The Utility of an Empty Title. The Habsburgs as Dukes of Burgundy

ABSTRACT Although the Habsburgs never actually ruled the duchy of Burgundy, they persisted in using that ducal title from the late fifteenth until the opening years of the nineteenth century. This article explores four ways in which the title remained useful for the dynasty: to claim a preeminent place among the ruling dynasties of Europe, strengthen its position in the Holy Roman Empire, obtain diplomatic precedence, and secure its hold on the Order of the Golden Fleece. By exploring the resilience of the Burgundian claim it demonstrates the long-term importance of such empty titles in the construction of dynastic identity.