Upon the death of Charles the Bald, in 870. Burgundy was dismembered of the greatest part of its territories Burgundia ('is-Jurana, or that part of it west ul mount Jura (now St Claud,) was added to the kingdom of Pro vence, u hid) had been given to Boson, the brother-in la• of Charles ; and Burgoodia Trans Jurana, w Lich comprehended Switzerland, the Valais, the Genevese and Chablais, was given to Rodolph, the son Of C011rad, Earl of Paris, in 888. What remained of the ancient kiogdom or Burgundy was converted into a duchy, and continued subject to its own dukes, until it was Ihr,d1) united to the crown of France by Louis XI. in 1478 Its history during that period, however. is so c( mpietely involved iu that of France, it at we must re fe r our read( rs to that article. At present, we shall only remark, t ta' the dukes of Burgundy, by their various and extt nsive possessions, were rcg.,rtlecl at one time as the numt hn siderable princes iu Europe. Many of them rose to the throne of Frahce. Toe) were named, by a decree of Bar le in 1433, the first dukes of the Christian we.' Id. and held the next rank to Lings.
The province of Burgundy, before the revolution, ex tended 45 lea6ues in lch;,th, and about 30 in breadth, and was bounded by Champ .gne oil the north, by Franche Comte on the cast, by Lyounois on the smith, and on the west by Bourbonnois and Nivernois. It is divided by a chain of mountains, extending. from Dijon, to Loons; on the east of which is one extensive and fertile plain, ter minated by the mountains of Franche-Comte and Savoy ; but on the west, the country is rather hilly, and in many places dry and uncultivated. The soil throughout the province, however, is in general excelh r t, but so varied. that almost every district is adapted for a particular spe cies of cultivation. It produces various kinds of grain and fruits, tobacco, hemp, and flax. lie wool which is actually derived front their flocks, atoounts to between three and four thousand pounds, two thirds of wokh is manufactured in the province ; and its wine is t steemed among the best in the world, and is drt.nk all Europe. The produce of its v ineyards, in common years, is estimated at 100,000 hogsheads. Those of
Mont-Rachet and ROPIZIe yield the most esteemed wines ; though the wines of Volleiray and Poniard are reckoned the most delicate.
Iron mines arc found in almost every district. and sup ply above 30 forges in the province. hom w'ici .) quintals of iron arc annually transported to dill t parts of France. But the expenee of land-c• rni4ge yrt vents it from tieing in general requisition, as tie nno time provinces can obtain this metal at a cheaper rate from Sweden. Burgundy has also several coal mines, and abounds with an infinite vatietv of stones, which are capable of a high polish, and equal in beauty to any marble.
The manufactures of Burgundy are principally con fined to woollen stuffs, such as drabs. serge:, druggets, and blankets ; of which it is computed that from 13 thousand pieces are annually wrought from the wool of the country. They are, however, chiefly col sumed in this and the neighbouring provinces. It has several paper manufactories ; and its delf-ware is t, ual to any in France.
The principal rivers of this province are, the Seine, the Yonne, the Ain, the Saone, the Rhone, the Scille, the Loire, the Arroux, and the Doubs ; all of which are navigable. The Canal de Bourgogne joins the Saone and the Seine, by the river Yonne, and extends from Saint Jean de Losne to the village of La Roche near St Florentin, about 50 leagues in length. Part of it, how ever, is still unfinished (1812,) and the communication is open only as far as Dijon. Another canal, called the Canal de Digoin, or Canal du Centre, unites the Saone and the Loire from Chalons to Dijon. It is about 24 leagues in length, and contains 81 sluices.
The population of Burgundy, according to M. Bon vallet des Brosses, amounted to 1,072,800, allowing 800 for every square league, of which he reckons 1341. The name of Burgundy, by the republican division of the country, was blotted from the map of Europe, and it is now distributed into the departments of the Yonne, the Cote d'Or, the Saone and Loire, and the Ain ; which see under their respective names. See also Peuchet Dictionnaire, Stc. ; Gibbon's Rom. Enzli. vol. vii. p. 274, &c. 12mo.; and Tynna Almanach du Commerce, 1 611 . (it)