Alternative History
Burgundian Royal Navy
Flag of Cross of Burgundy
The Navy jack of the Burgundian Royal Navy.
Founded September 20, 1465; 559 years ago (September 20, 1465)
Country Burgundy
Branch Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Burgundy
Type Blue-water Navy
Part of Ministry of War
Headquarters Amsterdam
Nickname Burgundy’s Wall
Motto "Nullus Alius Murus"
No Other Wall
March Jaws of Elba
Engagements War of the Lions
War of the Neapolitan Succession
War of Burgundian Independence
Anglo-Burgundian Wars
Franco-Burgundian Wars
Great European War
War of the Rhine
Commonwealth War
Commanders
Commander Grand Admiral Graf Hendrik vun Lure
Monarch Queen Viktoria
Notable
commanders
Jean de Luxembourg, Michiel de Ruyter, King Henri I, Frans Wacht, Graf Hendrik vun Lure
Insignia
Naval ensign
Flag of Luxembourg (TONK)
Naval jack
Flag of Cross of Burgundy

The Burgundian Royal Navy (Burgundian: Kinnigleche Marine, “Royal Navy”) is the Navy of the Kingdom of Burgundy. Though officially founded as the Royal Navy in 1465, the modern navy traces its roots to the reforms of Jean de Luxembourg in the first half of the 15th century.

History[]

The Duchy of Burgundy originally did not possess a navy due to its landlocked status, that changed in the late 1300s when Duke Philip the Bold inherited the County of Flanders. Even then, the small force owed its allegiance to Flanders first and foremost, and Duke Philip worked hard through the early 15th century turning it into a proper seagoing force loyal to the Burgundian monarch.

Rise of the Navy and the Iron Bastard[]

Duke Philips reforms were tested for the first time in 1418, as the War of the Lions gathered steam. The County of Holland - which included the Counties of Zeeland and Hainaut as well - had joined the coalition fighting the Prussian-Austrian-Burgundian alliance, and due to its proximity, the neutralization of the County became a priority. Holland attempted a blockade of the Flemish port Ostend, but the Burgundian-Flemish Navy, under the commander of Admiral of Flanders Robert van Gent, had sortied to meet them.

During the Battle of Ostend, Admiral van Gent was killed by a matchlock bullet, and his flagships captain was wounded by splintering wood. Van Gents flag lieutenant, an 18 year-old by the name of Jean de Luxembourg, recognizing the danger confusion of leadership can cause, took command in the aftermath. Organizing the fleet with the cannon armed ships as priority, he formed the first known example of the line of battle. Bringing his cannons to bear, he was able to turn the tide against the Hollanders, winning a smashing victory over the Hollanders, and allowing Duke John to advance unmolested to his equally smashing victory at the Battle of Rotterdam.

The victory at Ostend was quickly followed by victories over Denmark at the Battles of Skagerrak and Rugia, and over Pomerania at the Battle of Stettin after that Duchy switched sides. The latter two especially constituted serious risk, as they required Luxembourg’s fleet to run the fortifications of the Øresund. In doing so, Jean de Luxembourg displayed a level of initiative and aggression that serves as the example for the Royal Navy to this day, and earned him the moniker “Iron Bastard”, after his illegitimate birth.

Following the end of the War of the Lions, the Navy was further expanded and reformed. Luxembourg ordered the increased use of cannon, a result of his experience with the weapons during battle, and had the shipwrights begin designing ships centered around mounting as many cannons as possible, a line of thought that would lead to the conception of the galleon in the late 15th century.

The young Burgundian Navy would be tested again when the War of the Neapolitan Succession broke out in the 1430s. Supporting the claim of France, the navy embarked on a long voyage to the Mediterranean, linking up with a Castilian Fleet. Again in overall command, Jean de Luxembourg took his fleet around the western coast of Sicily, sailing north along the Neapolitan coast. A combined Milanese-Genoan fleet, hearing of their arrival, sailed south towards Luxembourg’s fleet to engaged them.

The Battle of Elba sits as the largest naval battle in history, and Jean de Luxembourg’s crowning victory. Despite being outnumbered by almost three-to-one (300 Burgundian-Castilian ships against 836 Italian ships), the Burgundians aggressiveness surprised the Italians, and after a day of combat, the Burgundians held the upper hand. The second day of battle saw Italian fortunes rebound, inflicting the most casualties of the battle onto the Burgundian and Castilian fleet. Concluding that the longer the battle carried on, the more the Italians’ superior numbers will influence the outcome, Jean de Luxembourg decided to gamble the battle on a high-risk night action against the Italians in their anchorage.

The gamble, despite the risk of confusion, mis-identification, navigational hazards, and simply getting lost, paid off spectacularly. On the night of May 6-7, 1438, some 300 Italian ships were either sunk, boarded and taken, or surrendered. In total, 555 Italian warships were either sunk or captured in the Battle of Elba, and the same Burgundian-Castilian fleet would go on to aid in the sack of Genoa.

A New Kingdom and Its Navy[]

Current Disposition[]

The Burgundian Navy currently fields three main fleets, the High Seas Fleet, the Mediterranean Fleet, and the Singapore Fleet. As of 1890, there is no significant detachment of the Burgundian Navy in Arcadia or Laurentia - with the exception of the Panama Squadron - instead the Royal Borealian and Guyanese Navies take over duties that would befall the Burgundians.

High Seas Fleet (Héichséiflott)[]

The oldest active fleet, the High Seas Fleet traces its origin to the late 16th century, when the Royal Navy was authorized to form two Battle fleets, the High Seas Fleet, responsible for the English Channel and west, and the German Sea Fleet, responsible for the North Sea. Over time, the High Seas Fleet, with its larger area of responsibility, grew larger and was prioritized for newer ships and equipment, and eventually absorbed the smaller German Sea Fleet during the late 18th century. Today, the High Seas Fleet is Burgundy's primary battle fleet.

Organization[]

  • Scouting/Battlecruiser Force
    • I Battlecruiser Squadron: SMS Driemarines (KS-20, 1918), SMS Kearsarge (KS-22, 1919), SMS Elba (KS-14, 1916), SMS Trafalgar (KS-15, 1916),
    • II Battlecruiser Squadron: SMS Medway (KS-16, 1916), SMS Skagerrak (KS-17, 1916), SMS Finnisterre (KS-18, 1916)
    • V Cruiser Squadron: 12 light cruisers
    • IV Cruiser Squadron: 12 light cruisers
    • VII Destroyer Division: 15 TBDs
    • VIII Destroyer Division 16 TBDs
    • IX Destroyer Division: 15 TBDs
    • Attached unassigned aircraft carriers: SMS Fokker (KV-1, 1918)


  • Screening Force
    • VI Cruiser Squadron: 12 light cruisers
    • VII Cruiser Squadron: 12 light cruisers
    • I Destroyer Division: 16 TBDs
    • II Destroyer Division: 16 TBDs
    • III Destroyer Division: 16 TBDs
    • IV Destroyer Division: 16 TBDs
    • VI Destroyer Division: 15 TBDs
  • Battle Line
    • Fleet Flagship (at head of I Battle Squadron): SMS Kales (SS-78, 1914)
    • V Battle Squadron: SMS Eisenbastard (SS-86, 1918), SMS Sint Sigismund (SS-87, 1919), SMS Austrasien (SS-88, 1919)
    • I Battle Squadron: SMS Basel (SS-79, 1915), SMS Vermandois (SS-80, 1914), SMS Amiens (SS-81, 1915)
    • II Battle Squadron: SMS Ponthieu (SS-71, 1913), , SMS Champagne (SS-76, 1914), SMS Loutrengen (SS-77, 1915)
    • III Battle Squadron: SMS Brabant (SS-73, 1913), SMS Zweebrúcken, (SS-74, 1913), SMS Metz (SS-75, 1914)
    • IV Battle Squadron: SMS Flanderen (SS-72, 1913), SMS Namur (SS-69, 1913), SMS Hainaut (SS-70, 1913)

Singapore Fleet (Singapurflott)[]

Organization[]

  • Scouting Force
    • IV Scouting Squadron: SMS Maastricht (KL-1, 1900), SMS Baaschtnech (KL-2 1900), SMS Rijsel (KL-3, 1900)
  • Screening Force
    • III Cruiser Squadron: SMS Duisbeurg (CA, 1886), SMS Nauw van Dover (CA, 1886), three additional armored cruisers
    • V Cruiser Squadron: nine protected cruisers
    • V Torpedo Division: ten torpedo boats
    • II Destroyer Division: 11 destroyers
  • Battle line
    • I Battleship Division (Malaya): SMMS Malaja (SS-1, 1915), SMMS Kedah (SS-2, 1915), SMMS Perak (SS-3, 1915)

Naval Station, Kapstad[]

Organization[]

Naval Station, Bonapaartstad[]

Organization[]

Notable Ships[]