Duchy of Luxembourg

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For other uses of Luxembourg see Luxembourg (disambiguation)

The Duchy of Luxembourg was created when Emperor Charles IV elevated the old county of Luxembourg in 1353 for his brother Wenceslaus I.

1 Territory
2 History
3 Rulers
4 References

[edit] Territory

The duchy of Luxembourg was formed in 1353 by integration of the old county of the same name, the marquisat of Arlon, the counties of Durbuy and Laroche as well as the districts of Thionville, Bitburg and Marville. The county of Vianden can also be included as it had been a vassal of the counts and dukes of Luxembourg since about July 31, 1264.

[edit] History

[edit] the county

In the year 963 count Siegfried of the Ardennes buys some land from the abbot Wikerus of Saint Maximin in Trier. This land was centered around a ruined, supposedly roman, fort by the latin name of Lucilinburhuc (which is commonly translated as little castle). In the following years Siegfried had a new castle built on the site of these ruins, on a rock that would later be called Bock Fiels. This castle dominated a stretch of the old roman road linking Reims, Arlon and Trier, which also opened some prospects for trade and taxation. Despite this new construction it seems that Siegfried and his immediate successors did not make the castle their primary residence.

In following years a small town and market grew around the new castle. The first inhabitants were probably servants of count Siegfried and clergy of Saint Michael's church. This settlement soon received additional protection by the construction of a first, partial city wall and moat. In addition to the small town near Bock Fiels and the roman road, another settlement was formed in the Alzette Valley (today the Grund quarter). By 1083 this lower town contained two churches, two bridges of the rivers Alzette and Petruss. Its inhabitants pursued various professions including fishery, bakers and millers. That same year the Benedictine abbey of Altmünster was founded by count Conrad on the hill behind Luxembourg castle.

Henry III was the first count known to have established his permanent residence in Luxembourg castle. In a document from the year 1089 he is referred to as comes Henricus de Lutzeleburg, which also makes him the first documented count of Luxembourg.

[edit] the duchy

[edit] the grand duchy

see History of Luxembourg

[edit] Rulers

see List of Counts and Dukes of Luxembourg

[edit] References

Ermesinde et l'affranchissement de la ville de Luxembourg; Etudes sur la femme, le pouvoir et la ville au XIIIe siècle, sous la direction de Michel Margue, Publications du Musée d'Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg, Publications du CLUDEM tome 7, Luxembourg 1994
Tatsachen aus der Geschichte des Luxemburger Landes, Dr. P. J. Müller, Luxemburg 1963, Berlag "de Frendeskres", Imprimerie Bourg-Bourger
Vivre au Moyen Age: Luxembourg, Metz et Trèves; Etudes sur l'histoire et l'archéologie urbaines, sous la direction du Musée d'Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg, Publications Scientifiques du Musée d'Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg, tome 2, Luxembourg 1998