Grand Duke of LuxembourgLuxembourg is a constitutional monarchy whose Head of State is the Grand Duke of Luxembourg (or Grand Duchess of Luxembourg in the exceptional but twice occurred event of the sovereign being female). The Grand Duke's eldest son is the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Since 1964, the Grand Duchy is inherited within the House of Bourbon-Parma. The Grand Duke and other members of the Grand Ducal Family are styled Royal Highnesses. They are also Princes and Princesses of Nassau and Bourbon-Parma.
HistoryAt the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the Duchy of Luxembourg was raised to the rank of a grand duchy and was ceded to the new King of the Netherlands, thus also becoming the first Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Luxembourg stayed in this personal union until 1890, when different rules of succession parted the titles from each other. Specifically, the daughter of William III became Queen of the Netherlands, while a woman was not allowed to succeed to the throne of Luxembourg, giving way to a more distant relative. However, in 1907, Grand Duke William IV, having no sons, allowed for his eldest daughter to succeed him. The Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde had great impact on Luxembourgish politics, until she was forced to abdicate in 1919. Since then, the Grand Dukes have kept to fulfilling representative duties. Similar to the Dutch tradition, all recent Grand Dukes of Luxemourg have not died in office, but rather abdicated when they felt their heir was ready to assume the office.Grand Dukes of LuxembourgThe House of Orange-Nassau\n* 1815-1840 : William I (1772-1848) (also King William I of the Netherlands)\n* 1840-1849 : William II (1792-1849) (also King William II of the Netherlands)\n* 1849-1890 : William III (1817-1890) (also King William III of the Netherlands)The House of Nassau-Weilburg\n*1890-1905 : Adolf (1817-1905)\n*1905-1912 : William IV (1852-1912)\n*1912-1919 : Marie-Adélaïde (1894-1924 abdicated)\n*1919-1964 : Charlotte (1896-1985, abdicated)\n*1964-2000 : Jean (born 1921, abdicated)\n*Since 2000 : Henri (born 1955)External links\n* Accession to the Throne of HRH Grand Duke Henri - Official government site, with background information \nCategory:Luxembourg\nLuxembourg, Grand Duke\nLuxembourg throne |
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"I would have made a good Pope." - Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) |
