Page 242 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

240  bel gium and l uxembourg region b y region

History of the Grand Duchy by a treaty that handed the
of Luxembourg Duchy to Philip the Good, Duke
of Burgundy, who ruled over
much of the Low Countries.
The grand duchy of luxembourg has been a sovereign nation Philip took power in 1443
since the 1830s. However, it has a far older history, much of and for the next four centuries
which it shares with belgium. over the years, the duchy’s Luxembourg, like Belgium,
borders have swelled and contracted with the fortunes of war, was ruled by the dukes of
and, until 1839, included the belgian Province of luxembourg. Burgundy; after Mary of
Burgundy’s marriage to
The country’s history is very much a dynastic one: a succession Maximilian, it was ruled by
of counts, dukes and grand dukes has led up to the present day, the Habsburg sovereigns of
with grand duke Henri as the current head of state. Spain and Austria. However,
the Prussians, the Electors of
cited as the first Count of Brandenburg and the related
Early History Luxembourg, but others give Orange-Nassau family also
When the Romans came to the this distinction to his descend ant held a claim to Luxembourg.
Luxembourg region in 54 BC, Conrad I (r.1059–86). In pursuit of his claim to the
they found it occupied by a Three of their line became Spanish Netherlands, King Louis
prosperous iron-working tribe Holy Roman Emperor, beginning XIV of France invaded in 1684
called the Treveri who had settled with Henry VII in 1312. In 1354, and ruled Luxembourg until
near the Moselle valley, some 600 the state was made a Duchy 1698. During this time, Louis’s
years earlier. The Franks muscled within the Holy Roman Empire. energetic military engineer
into this borderland area at the Wenceslas I (r.1353–83), the Vauban reshaped the
decline of the Roman Empire first duke, added Brabant and fortifications of Luxembourg
(5th cen tury), introducing a Limburg (mod ern central and City. The French returned in
Germanic language that would eastern Belgium) to his territory. 1794, when their Revolutionary
become Lëtzebuergesch, the Army swept through the state,
country’s national language. In ending the Austrian rule.
the 6th century, the Franks also
introduced Christianity.
After Charlemagne’s death in A Grand Duchy
814, the Frankish Empire divided The final defeat of Napoleon
in two: Luxembourg was in 1815 placed the future of
assigned to Lotharingia Luxembourg in the hands
(Lorraine). Luxembourg’s ruling of the victorious allies at the
dynasty was founded by Congress of Vienna. As both
Siegfried of Lorraine (c.922–98), the Netherlands and Prussia
Count of Ardennes and a vassal had claims to Luxembourg, the
of the Holy Roman Empire. In solution was a compromise. As in
963, he acquired the castle of Belgium, William I of Orange, King
Lucilinburhuc on the Bock, a Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy of the Netherlands, was appointed
rocky outcrop on which (1396–1467) by van der Weyden ruler, and Luxembourg was made
Luxembourg City now stands. a Grand Duchy, with territory that
This stronghold, fortified over the included today’s Province of
years into a formidable bastion, Burgundy and Spain Luxembourg in Belgium. The
became the hub of a small state, In 1419, Wenceslas II passed Grand Duchy also became
strategically placed between the away without a male heir. a member of the German
Low Countries, Germany and Conflict erupted between rival Confederation, a union of states
France. Siegfried is sometimes claimants and was only resolved set up to replace the Holy Roman

962 First Holy Roman Emperor crowned
1419 Rival
1312 Count Henry VII is claimants
963 The first castle on the Rocher du elected Holy Roman Emperor, to the
Bock, Luxembourg City, is built by but dies in 1313 Duchy battle
Siegfried of Lorraine for power
900 1040 1180 1320 1460
1443 Philip the
1059 Conrad I becomes 1354 The Duchy of Good of
the count of Luxembourg Luxembourg is created, with Burgundy steps
Wenceslas I as the first duke in to take over
Luxembourg
Seal of Conrad I
La Corniche and Grund, Luxembourg

240-241_EW_Belgium.indd 240 16/10/14 3:31 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Flashmap follow-on template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.5)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm