The color burgundy is named after Burgundy, the famous red wine. Burgundy, the famous red wine, is named after Burgundy a historical territory in eastern-central France. Burgundy, the historical region of France, is named after the Burgundians, an ancient Norse people who allied with the Romans, back when the Roman Empire ruled Gaul. The Burgundians, like the Goths, seem to have originated in Scandinavia in pre-history. Whereas the Goths moved from Scandinavia to the Baltic island of Gottland (which means Goth Land), the original Burgundians apparently moved to the Baltic island of Bornholm (which means Burgundian Home). From Bornholm, they become involved in the affairs of northern Europe first as raiders and mercenaries, then (as the Roman Empire blew apart) they became colonists and administrators. At least that is more-or-less what historians believe happened… During the Middle Ages Burgundians became divorced from their Scandinavian/Gothic roots and they have long been French (Burgundian nobles sometimes playing a big role in French history).
A burgundy gown in the style of late Medieval Burgundy… (from sevenstarwheel)
Irrespective of the origins of the name, the color burgundy is a gorgeous deep red hue entirely fitting for an ancient race of cutthroat warriors. Burgundy is darker than cordovan and a truer red than oxblood or maroon. It is the magnificent dark red of undiluted alizarin crimson. Because it is such a vivid color, it tends to stand for sensuality, power, and violence.
Despite this wildness and darkness (or maybe because of it), burgundy is a very popular color in fashion and beauty. It was particularly en vogue in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when it was my then-girlfriend’s favorite color for lipstick and clothes. I distinctly remember seeing it everywhere back then. Today, the radiant sun of fashion does not shine quite so directly on burgundy, but it is still a popular color in sports, automobiles, and homegoods. According to the internet, burgundy remains a favorite color for lipstick in the Goth subculture (i.e. among teenagers and young adults who enjoy melodramatic and fetishistic costumes). So burgundy has made a full circle from the Goths of Roman times to the Goths of today.
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November 26, 2014 at 4:58 AM
Beatrix
Burgundy was also a popular 70’s ‘earth tones’ color. I believe it was considered ‘classy’ as in Ron Burgundy’s case (and his polyester leisure suits).
November 26, 2014 at 3:37 PM
Wayne
I wrote about burgundy because I was thinking about earth tone colors appropriate to the Thanksgiving season. I guess maybe I was reminded of the seventies (when I was a child) as well as the nineties (when I was a young swain). It is certainly a beautiful color which brings up many fond reminiscences (Ron Burgundy-type people notwithstanding).
November 26, 2014 at 1:15 PM
monarda
To expand a little bit, for a hundred years or so (during the 15th century mainly) the Duchy of Burgundy ruled over Flanders and was immensely rich due to the textile and (especially) banking trades. The wealth of its chancellor, Nicolas Rolin, became proverbial. During the Hundred Years War, it was Burgundy that sold Joan of Arc to their allies, the English, in their war against France.
The Burgundians during this era were known for their conspicuous consumption. When my husband and I visited Flanders (now Belgium) we were told the expression “la vie de Bourgogne” (“the life of Burgundy”) was synonymous with “living it up”, especially in wining and dining. Somewhat ironic, since in the wake of the wars of religion, Flanders became excruciatingly poor. Bruges, where the Florentine bankers once had outposts was to become known as “Bruges la morte”, “the dead city.”
http://www.jhna.org/index.php/past-issues/volume-1-issue-1/90-piety-nobility-posterity
November 26, 2014 at 3:45 PM
Wayne
That’s amazing! Thanks for presenting an overarching picture of the 15th century northern European financial market–and its attendant human excesses! Maybe I was on to something by pairing burgundy with the culture of the late nineties (and with the vainglory of power and wealth)…
November 27, 2014 at 12:56 PM
monarda
Here is an explanatory map from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchy_of_Burgundy#mediaviewer/File:Karte_Haus_Burgund_4_EN.png
To continue with your theme, the fabulous heiress of all these territories, after the death of Charles the Bold, was known as “Mary the Rich”. She married the Habsburg emperor Maximilian of Austria, and their grandson, emperor Charles V, ultimately left Flanders and went to live in Spain.
Burgundy today (Dijon, Beaune, Chablis, etc.) still gives the impression of extraordinary wealth. And while traveling through the region we were amazed at the resemblance of many of the women we saw there — with their dark hair and narrow, soulfully expressive faces — to the Van Eyck Madonnas.
So, people of the countries of Flanders and Spain, became poor, but the family of the Dukes of Burgundy did ok (if you discount hereditary madness and degeneration). Plus ça change, eh.