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List of monarchs of Luxembourg facts for kids

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The territory of Luxembourg has been led by different rulers throughout history. It was first governed by counts, then by dukes, and now by grand dukes. Luxembourg was part of the medieval Kingdom of Germany and later the Holy Roman Empire before it became an independent country in 1815.

Luxembourg's Early Rulers: Counts and Dukes

The Counts of Luxembourg

For many centuries, Luxembourg was known as a "county," and its leaders were called Counts. These counts played a big role in shaping the region.

The First Counts: House of Ardenne–Luxembourg

The story of Luxembourg's rulers begins with Siegfried, who became the first Count around 963. He is often seen as the founder of Luxembourg. His family, the House of Ardenne–Luxembourg, ruled for a long time, helping to establish the area.

Image Name Reign Relationship
Siegfried I of Luxembourg.jpg
Siegfried 963 – 998 Founder of the County
Arms of the Count of Luxembourg.svg
Henry I 998 – 1026 His son
Conrad I, Count of Luxembourg.png
Conrad I 1059 – 1086 His son
  • Note: Many other counts ruled during this period, continuing the family line.*

Later Counts: House of Luxembourg–Limburg

After several changes in ruling families, the House of Luxembourg–Limburg took over. One important ruler from this family was Henry V, known as "the Blond." He ruled from 1247 to 1281. His descendants continued to rule, including John "the Blind", a famous knight who was also King of Bohemia.

Image Name Reign Relationship
Henry Le Blond.jpg
Henry V
the Blond
1247 – 1281 Son of Ermesinde II
John of Luxemburg.PNG
John
the Blind
1313 – 1346 His grandson
Charles IV-John Ocko votive picture-fragment.jpg
Charles IV 1346 – 1353 His son

From County to Duchy: The Dukes of Luxembourg

In 1354, Luxembourg's status changed. It was no longer just a county but became a more important territory called a "duchy." This meant its rulers were now known as Dukes.

The First Dukes: House of Luxembourg-Limburg

Wenceslaus I was the first Duke of Luxembourg. He was the brother of Emperor Charles IV.

Image Name Reign Relationship
Wenceslaus of Luxembourg.jpg
Wenceslaus I 1354 – 1383 First Duke
Vaclav of Bohemia.jpg
Wenceslaus II
the Lazy
1383 – 1388 His nephew

Changes in Leadership: Valois-Burgundy and Habsburg

Over the next centuries, Luxembourg saw many changes in its rulers. The Duchy was sold to Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1441, though he only officially became Duke later. His son, Charles II "the Bold", officially took the title in 1467.

Later, in 1482, Luxembourg became part of the powerful House of Habsburg family. This family ruled large parts of Europe. After Emperor Charles V stepped down, the Spanish branch of the Habsburgs ruled Luxembourg.

Image Name Reign Relationship
Philip the good.jpg
Philip I
"the Good"
1443 – 1467 Acquired Luxembourg
Charles the Bold 1460.jpg
Charles II
"the Bold"
1467 – 1477 His son
Image Name Reign Relationship
Anonymous - König Philipp I. der Schöne (1478-1506) , Brustbild - GG 4449 - Kunsthistorisches Museum.jpg
Philip II
"the Handsome"
1482 – 1506 Son of Mary I and Maximilian I
Titian - Portrait of Charles V Seated - WGA22964.jpg
Charles III
"the Golden"
1506 – 1556 His son
King PhilipII of Spain.jpg
Philip III
"the Prudent"
1556 – 1598 His son
  • Note: Luxembourg was also ruled by the Austrian branch of the Habsburgs and briefly by the House of Bourbon and House of Wittelsbach during conflicts like the War of Spanish Succession.*

Between 1794 and 1813, French revolutionaries occupied Luxembourg. After this period, at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Luxembourg was given a new, higher status: it became a "Grand Duchy." It was then linked to the Netherlands under the House of Orange-Nassau.

The Grand Dukes of Luxembourg

Today, Luxembourg is the only country in the world that is still a sovereign grand duchy. This means its head of state is a Grand Duke or Grand Duchess.

The Luxembourg constitution explains the Grand Duke's role:

The grand duke is the head of state, a symbol of its unity, and a protector of national independence. He uses executive power according to the Constitution and the country's laws.

While the Grand Duke once had a lot of power, today their role is mostly symbolic. They represent the country and act on the advice of the government. This change happened gradually, with important updates to the constitution in 1919.

House of Orange-Nassau

The first Grand Dukes of Luxembourg were also Kings of the Netherlands. They belonged to the House of Orange-Nassau.

Image Name Reign Relationship
William I of the Netherlands.jpg
Willem I 1815 – 1840 First Grand Duke
WillemIINL3.jpg
Willem II 1840 – 1849 His son
Willem III (1817-90), koning der Nederlanden, Nicolaas Pieneman, 1856 - Rijksmuseum.jpg
Willem III 1849 – 1890 His son

House of Nassau-Weilburg

When Grand Duke William III passed away in 1890, he had no sons, only a daughter, Wilhelmina. While Wilhelmina became Queen of the Netherlands, Luxembourg had a special rule called the "Nassau Family Pact." This rule meant that if there were no male heirs in the direct line, the crown would pass to a male from another branch of the Nassau family.

So, the crown of Luxembourg went to Adolphe, who was from the Nassau-Weilburg branch.

Later, Adolphe's son, William IV, also had no sons. He made sure that his eldest daughter, Marie-Adélaïde, could become Grand Duchess. She was the first female ruler of Luxembourg.

After Marie-Adélaïde stepped down in 1919, her younger sister, Charlotte, became Grand Duchess. Her descendants have ruled Luxembourg ever since.

Name and Reign Portrait Birth Marriages Death Succession
Adolphe
1890 – 1905
Adolfluxembourg1817-6.jpg
24 July 1817
Wiesbaden (Prussia)
(1) Grand Duchess Elizabeth Mikhailovna of Russia
(2) Princess Adelheid-Marie of Anhalt-Dessau
[5 children]
17 November 1905
Colmar-Berg
William III's cousin
William IV
1905 – 1912
Guillaume IV of Luxembourg.png
22 April 1852
Wiesbaden (Prussia)
Infanta Marie Anne of Portugal
[6 children]
25 February 1912
Colmar-Berg
His eldest child
Marie-Adélaïde
1912 – 1919
(abdicated)
Marie-Adélaïde, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg 2.jpg
14 June 1894
Colmar-Berg
Unmarried
[childless]
24 January 1924
Lenggries (Germany)
His eldest daughter
Charlotte
1919 – 1964
(abdicated)
Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.jpg
23 January 1896
Colmar-Berg
Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma
[6 children]
9 July 1985
Fischbach
Her second daughter
Jean
1964 – 2000
(abdicated)
GD Jean 1967.jpg
5 January 1921
Colmar-Berg
Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium
[5 children]
23 April 2019
Luxembourg City
Her eldest child
Henri
2000 – 2025
(abdicated)
Grand Duke Henri at the Enthronement of Naruhito (1).jpg
16 April 1955
Betzdorf
María Teresa Mestre y Batista
[5 children]
living His eldest son
Guillaume V
2025 – present
Trounwiessel 2025 EP (115) (cropped).jpg
11 November 1981 Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy
[2 children]
living His eldest son

Timeline of Grand Dukes of Luxembourg since 1815

Guillaume V, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Marie-Adélaïde, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg William III of the Netherlands William II of the Netherlands William I of the Netherlands

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Soberanos de Luxemburgo para niños

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