The Burgundians first appeared in historical records during the 3rd century. They migrated from their homeland in Scandinavia to the southeast, eventually settling in the region that is now modern-day eastern France and western Switzerland.
At times, the Burgundians were in a tenuous relationship with the Roman Empire. In the early 5th century, they were granted foederati status by the Western Roman Empire, essentially becoming allies in exchange for military service.
In the early 5th century, under King Gundobad, the Burgundians established the Kingdom of the Burgundians. The kingdom encompassed parts of what is now France and Switzerland.
The Burgundians became involved in conflicts with neighboring Germanic tribes and the Huns. The Huns, led by Attila, defeated the Burgundians in the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in 451. After the defeat, some Burgundians joined the Roman general Aetius in his efforts against the Huns.
In 443, the Burgundians signed a treaty with the Romans that allowed them to settle in the Roman Empire in exchange for military service. This relationship continued, albeit with some conflicts, until the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Burgundian Kingdom faced various challenges. In 534, the Merovingian Frankish king Chlothar I defeated the Burgundians, incorporating their kingdom into the Frankish realm.
The Burgundians are known for their legal code, the Lex Burgundionum, which provided insights into their social and legal structures. They also contributed to the cultural and linguistic landscape of the regions where they settled.
The Burgundians, although assimilated into the Frankish realm, left an impact on the historical and cultural development of the areas they once inhabited. The memory of the Burgundians persists in historical records, literature, and regional identity.
The Burgundians’ history is intertwined with the larger narrative of migration and upheaval during the late antiquity period, and their presence in Europe left lasting impressions on the regions they once occupied.