Grand Duke of Luxembourg

The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the sovereign monarch and head of state of Luxembourg. Luxembourg has been a grand duchy since 15 March 1815, when it was elevated from a duchy when placed in personal union with the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Since then, there have been nine Grand Dukes, including the current incumbent, Henri I.

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1 Constitutional role
2 Succession
3 List of Grand Dukes
4 See also
5 Footnotes
6 References

Constitutional role

The Luxembourgian constitution defines the Grand Duke's position:

“ The Grand Duke is the head of state, symbol of its unity, and guarantor of national independence. He exercises executivepower in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the country.[1]”

Succession

Main article: Line of succession to the throne of Luxembourg

Succession to the throne is inherited by Salic law, as dictated by the Nassau Family Pact, first adopted on 30 June 1783.[1] The crown is passed by agnatic-cognatic primogeniture within the House of Nassau, as stipulated under the 1815 Treaty of Vienna and as confirmed by the 1867 Treaty of London.[1] The Nassau Family Pact itself can be amended by the usual legislative process, having been so on 10 July 1907 to exclude the Count of Merenberg branch of the House, which was descended from a morganatic marriage.[2]

If there is an heir apparent (which must necessarily be a son of the Grand Duke), he may be granted the style 'Hereditary Grand Duke'. The current heir is Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume.

List of Grand Dukes

Main article: List of Grand Dukes of Luxembourg

Since 1815, there have been seven Grand Dukes of Luxembourg and two Grand Duchesses regnant of Luxembourg:

William I (1815 – 1840)
William II (1840 – 1849)
William III (1840 – 1890)
Adolphe (1890 – 1905)
William IV (1905 – 1912)
Marie-Adélaïde (1912 – 1919)
Charlotte (1919 – 1964)
Jean (1964 – 2000)
Henri (2000 – present)

Footnotes

^ a b c (French) Constitution de Luxembourg (PDF). Service central de législation. Retrieved on 2007-07-01.
^ (French)/(German) Mémorial A, 1907, No. 37 (PDF). Service central de législation. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.