The dukes decided to do something about it. Within less than a century they expanded their territories considerably. The "great duke of the West" (Philip the Good) added the regions in light green, most of present day Belgium and The Netherlands, and therefore also deserved the title of "Father of The Netherlands". He also ruled the red regions for the church. The last duke (Charles the Bold) succeeded, be it shortly, to link northern an southern regions by conquering Lorraine.

Charles the Bold died on the battlefield in Lorraine in 1477. His daughter, the beautiful Mary of Burgundy, decided to marry the German Emperor instead of the King of France. Few marriages had such an important effect on the course of history.