The Austrian Inheritance: Burgundy's Legacy And Future

In the grand strategy game Europa Universalis IV, there are several ways to inherit Burgundy as Austria. One way is to form a royal marriage with Burgundy and then attack and occupy their lands. Another way is to wait for the ruler of Burgundy to die without an heir, which will trigger an inheritance event. However, this method is not guaranteed as the inheritance may go to Castile or Spain if they have more than six provinces, or to the current Emperor if they have more than four provinces and a royal marriage with Burgundy. Additionally, declaring war on Burgundy and getting a high warscore can increase the chances of inheritance, especially if Burgundy's king is leading troops and dies in battle.

Marry an heiress of Burgundy

Marrying an heiress of Burgundy is a sure-fire way to inherit Burgundy as Austria. Mary of Burgundy, the only child of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, and his wife, Isabella of Bourbon, is a prime example. When Mary's father died in 1477, she inherited the Burgundian lands at the age of 19. To prevent the French king Louis XI from seizing her lands, she married Maximilian of Austria, who later became Holy Roman Emperor.

Maximilian's marriage to Mary strengthened her position, both politically and militarily, despite his lack of experience in governance. His competence in military matters and his prestige as the son of an emperor were advantageous. However, Mary's subjects viewed him with suspicion due to his foreigner status and his military ambitions. They feared that he would work to regain the Duchy of Burgundy and that his successes would only empower him further.

Before her marriage to Maximilian, Mary had received several marriage proposals from various princes. When she was just five years old, her father received the first proposal for her to marry the future King Ferdinand II of Aragon. Later, she was sought after by Charles, Duke of Berry, and his older brother, King Louis XI of France, wanted her to marry his son, the future King Charles VIII of France.

Mary's marriage to Maximilian and the subsequent union of their son, Philip the Handsome, with Joanna the Mad of Spain, had far-reaching consequences. It led to the joining of the Netherlands with Spain and the eventual control of the Habsburg's Austrian possessions by their famous grandson, the emperor Charles V.

In conclusion, marrying an heiress of Burgundy, such as Mary of Burgundy, can be a strategic move to inherit Burgundy as Austria. It is important to consider the political and military implications, as well as the potential for future alliances and the control of desirable lands.

Declare war on Burgundy

To inherit Burgundy as Austria, one strategy is to declare war on Burgundy and get a high warscore. This strategy is more likely to succeed if Burgundy does not have an heir, as their monarch and/or heir is likely to die in battle, triggering the inheritance event. It is important to note that the inheritance may go to a different country, such as France, depending on various factors, including the number of provinces controlled by the potential inheritor.

When declaring war on Burgundy, it is advisable to wait until after 1450, as this increases the likelihood of their king leading troops and potentially dying in battle. Additionally, forming a royal marriage with Burgundy before declaring war can improve relations and make the inheritance more likely to go to Austria.

It is also important to consider the potential drawbacks of inheriting Burgundy through war. If Burgundy loses land during the war, the overall inheritance will be reduced. Additionally, if the land is lost to a third country, it will not be included in the inheritance and will instead go to that third country. Therefore, it is crucial to fully occupy and control Burgundy's provinces during the war to maximize the inheritance.

Another strategy to increase the chances of inheriting Burgundy is to ensure that Austria meets certain conditions. If Austria is the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, has a royal marriage with Burgundy, and controls at least 8 provinces, the chance of inheriting Burgundy increases to 80% or 85%.

Inheriting Burgundy through war can be a complex and unpredictable process, as it depends on various factors and events within the game. However, by following the strategies outlined above, players can increase their chances of successfully inheriting Burgundy as Austria.

Ensure Burgundy has no heir

To ensure that Burgundy has no heir, you could employ a range of strategies, both direct and indirect, to prevent the emergence of a legitimate successor. Here are some suggestions:

Firstly, you could actively work to prevent any potential heirs from being born. This could involve discreetly sterilizing or otherwise incapacitating the current ruler of Burgundy, ensuring they are unable to produce an heir. Alternatively, you could target potential consorts or spouses, making them unsuitable for producing an heir, perhaps through character assassination or discrediting their lineage.

Another approach could be to identify and neutralize any existing potential heirs. This could mean discrediting them, ensuring they are deemed illegitimate or unsuitable to rule. You could spread rumors, expose scandals, or even fabricate evidence to tarnish their reputation and standing. If necessary, more direct methods could be employed to remove them from the line of succession, but these methods carry greater risks and may attract unwanted attention.

You could also work to influence the ruler of Burgundy, perhaps through bribery or blackmail, to ensure they do not name an heir. This could involve offering incentives or threatening exposure or punishment if they do not comply. Additionally, you could manipulate the ruler into making decisions that would disqualify potential heirs, such as enacting laws or establishing criteria that potential successors cannot meet.

Finally, you could foster discord and division within Burgundy, creating an unstable environment that makes it difficult for an heir to emerge or gain support. This could involve funding opposition groups, exploiting existing tensions, or even staging incidents that create chaos and make the country ungovernable. In the midst of such turmoil, the focus on securing an heir may be diminished, and any potential heirs may be discouraged from stepping forward.

Remember, these suggestions are direct and indirect ways to ensure Burgundy has no heir. The strategies you ultimately choose will depend on your specific circumstances, resources, and the level of risk you are willing to accept.

Attack and fully occupy Burgundy

Attacking and fully occupying Burgundy as Austria in Europa Universalis IV involves several factors and strategies. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Weakening Burgundy:

Begin by weakening Burgundy to increase the chances of a successful invasion. Exploit any signs of internal instability, such as a lack of an heir to the throne, as this makes the inheritance event more likely to occur. The absence of a strong male heir in Burgundy is a critical factor that can trigger the inheritance event.

Declare War:

To fully occupy Burgundy, you must declare war. This is a crucial step, as it directly leads to the desired outcome of occupying their territories. Timing your attack is essential; wait until after 1450, and preferably until after 1476, as the Burgundian event can occur between 3rd June 1476 and 4th June 1484. Additionally, aim to engage in warfare when Burgundy's king is leading troops, increasing the likelihood of their death, which can trigger the inheritance event.

High Warscore:

Focus on achieving a high warscore during your military campaigns against Burgundy. A high warscore will increase your chances of inheriting their territories.

Size and Royal Marriage:

Ensure that Austria has at least eight provinces, as this is the minimum size required to inherit Burgundy. If Austria is the emperor with fewer than eight provinces, six provinces are sufficient. Additionally, consider forming a royal marriage with Burgundy. This strategy can increase the chances of inheritance, especially if Castile/Spain has a royal marriage with Burgundy, as they will then receive the land.

Imperial Authority:

Maintain a positive opinion of Burgundy, as your opinion of them (not their opinion of you) is an essential factor in the inheritance event. Strengthening your imperial authority can also increase your chances of inheriting Burgundy.

Avoidance of War with France:

Ensure that the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, which Austria may be a part of, is not at war with France when the inheritance event occurs. If the Emperor is at war with France, the inheritance may go to a Royal Marriage partner, Spain, or a Burgundian neighbour instead.

By following these steps and strategies, you can increase your chances of attacking and fully occupying Burgundy as Austria in Europa Universalis IV.

Be the HRE emperor with a RM with Burgundy and at least 8 provinces to inherit all provinces

To inherit Burgundy as Austria, you must be the Holy Roman Emperor and have a Royal Marriage with Burgundy. Additionally, you must control at least eight provinces for the inheritance to always go to the Emperor. The chance of inheritance is between 80% and 85% if these conditions are met.

The death of the Duke or Duchess of Burgundy triggers the inheritance event, but it is not the direct cause. The event is more likely to occur if Burgundy does not have an heir, as the ruler dying without an heir can cause bugs in the game. The chances of the Burgundian ruler conceiving an heir are reduced until 1500 or until the Burgundian crisis is resolved.

To increase the likelihood of inheriting Burgundy, you can go to war with them after 1450 and wait for their king to die, as they often lead troops. The odds of inheritance increase at war scores of 0, -25, -50, and -75.

If you are playing as AI-controlled Austria, Castile or Spain will get the land after you if they have a royal marriage with Burgundy.

Frequently asked questions