Cadena de la nèu at 1,720 m. There is also a mountain range in the western part of Burgundy, the Cevanas. A range of mountains of the south-east edge of the Massís Central. The Cevanas is the only part of the Massís Central that is in Burgundy, the rest of the highland belongs to France.

• Burgundian Alps
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  Mont Blanc

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  Cèrvino

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  Dom

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  la Barra de las Écrins

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  Agulha Verd

Glaciers

Glacièr de gigant

Mar de glaç

The Burgundian Alps contain many glaciers in its narrow valleys. Nearly all of them are situated in the northern regions of the Western Alps and Central Alps. These glaciers are individually part of 3 major drainage basins. The glaciers that contribute to the Ròse basin are located in the more western side of the Burgundian alps while glaciers that contribute to the Rhine basin are located in the more northern parts in Romandy. The glaciers located in eastern parts of the Western Alps and the southern parts of the Central Alps are the contributors to the Po basin which extends into Italy.

The Burgundians Alps hold some of the most impressive examples of Alpine glaciers, including the largest glacier in the Alps. The Aletsch Glacier in the Bernese Alps which carries 11 billion tons of ice into the Ròse valley, forming the Massa river. Aletsch Glacier, including other glaciers in the surrounding area have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the early 2000s.

Environment

The Greater Flamingo inhabits the Camarga wetlands in Provence

The European Lynx still inhabits the Burgundian Alps

(In development)

• Burgundian landscape
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  The Calanche are dramatic features on the Provençal coast

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  The landscape in the Cevanas

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  Typical landscape in Upper Burgundy

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  Lavender is the national flower of Burgundy

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  Scenery at Parc natural regional del Vercòrs

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  Lake at Rusino, Romandy

Culture

Visual art

The Starry Night (June 1889), Vincent Van Gogh, Sant Romieg de Provença

Irises (May 1889), Vincent Van Gogh, painting of Irises at Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole

Statue of Perseus and Andromeda by Pierre Paul Puget (1620-1694)

The swing (1767), Jean-Honoré Fragonard, oil on canvas

Burgundy has a rich artistic history with a significant impact on the development of Western art, stretching as far back as prehistoric times; with many paintings of bison, seals, auks and horses being discovered that date back to between 27,000 and 19,000 BC at Cosquer Cave near Marselha. A Venus figurine called “Venus of Monruz” also being discovered near Neuchâtel that is believed to date back to the late Upper Paleolithic period.

Modern Burgundian art finds its origins in heavy influences from Italian art and French art. Burgundy was one of the first regions of Europe outside the Italian peninsula to experience the renaissance, with artists from all over Burgundy travelling to the Italian city states such as Florence, Bologna and Milan. Bringing back influences directly from Italian artists. Some of the notable artists of the period being Nicolas Froment and Louis Bréa. Arguably the most famous Burgundian artist to come out during the advent of the Baroque era was the sculpture, artist, architect and engineer Pierre Paul Puget who had a significant impact on the development of Burgundian and French art during the 15th and 16th centuries.

During the Rococo period of the Late Baroque, Burgundian artists helped greatly in shaping the identity of the Rococo style and helping it spread to other areas of Europe such as Italy. The most prolific and famous Burgundian artist of this period was Jean-Honoré Fragonard, a painter and printmaker born in the city of Grassa who regularly got endorsed by the Burgundian and French courts, producing more than 550 paintings throughout his life. Fragonard’s art had a massive impact on the development of Rococo.

The Burgundian art scene truly came to shine during the 19th century and the advent of the Impressionist art movement, being the first country to embrace the movement with open arms. Many artists across the European continent and beyond fell in love with Burgundian culture and landscape, especially that of Provence. Artists and designers often spent their holidays and vacations in Burgundy, many travelling the country or moving to Burgundy permanently. These artists include famous artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Albert Marquet, Claude Monet and many more from around the globe. Some of Burgundy’s homegrown artists include Adolphe Monticelli, Paul Cézanne, Friedrich Eckenfelder and many more lesser known Burgundian artists. Many art schools across Burgundy also gained popularity during this time, especially those in Lion, Genèva, Marselha and Arle such as the Arle Academy of Fine Arts.

This world convergence of world artists in Burgundy continued into the 20th century ---

WIP

• Burgundian landscape
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  Genèva (Aug 4 1858) painted by Frances Elizabeth Wynne

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  Lake Geneva and Mount Blanc, Joseph Mallord William Turner, View from Lake Geneva with Mont Blanc visible in the background

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  The Basket of Apples (1890-1894), Paul Cézanne, oil on canvas

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  L'Estaque with Red Roofs (1885), Paul Cézanne, painting of L'Estaque just outside Marselha

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  The Port of Niça (1882), Berthe Morisot, painting depicting the port of Niça, Provence

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  The Port of Sant Tropetz (1901), Paul Signac, oil on canvas

Architecture

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