Editing Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor (section)

===Conquest of Burgundy===
In 1016 King [[Rudolph III of Burgundy]], ruler of the [[Kingdom of Burgundy-Arles|Kingdom of Burgundy]], was left without a male heir, and so [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry II]] seized the opportunity and forced Rudolph to name him as successor.{{sfn|Previté-Orton|1912|p=16}} Henry II, the son of Rudolph's sister [[Gisela of Burgundy]], was his nephew and closest living male relative. However, Henry predeceased Rudolph in 1024. Soon, Henry's successor Conrad II claimed to have acquired Henry's rights to the Burgundian succession, which Rudolph disputed. Count [[Odo II of Blois]], who had strong family ties with Rudolph, also claimed the succession. Conrad II met Rudolph III in August 1027 near [[Basel]] to settle the dispute. Henry II's widowed wife, Empress [[Cunigunde of Luxembourg]], mediated between the two parties.{{sfn|Previté-Orton|1912|p=27}} An agreement was reached that allowed Conrad II to succeed to the Burgundian throne upon Rudolph's death under the same conditions as Henry II. In return, Rudolph was allowed to retain independent rule over his kingdom.{{sfn|Previté-Orton|1912|p=27}}

Rudolph died on 6 September 1032, while Conrad was on campaign against Duke [[Mieszko II of Poland]]. Upon Mieszko's surrender, Conrad marched his army to Burgundy during the winter of 1032/1033. Conrad's rival to the Burgundian throne, Count Odo II of Blois had already invaded the kingdom to secure his rule and controlled large sections of the kingdom's western territories.{{sfn|Previté-Orton|1912|p=30}} On 2 February 1033, Conrad arrived at [[Vaud]], where he held an assembly at the [[Payerne Priory|Abbey of Payerne]] and was crowned King of Burgundy.{{sfn|Previté-Orton|1912|p=32}} 

Initially, Conrad made little progress against Odo and had to withdraw to [[Zürich]] in March.{{sfn|Previté-Orton|1912|p=32}} In April 1033 he negotiated a treaty of alliance with [[Henry I of France]], which was completed at the end of May in a personal interview at [[Deville, Ardennes|Deville]] on the Meuse. Both monarchs had Odo for an enemy, since he had supported the claims of Henry I's younger brother to the French crown. Conrad might therefore have been given a free hand by his ally to invade Odo's French fiefs.{{sfn|Previté-Orton|1912|p=33}} In two large-scale military summer campaigns in 1033 and 1034, Conrad defeated Odo.{{sfn|Previté-Orton|1912|p=33–36}} On 1 August 1034, Conrad officially incorporated Burgundy into the [[Holy Roman Empire]] at a ceremony held in the [[St. Pierre Cathedral|Cathedral of Geneva]].{{sfn|Previté-Orton|1912|p=33–36}}

Though Burgundy had been brought under full imperial control, the kingdom was allowed a remarkable degree of autonomy. Conrad rarely intervened in its affairs following his coronation, returning only in 1038 to announce his son [[Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry]] as the kingdom's future ruler. Crucially, the conquest of Burgundy augmented the influence and dignity of the Emperor to the benefit of the Empire. With Burgundy secured, Conrad controlled the western Alpine passes into Italy and could easily block foreign invasions.{{sfn|Previté-Orton|1912|p=40}}