Strategizing Austria's Conquest: Forcing The Burgundian Inheritance

The War of the Burgundian Succession, which took place from 1477 to 1482 or 1493, was a conflict over the partition of the Burgundian hereditary lands between the Kingdom of France and the House of Habsburg, following the death of Duke Charles the Bold in the Battle of Nancy. The only child of the Duke, Mary of Burgundy, decided to marry the Habsburg archduke of Austria, Maximilian I, to ensure her inheritance. This union was opposed by King Louis XI of France, who also claimed the Burgundian inheritance. To force the Burgundian inheritance as Austria, one must increase their chances by having a royal marriage with Burgundy and declaring war on them when they are at war with France or England.

Marry Burgundy at the start of the game

Historically, the War of the Burgundian Succession took place from 1477 to 1482 (or 1493, according to some historians), after Duke Charles the Bold died in the Battle of Nancy, leaving no sons. His only child, Mary of Burgundy, decided to marry the Habsburg archduke of Austria, Maximilian I, to secure her inheritance. This union joined the houses of Burgundy and Habsburg, and Maximilian fought to retain as many of the Burgundian hereditary provinces as possible, fighting off France and Guelders and repressing internal revolts.

In the game, you can mirror this historical strategy by allying with Burgundy and offering a royal marriage at the start of the game. This will give you a strong claim to their lands and increase the chances of you getting the inheritance. You can then take advantage of Burgundy's wars with other nations to declare war yourself and start taking their territories.

Declare war when Burgundy is already at war

To force the Burgundian Inheritance as Austria, you can try declaring war when Burgundy is already at war. Start by royal marrying Burgundy at the beginning of the game and then claiming on French-Comte. Next, wait for Burgundy to be at war with another country, preferably not France, and declare war on Burgundy. The higher the war score against them, the more likely the event will fire. As the emperor with a royal marriage, you will be in a good position to get the Burgundian inheritance. However, it's important to note that this strategy may not always work, and there is a degree of unpredictability involved.

It's worth noting that you can also try breaking the alliance with Burgundy and letting them go to war without your support. By not helping them in their time of need, you increase the likelihood of them losing the war, which is one of the conditions for triggering the Burgundian Inheritance. Additionally, you could try making Burgundy your rival and going to war with them directly, but this approach may carry more risk and could potentially prevent the inheritance altogether.

Another factor to consider is the size of your empire. If you are the emperor or any other nation with a royal marriage, your chances of inheriting Burgundy increase if you are large enough. This condition highlights the importance of expanding your empire through strategic alliances, wars, and other opportunities that may arise throughout the game.

While the above strategies provide a general framework, it's important to remain adaptable and make decisions based on the specific circumstances of your gameplay. Europa Universalis IV is a complex game, and influencing the Burgundian Inheritance as Austria requires a combination of strategic planning, opportunism, and a bit of luck.

Lastly, keep in mind that the effectiveness of these strategies may vary depending on the version of the game you are playing. Some players have reported differences in their experiences with the Burgundian Inheritance event, which could be due to updates or changes introduced in different versions of the game.

Marry into the Burgundian royal family

One strategy to force the Burgundian inheritance as Austria is to marry into the Burgundian royal family. This strategy involves forming a matrimonial alliance between the House of Habsburg and the Dukes of Burgundy. Historically, this strategy was employed by Maximilian I, the Habsburg Archduke of Austria, who married Mary of Burgundy, the only daughter of Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy.

• Establish a royal marriage: Form a matrimonial alliance by arranging a marriage between an Austrian archduke and the heiress of Burgundy. This will require negotiations and potentially concessions to secure the agreement of the Burgundian court.
• Reinforce the alliance: Once the marriage is established, work on reinforcing the alliance between the two houses. This may involve providing military support to Burgundy and protecting their interests, especially against rivals such as France.
• Press your claims: In the event of the death of the Burgundian ruler, press your claims on the Burgundian inheritance. As the spouse of the heiress, you will have a strong claim to the Burgundian lands and titles.
• Diplomacy and warfare: Employ a combination of diplomacy and warfare to secure the inheritance. Negotiate with rival powers, such as France, and be prepared to engage in military conflicts to defend your claims.
• Manage internal affairs: Simultaneously, manage internal affairs and repress any internal revolts or opposition within the inherited Burgundian territories. Ensure the loyalty of the local nobles and assemblies.

By following these steps, you can increase your chances of forcing the Burgundian inheritance as Austria through marriage into the Burgundian royal family. However, it is important to remain adaptable as conflicts, alliances, and political dynamics can shift over time.

Ensure Burgundy is losing a war

To ensure that Burgundy is losing a war, you can try the following strategies:

Firstly, establish a royal marriage with Burgundy at the start of the game. This will increase your chances of getting the inheritance. You can also claim French-Comte before declaring war on Burgundy. If you are the emperor and have a royal marriage, you are more likely to get the Burgundian inheritance.

Secondly, keep an eye on Burgundy's wars. Wait for them to be engaged in a conflict, preferably with a powerful opponent such as France or England. You can then join the war on the opposing side or attack them directly to ensure they are losing. The higher the war score against Burgundy, the more likely the event will trigger.

Additionally, you can try to weaken Burgundy's position by allying with their rivals or competing for their resources. You can also work to strengthen your own military and diplomatic position to increase your chances of victory in the conflict.

It is important to note that this strategy may not always work, and there are other factors that can influence the outcome. However, by following these steps, you can increase the likelihood of forcing the Burgundian inheritance as Austria by ensuring that Burgundy is losing a war.

Marry Burgundy and claim French-Comte

To force the Burgundian Inheritance as Austria, it is recommended to start by royal marrying Burgundy at the beginning of the game. This increases your chances of getting the inheritance. Subsequently, you can claim French-Comte and declare war on Burgundy when they are already engaged in a war with another country, preferably France or England. The higher the war score against Burgundy, the more likely the event will fire.

In the historical context, the War of the Burgundian Succession took place from 1477 to 1482 (or 1493, according to some historians), following the death of Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy in the Battle of Nancy on January 5, 1477. With no sons, his only child and potential successor was Mary of Burgundy. To ensure her inheritance, Mary decided to claim all of her father's lands, which was supported by nobles and regional assemblies in several provinces. However, this was opposed by King Louis XI of France, who hoped that Mary would marry his son and heir, Charles, thereby securing French control over the Burgundian inheritance.

Mary, however, chose to marry the Habsburg Archduke of Austria, Maximilian I, on August 19, 1477, joining the houses of Burgundy and Habsburg. This marriage helped retain many Burgundian hereditary provinces, as Maximilian fought off both France in the south and Guelders in the north, while also repressing internal revolts, particularly in Flanders. Through diplomacy, he reminded the French king of the 1475 Peace of Soleuvre and retrieved French-occupied Burgundian territories, including the Imperial City of Cambrai.

Despite these efforts, the Duchy of Burgundy and the County of Burgundy remained in French hands. In 1482, Mary died, and her four-year-old son, Philip the Handsome, succeeded as heir to her Burgundian lands, with Maximilian as regent. Negotiations between Maximilian and King Louis XI led to the Treaty of Arras, which included a proposed marriage between Mary and Maximilian's daughter, Margaret, and Louis' son, the Dauphin Charles. As a result, the County of Burgundy (Franche-Comté) and County of Artois were treated as Margaret's dowry and remained in French hands.

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