The Composite Monarchy of Philip the Good

The Dukes of Burgundy may not have had a royal title, but they were the quintessential composite monarchs. Each of their territories retained independent rights and engaged in a great deal of self-governance. University-educated experts in law and financial administration largely replaced the old feudal aristocracy as the Dukes of Bordenance. But this was a much more rational, bureaucratic, administrative approach to governing than what it replaced.