Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Jean (Jean Benoît Guillaume Robert Antoine Louis Marie Adolphe Marc d'Aviano; 5 January 1921 – 23 April 2019) was the Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1964 until his abdication in 2000. He was the first Grand Duke of Luxembourg of French agnatic descent.

Jean
Jean in 1967
Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Reign12 November 1964 – 7 October 2000
PredecessorCharlotte
SuccessorHenri
Born(1921-01-05)5 January 1921
Berg Castle, Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg
Died23 April 2019(2019-04-23) (aged 98)
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Burial4 May 2019
Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Spouse
Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium
(m. 1953; died 2005)
Issue
Full name
French: Jean Benoît Guillaume Robert Antoine Louis Marie Adolphe Marc d'Aviano
English: John Benedict William Robert Anthony Lewis Maria Adolphus Mark of Aviano
German: Johann Benedikt Wilhelm Rupprecht Anton Ludwig Maria Adolf Marcus von Aviano
HouseNassau-Weilburg (official)
Bourbon-Parma (agnatic)
FatherPrince Felix of Bourbon-Parma
MotherCharlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
ReligionCatholicism
Signature

Jean was the eldest son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix. Jean's primary education was initially in Luxembourg, before attending Ampleforth College in England. In 1938, he was officially named Hereditary Grand Duke as heir to the throne of Luxembourg. While Luxembourg was occupied by Germans during the Second World War, the grand ducal family was abroad in exile. Jean studied at the Université Laval in Quebec City. Jean later volunteered to join the British army's Irish Guards in 1942, and after graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, received his commission in 1943. He participated in the Normandy landings and the Battle for Caen, and joined the Allied forces in the liberation of Luxembourg. From 1984 until 2000, he was colonel of the Irish Guards.

On 9 April 1953, Jean married Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium with whom he had five children. On 12 November 1964, Grand Duchess Charlotte abdicated and Jean succeeded her as Grand Duke of Luxembourg. He then reigned for 36 years before he himself abdicated on 7 October 2000 and was succeeded by his son, Grand Duke Henri.

Early life
Tree of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg - planted on his birth
Plaque of the tree

Jean was born on 5 January 1921,[1] at Berg Castle, in central Luxembourg, the son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and of Prince Félix. Among his godparents was Pope Benedict XV, who gave him his second name.[2] He attended primary school in Luxembourg, where he continued the initial stage of secondary education. He completed secondary school at Ampleforth College, a Roman Catholic boarding school in the United Kingdom. Upon reaching maturity, on 5 January 1939 he was styled 'Hereditary Grand Duke', recognising his status as heir apparent.[3]

Second World War

On 10 May 1940, Germany invaded Luxembourg, beginning a four-year occupation. Having been warned of an imminent invasion, the Grand Ducal Family escaped the previous night. At first, they sought refuge in Paris, before fleeing France only weeks later. The Grand Ducal Family sought refuge in the United States, renting an estate in Brookville, New York. Jean studied Law and Political Science at Université Laval, Quebec City.[4]

He joined the British Army as a volunteer in the Irish Guards in November 1942.[4] After receiving officer training at the Royal Military College at Sandhurst,[4] Jean was commissioned as a lieutenant on 30 July 1943,[5] before being promoted to captain in 1944. He landed in Normandy on 11 June 1944, and took part in the Battle for Caen and the liberation of Brussels.[4] On 10 September 1944, he took part in the liberation of Luxembourg before moving on to Arnhem and the invasion of Germany.[4] He relinquished his commission in the British Army on 26 June 1947.[6] From 1984 until his abdication, he served as Colonel of the Regiment of the Irish Guards,[4] often riding in uniform behind Queen Elizabeth II during the Trooping the Colour.[7]

Reign
Grand Duke Jean taking the oath on 12 November 1964

Jean was named Lieutenant-Representative of the Grand Duchess on 28 April 1961.[4] He became Grand Duke when his mother, Grand Duchess Charlotte, abdicated on 12 November 1964.[8] The same day, he was made a General of the Armed Forces of Luxembourg.[4]

From the beginning of his reign, Grand Duke Jean's priorities included the well-being of his people and the completion of European unity. In the words of President Georges Pompidou of France, "If Europe had to choose a hereditary president, it would certainly be the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.". Indeed, during his reign Grand Duke Jean saw Luxembourg transformed from a minor industrial contributor into an international financial centre.[9][10] In 1986, he was honoured with the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen for his efforts towards European integration.[10]

The Grand Duke's reign was one of the most prosperous periods in the history of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The degree of stability in the country's politics, economy and social life was without precedent, thanks in part to the influence of the Grand Duke and his wife.[11] He abdicated on 7 October 2000, and was succeeded on the throne by his son Henri.[4]

Luxembourg's museum of modern art Mudam was officially named "Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean" to commemorate his reign which lasted 36 years.[12] It was inaugurated in his presence in July 2006.[13]

Retirement and death
Jean at the wedding of his grandson Prince Louis in 2006

In the summer of 2002, Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte took up residence at Fischbach Castle. After his wife died in January 2005, the Grand Duke continued to live there alone.[14] On 27 December 2016, Grand Duke Jean was hospitalized due to bronchitis and was discharged from hospital on 4 January 2017, a day before he celebrated his 96th birthday.[15]

Death

Surrounded by his family, Grand Duke Jean died at 00.25 CEST on 23 April 2019 at the age of 98 after he had been hospitalized for a pulmonary infection.[16][17] He had become the world's oldest living monarch by the time of his death.[18]

His funeral was held on Saturday, 4 May at the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg[19] after a period of mourning of 12 days.[20]

Tributes

Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission and former prime-minister of Luxembourg, described Jean's death as "a great loss for the Grand Duchy and for Europe". He added, "Like all the people of Luxembourg, I had great esteem for this man of commitment, kindness and courage."[19]

Luxembourg's prime-minister, Xavier Bettel, alluded to his service in the Second World War: "Grand Duke Jean fought for our freedom, for our independence and for the unity of our country and we will always be grateful. A family man left us today. A great statesman, a hero, an example – and a very beloved and gracious man."[19]

Tributes followed from the Belgian royal family, commenting "His courage, his dignity and his high sense of duty will remain as an example... The whole of Belgium shares the grief of the Luxembourg people"[21]

In their tribute, the Dutch royal family mentioned "the friendship and warmth he radiated", adding "With his thoughtfulness and humanity, he added to calm and confidence in his country and Europe."[21]

In the tribute from the Romanian Royal Family via a post on their websites, they mentioned that “The entire Royal Family of Romania is alongside the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in these sad and painful moments”; also written was their very close relations (via Queen Anne who was a paternal first cousin of his) as well as “a lifetime of friendship”; the head of the family, Crown Princess Margareta, would send a letter of condolences to her cousin, Grand Duke Henri I[22]

The president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach paid tribute to Grand Duke Jean who had joined the IOC in 1946 and had been an honorary member since 1998. "He was always a very calm and well-balanced person who was highly respected by the entire Olympic Movement because of his integrity... The IOC will always hold him in the highest honour and with the greatest respect."[23]

Marriage and family
Grand Duke Jean and his wife Joséphine-Charlotte (1964)
The Grand Ducal couple with their children (July 1971)

In October 1952, Jean was officially engaged to Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium, the only daughter of King Leopold III of the Belgians and his first wife, Princess Astrid of Sweden. There had been speculation that the marriage was arranged to improve relations between Luxembourg and Belgium but it soon became apparent that a love match was blooming between two longtime friends.[24]

They were married in Luxembourg on 9 April 1953, first in the Hall of Ceremonies at the Grand Ducal Palace, later in Luxembourg's Notre-Dame Cathedral.[25] The marriage put an end to the tensions between Luxembourg and Belgium which arose from 1918 to 1920 when there had been a threat of annexation.[13] The couple had five children, 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren:[26]

  • Archduchess Marie Astrid, Archduchess Carl Christian of Austria (17 February 1954)[4] she married Archduke Carl Christian of Austria on 6 February 1982. They have five children and nine grandchildren.[27][28]
  • Grand Duke Henri I, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (16 April 1955),[4] he married María Teresa Mestre y Batista on 14 February 1981. They have five children and four grandchildren.[29]
  • Prince Jean (15 May 1957)[4] he married Hélène Vestur on 27 May 1987 and they were divorced in 2004. They have four children and two grandsons. He remarried Diane de Guerre on 18 March 2009.[30]
  • Princess Margaretha (15 May 1957)[4] she married Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein on 20 March 1982. They have four children.[31]
  • Prince Guillaume (born 1 May 1963)[4] he married Sibilla Weiller on 8 September 1994. They have four children.[32]

Titles, styles, honours and awards

Titles and styles
  • 5 January 1921 – 12 November 1964: His Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Hereditary Prince of Nassau, Prince of Bourbon-Parma
  • 12 November 1964 – 28 July 1987: His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau, Prince of Bourbon-Parma
  • 28 July 1987 – 7 October 2000: His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau
  • 7 October 2000 – 23 April 2019: His Royal Highness Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau

His full title was "by the Grace of God, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Count of Sayn, Königstein, Katzenelnbogen and Diez, Burgrave of Hammerstein, Lord of Mahlberg, Wiesbaden, Idstein, Merenberg, Limburg and Eppstein."

Change of dynastic titles

Jean renounced the titles of the House of Bourbon-Parma for himself and his family in 1986.[33] This decree was however repealed by another decree on 21 September 1995.[34]

The Arrêté Grand-Ducal (Grand Ducal decree) of 21 September 1995 established that the title of Prince/Princesse de Luxembourg is reserved for the children of the sovereign and the heir to the throne. It also stated that the descendants in male lineage of the sovereign should be styled as Royal Highnesses and titled Prince/Princess of Nassau and that the descendants of unapproved marriages should be styled as Count/Countess of Nassau.[35][36]

Honours

National honours
  • Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau (Grand Master 1964–2000)
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau (Grand Master 1964–2000)
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown (Grand Master 1964–2000)
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Grand Master 1964–2000)
  • Recipient of the Military Medal (17 December 2002)[37]
  • Recipient of the Luxembourg War Cross with bronze palm[37]
  • Recipient of the Cross of the Order of Resistance[37]

Foreign honours

Awards

Ancestry

Patrilineal descent

References
  1. Paxton, J. (23 December 2016). The Statesman's Year-Book 1972-73: The Encyclopaedia for the Businessman-of-the-World. Springer. ISBN 9780230271012 – via Google Books.
  2. "Grand Duke Jean at 95". Luxembourg Times. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  3. Fourney, Anne (5 January 2017). "Cour grand-ducale: Le grand-duc Jean fête ses 96 ans". Luxemburger Wort (in French). Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  4. "Le Grand-Duc Jean - Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg - Famille grand-ducale". www.monarchie.lu. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  5. "No. 36191". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 1 October 1943. p. 4352.
  6. "No. 38206". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 13 February 1948. p. 1030.
  7. "Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg". The Telegraph. 11 January 2005. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  8. "HRH Grand Duke Jean". Service information et presse du gouvernement luxembourgeois. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  9. "Obituary-Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg dies at 98". Thomas Reuters Foundation. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  10. Michelland, Antoine; Delorme, Philippe (14 April 2017). "Grand-duc Jean de Luxembourg" (in French). Point de Vue. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  11. "Jean" (in French). Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  12. "History". Mudam. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  13. Tasch, Olivier (5 January 2015). "Une vie au service de la nation". Le Jeudi (in French). Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  14. "Fischbach Castle". www.luxembourg.public.lu.
  15. Barger, Brittani (27 December 2016). "Grand Duke Jean hospitalised". Royal Central. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  16. "Grand Duke Jean passes away - Delano - Luxembourg in English". Delano. 23 April 2019.
  17. ""Au revoir, Monseigneur": Reaktionen zum Tod von Großherzog Jean". Luxemburger Wort (in German). 23 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  18. "98: world's oldest monarch, in Luxembourg - Delano - Luxembourg in English". Delano (in French). 4 January 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  19. Starbuck, Lydia (23 April 2019). "Official mourning underway in Luxembourg following death of Grand Duke Jean". Royal Central. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  20. Auxenfants, Marc (23 April 2019). "La commémoration en mémoire du grand-duc Jean, décrétée par le gouvernement mardi matin, prendra fin le samedi 4 mai à 18 heures. La date a été choisie "pour permettre à toutes les délégations du monde entier et aux Luxembourgeois de s'organiser", a expliqué Stéphane Bern à Wort.lu". Luxemburger Wort (in French). Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  21. Brenton, Hannah: Lambert, Yannick (23 April 2019). "Tributes pour in for Grand Duke Jean". Luxembourg Times. Retrieved 24 April 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. "Marele Duce Jean de Luxemburg, In Memoriam - Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania".
  23. Morgan, Liam (23 April 2019). "Bach pays tribute to honorary IOC member Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg following death aged 98". Inside the games. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  24. "Obituary: Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg". Royal Central. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  25. "A military man, a dutiful statesman - the key moments of Grand Duke Jean's life". RTL. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  26. "Grand Duke Jean has passed away at 98 - Luxembourg in mourning". RTL. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  27. "A Daughter for Archduchess Gabriella". Luxarazzi. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  28. "Baby News: Another Girl for Imre and Katie". Luxarazzi. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  29. "Le Grand-Duc" (in French). Monarchie.lu: Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  30. "Baptême de Zeno, arrière-petit-fils du grand-duc Jean de Luxembourg" (in French). Noblesse & Royautés. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  31. "Portrait : la princesse Margaretha de Luxembourg" (in French). L'Eventail. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  32. "Guillaume et Sibilla de Luxembourg : un couple discret du Gotha" (in French). Noblesse & Royautés. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  33. Grand Ducal Decree, 28 July 1986
  34. "FAQ". Luxarazzi. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  35. "Decree 21 September 1995 concerning royal titles in Luxembourg". hoelseth.com.
  36. Bortrick, William. [Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Count of Sayn "The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg, House of Nassau"] Check |url= value (help). Burke's Peerage. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  37. "List of Military Medals". monarchie.lu.
  38. "Reply to a parliamentary question" (PDF) (in German). p. 428. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  39. "Royalement Blog: Visite d'Etat belge au Luxembourg". 5 July 2011.
  40. Borger.dk Archived 7 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  41. "Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunnan suurristin ketjuineen ulkomaalaiset saajat". www.ritarikunnat.fi. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  42. https://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20190423&t=2&i=1379746172&w=640&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEF3M0E0
  43. "1972 state visit from france - Luxembourg Royal Family Official Activities in 2019 - Luxembourg, France, Activities". Pinterest.
  44. "1978 State visit to France - Luxembourg Royal Family Official Activities - Coat, Jackets, France". Pinterest.
  45. "Jean with Pope John Paul I".
  46. Svenja. "Luxarazzi 101: The Grand Ducal Family at the Vatican".
  47. Icelandese Presidency Website Archived 3 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Jean ; stórhertogi ; Lúxemborg ; 1986-06-09 ; Stórkross með keðju (=Jean, Grand Duke, Luxembourg, 9 June 1986, Grand Cross with Collar)
  48. Badraie Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  49. Badraie Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  50. "S.A.R. Jean Granduca di Lussemburgo - Decorato di Gran Cordone" (in Italian). Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  51. https://c7.alamy.com/comp/E1224D/jan-01-1983-princess-josephine-receives-insignia-among-the-insingies-E1224D.jpg
  52. Staatsbezoek van Groothertog en Groothertogin van Luxemburg aan Nederland
  53. Huwelijk prinses Beatrix en prins Claus (1966)
  54. "Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 19 kwietnia 1993 r. o nadaniu orderu". prawo.sejm.gov.pl. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  55. "ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS - Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas". www.ordens.presidencia.pt. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  56. "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF).
  57. "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF).
  58. "1983 state visit from sweden - Luxembourg Royal Family Official Activities - Queen silvia, Swedish royalty, Queen of sweden". Pinterest.
  59. https://www.royalty-postcards.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/photo-swed-87.jpg
  60. "Queen Silvia wore this tiara for a dinner during the Swedish State Visit to Luxembourg in September 1983. - Queen Josephine's Amethyst Tiara - Queen silvia, Royal tiaras, Queen". Pinterest.
  61. "50th anniversary of king Carl Gustav of Sweden in Stockholm, Sweden..." Getty Images.
  62. "BRITISH HONOURS AND ORDERS OF CHIVALRY HELD BY OVERSEAS HEADS OF STATE (Hansard, 14 March 1989)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2019.

Media related to Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg at Wikimedia Commons

Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
House of Nassau-Weilburg
Cadet branch of the House of Nassau
Born: 5 January 1921 Died: 23 April 2019
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Charlotte		 Grand Duke of Luxembourg
1964–2000		 Succeeded by
Henri
Military offices
Preceded by
Basil Eugster		 Colonel of the Irish Guards
1984–2000		 Succeeded by
The Duke of Abercorn
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.