William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

William IV
Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Reign 17 November 1905 –
25 February 1912
Predecessor Adolphe
Successor Marie-Adélaïde
Regent Marie Anne of Portugal
(1908–1912)
Born (1852-04-22)22 April 1852
Biebrich Palace, Wiesbaden
Died 25 February 1912(1912-02-25) (aged 59)
Berg Castle, Colmar-Berg
Burial Schlosskirche ("Castle Church") in Weilburg since 1953
Spouse Marie Anne of Portugal
Issue Marie-Adélaïde, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Hilda, Princess of Schwarzenberg
Antonia, Crown Princess of Bavaria
Princess Elisabeth
Princess Sophie
House Nassau-Weilburg
Father Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Mother Princess Adelheid-Marie of Anhalt-Dessau

William IV (22 April 1852 – 25 February 1912) reigned as the sovereign Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 17 November 1905 until his death. He succeeded his father, Adolphe. He also held the title of Duke of Nassau, although that was annexed by Prussia after the Austro-Prussian war of 1866.[1]

William IV was a Protestant, the religion of the House of Nassau. He married Princess Marie Anne of Portugal, believing that a Roman Catholic country ought to have a Roman Catholic monarch. Thus his heirs have been Catholic.

At the death of his uncle, Prince Nikolaus-Wilhelm in 1905, the only other legitimate male in the House of Nassau-Weilburg was William's cousin, Georg Nikolaus, Count of Merenberg, the product of a morganatic marriage. So in 1907, William declared the Counts of Merenberg non-dynastic, naming his own eldest daughter Marie-Adélaïde (1894–1924) as heir presumptive to the grand ducal throne. She became Luxembourg's first reigning grand duchess upon her father's death in 1912, and upon her own abdication in 1919, was succeeded by her younger sister Charlotte (1896–1985). Charlotte's descendants reign until the present day.

He was the last monarch of Luxembourg to die whilst still on the throne.

Marriage

On 21 June 1893 in Fischhorn Castle, Zell am See, he married Infanta Marie Anne of Portugal, daughter of the Usurper Miguel of Portugal and Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg. The couple had six daughters:

Issue

Titles and honours

Titles

National honours

Foreign honours

Ancestry

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Almanach de Gotha (1901), article "Luxembourg"
  2. ↑ Theroff, Paul. "Princely House of Schwarzenberg". www.angelfire.com/realm/gotha/ (Paul Theroff’s Royal Genealogy Site). []
  3. ↑ Theroff, Paul. "Princely House of Thurn and Taxis". www.angelfire.com/realm/gotha/ (Paul Theroff’s Royal Genealogy Site). []
  4. ↑ Theroff, Paul. "Royal House of Saxony". www.angelfire.com/realm/gotha/ (Paul Theroff’s Royal Genealogy Site). []
  5. ↑ It was customary for a reigning Duke, his heir apparent, and their spouses to use the style of Highness.
  6. 1 2 It was customary for a reigning Grand Duke, his heir apparent, and their spouses to use the style of Royal Highness
William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Cadet branch of the House of Nassau
Born: 12 April 1852 Died: 25 February 1912
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Adolphe		 Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Duke of Nassau
1905–1912 		Succeeded by
Marie-Adélaïde
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