Occupation: Duchess of Burgundy,
Known for: signing "the Great Privilege" and, by her marriage, bringing her dominions under Habsburg control
The only child of Charles the Bold of Burgundy and Isabelle de Bourbon, Mary of Burgundy became ruler of his lands after her father's death in 1477. Louis XI of France attempted to force her to marry the Dauphin Charles, thus bringing these lands under French control, including the Netherlands, Franche-Comte, Artois, and Picardy (the Low Countries).
Mary, however, did not want to marry Charles, and, at the price of "the Great Privilege" which returned significant control and rights to localities in the Netherlands. This agreement required the approval of the States to raise taxes, declare war or make peace. She signed this agreement on February 10, 1477.
Mary of Burgundy had many other suitors, including Duke Clarence of England. Mary chose Maximilian, archduke of Austria, of the Habsburg (Hapsburg) family, who later became emperor Maximilian I. They married on August 18, 1477. As a result, her lands became part of the Habsburg empire.
Mary and Maximilian had three children. Mary of Burgundy died in a fall from a horse on March 27, 1482.
Their son Philip, later called Philip the Handsome, was held as virtually a prisoner until Maximilian freed him in 1492. Artois and Franche-Comte became his to rule; Burgundy and Picardy returned to French control. Philip married Joan, heiress to Castile and Aragon, and thus Spain also joined the Habsburg empire.
