This is how the name of the country "Luxembourg" - "small city" is translated from High German.
Luxembourg- one of the richest countries in Europe with the highest standard of living, despite the fact that almost all the energy consumed in Luxembourg is imported, including oil, natural gas, coal.
Full country name - Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Brief information about the country
State borders With Belgium, Germany and France.
Capital- Luxembourg. This city is largest city in the country.
Form of government- a constitutional monarchy.
head of state- Grand Duke.
Chief Executive- Prime Minister.
Population- 502 207 people
Territory– 2,586.4 sq. km.
Currency- Euro.
Economy: the basis of the economy is primarily a developed service sector, including in the financial sector. Banking plays an important role in the economy of Luxembourg, and considerable attention is paid to the creation of telecommunications networks and the production of audio and video equipment. Chemical products, machines, plastics, fabrics, glass, and porcelain are produced.
Official language- Luxembourgish, French, German.
overwhelming number believers- Catholics, there are Protestants. Since 1998 orthodoxy has the status of an official denomination.
Climate- moderate.
Administrative division- Luxembourg is divided into districts, which, in turn, are divided into cantons, and cantons - into communes.
State symbols of Luxembourg
Flag- is a rectangular panel, consisting of three horizontal equal stripes: the top - red, medium - white, and lower - light blue. The ratio of the flag's width to its length is 3:5. King Willem I of the Netherlands, having become in 1815 at the same time the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, adopted in the same year the emblem and flag of the Grand Duchy, which are similar to the state symbols of the Netherlands. The flag of Luxembourg differs from the Dutch only in a lighter shade of blue stripe.
Currently, more than 90% of the population supports the replacement of the flag - with the image of a lion on a blue and white background. This flag has been the family flag of the House of Luxembourg since the 13th century.
Coat of arms- is a shield with 10 horizontal blue and silver stripes. The shield depicts a crowned red two-tailed lion with a golden tongue. The shield is crowned with the grand ducal crown. The shield is supported by shield holders: two golden crowned lions with red tongues, their muzzles turned away from the shield. Surrounding the shield is a ribbon with the badge of the Order of the Oak Crown. This composition is placed on the mantle and crowned with a large grand ducal crown.
The middle coat of arms is also used, which is a shield with shield holders without a ribbon of the order, and the small coat of arms is only a crowned coat of arms.
The coat of arms of Luxembourg appeared in the Middle Ages and comes from the coat of arms of the Duchy of Limburg.
History of Luxembourg
The oldest traces of human habitation on the territory of Luxembourg belong to ancient times - Upper Paleolithic(35 - 12 thousand years ago). Permanent settlements with houses appear in the era Neolithic, in 5 thousand BC. e. Traces of such settlements have been found in the south of Luxembourg. At the beginning bronze age the population of the territory of Luxembourg was not numerous, but by the period of the XIII-VIII centuries. BC e. include numerous finds: the remains of dwellings, ceramics, weapons, jewelry. In the VI-I centuries BC. e. the territory of Luxembourg was inhabited by the Gauls, then it was included in Rome.
In the 5th century The Franks invaded Luxembourg.
At the end of the 7th century the population of the territory of modern Luxembourg was converted to Christianity thanks to the Monk Willibrord, who founded a Benedictine monastery there. In the Middle Ages, the land was alternately included in the Frankish kingdom of Austrasia, then in the Holy Roman Empire, and later - in Lorraine.
In 1060 Conrad was proclaimed the first count of Luxembourg
In 1477, Luxembourg passed to the Habsburg dynasty, and during the division of the empire of Charles V, the territory came under the control of Spain. In 1679-1684. Louis XIV, King of the Sun, systematically captured Luxembourg, but already in 1697 France handed it over to Spain. During the War of the Spanish Succession, Luxembourg, along with Belgium, returned to the Austrian Habsburgs. Six years after the start of the French Revolution, Luxembourg again passed to France, so that the state experienced all the vicissitudes of fate along with the French - the Directory and Napoleon. With the fall of Napoleon, French rule in Luxembourg ended, its fate sealed by the Congress of Vienna in 1815: Luxembourg was granted the status of a Grand Duchy with Willem I, King of the Netherlands, at its head. Luxembourg retained its autonomy, and the connection with the Netherlands was rather nominal.
In 1842 Luxembourg became a member of the Customs Union. This move significantly improved the economic and agricultural development of the duchy, infrastructure was restored, and railways appeared. In 1866 Luxembourg became a fully sovereign state.
In the years World War I Luxembourg remained neutral, although in 1914 Germany occupied it.
In 1940, Germany occupied Luxembourg for the second time. But now the government refused to compromise with the occupiers, so the entire court was forced to emigrate and live in exile. In the duchy, "traditional" Nazi orders were established, the French language was infringed. The duchy in December 1941 became part of the Third Reich. 12 thousand people received summons for mobilization in the Wehrmacht, of which 3 thousand evaded the draft and about the same number died on the Eastern Front. In September 1944, liberation came. In the same year, Luxembourg entered into an economic union with Belgium and the Netherlands. (Benelux). With its entry into NATO in 1949, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg violated its age-old military neutrality.
Landmarks of Luxembourg
Despite the good development of the territory and the high population density, about a fifth of the country is occupied by forests. Spurs rise in the north of the country Ardennes(the highest point is Kneiff Hill, 560 meters).
The mountainous region northwest of the town of Echternach is called Little Switzerland(or Luxembourg Switzerland). This area got its name due to its geographical similarity with Switzerland: rocky terrain, dense forests and many small streams prevail here. The highest point is 414 m above sea level.
There is only one medium-sized city here - Echternach, which is the oldest city in Luxembourg.
AT Mondorf are geothermal springs, in the XIX century. was built here balneological resort. Among the first patients of this resort was the famous French writer Victor Hugo, who not only diligently treated rheumatism with mineral water, but also carefully examined the surroundings of the town, visiting all the nearby attractions - castles, churches, ruins of ancient Roman buildings. Leaving the city, the waters of which brought him relief from illness, Hugo wrote that he would long remember the happy hours of walking around the picturesque surroundings of Mondorf. The number of visitors to the resort has grown every year. On August 28, 1878, by special decree, it was decided to add to the name "Mondorf" the word "les-Bains", which in French means "on the waters".
Haute Sur National Park
It was created in 1999 to protect the environment, rare species of plants and animals. The first goal is to preserve the local flora and fauna, as well as to protect the purity of air, water and soil. The second goal is to carry out economic activities: forestry and tourism development, the creation of a high standard of living and new jobs.
For visitors to the park there are many ways to spend their leisure time: walks in nature, viewing cultural monuments, water sports on Lake Haute-Sur. The park has accommodation for vacationers. Every year on the first weekend of July, festivals are held in the park. The park is also home to a reservoir, a dam, and a dam.
The third task is to preserve the architectural heritage of the area, which ranges from a large number of abandoned chapels and mills to former slate quarries and castle ruins.
Landmarks of the city of Luxembourg
In the picture - the building of the railway station
And this is the building of the state bank.
The cathedral is a prime example of the late gothic architecture, however, it contains many elements and decorations of architecture Renaissance. The cathedral is decorated with rich choirs, which contain many Moorish style elements. At the end of the XVIII century. The cathedral received the miraculous image of the Mother of God - the Comforter of the Sorrowful, who is the patroness of the city and the people. Now this image is located in the southern part of the temple, and is an object of pilgrimage. Every year on the fifth Sunday after Easter, the feast of the Holy Virgin of Luxembourg is celebrated here.
Approximately 50 years after the construction, the cathedral was consecrated as the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, and in 1870 Pope Pius IX consecrated it as the Cathedral of Our Lady.
Fortress "Three Acorns"
The fortress is part of the historical fortifications of Luxembourg. It is located in the Three Acorns park in the southeast of the city. The fortress has three towers, on the roof of each of them there is an acorn, after which it got its name. Also, the fortress is called Tüngen, in honor of the commandant of the fortress Baron Adam Sigmund von Tüngen.
Under the London Treaty of 1867, most of the fortress was destroyed. Only three towers and the foundations of the rest of the fortress remain. In 1990, the fortress was completely reconstructed.
It was built in Mamer in the 10th century. By the time of the French Revolutionary Wars, it was in ruins, was captured and sold by the French troops of Thierry de Bastogne in 1798.
In 1995 Mamer Castle was bought by the commune administration. Restoration was carried out from September 1999 to February 2002. The administration of the commune moved to it on March 1, 2002.
The main residence of the Grand Dukes of Luxembourg. Located in the city of Colmar-Berg. After the separation of Luxembourg from the Netherlands in 1890, the castle was chosen by the Grand Duke Adolf.
During the Second World War, the castle fell into disrepair, but after restoration work it again became the residence of the Grand Duke (since 1964).
Museum of Trams and Buses of the City of Luxembourg
Dedicated to the history of public transport in this city from the time of horse racing to the present day. Opened in 1991
Adolphe Bridge - the symbol of Luxembourg
The bridge in Luxembourg City was built in 1900-1903, during the reign of Duke Adolf. At that time it was the largest stone bridge in the world. The length of the bridge arch is 85 meters, the maximum height is 42 meters. The total length of the bridge is 153 meters. The bridge connects the Upper and Lower City: two parts of Luxembourg.
One of the smallest sovereign states in the world is the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. However, the small area and lack of minerals does not at all prevent it from having the highest per capita income. Well, an interesting history and a huge number of attractions make it a real paradise for tourists.
Where is located
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is located in Western Europe, between Belgium, Germany and France. Its area is surprisingly small - only 2586 square kilometers (for comparison, the area of Moscow is 2511 square kilometers), which makes the state one of the smallest in the world.
And the capital of the Duchy of Luxembourg is also called Luxembourg, which can cause some confusion among people who visit this amazing place for the first time. Of course, there are many other settlements - from tiny villages to quite large (by local standards) cities.
Population
According to the census conducted as of January 1, 2018, the total number of citizens of the country is 602,005 people. Moreover, almost a quarter lives in the capital - about 115 thousand people, which makes it the largest settlement in the country.
The main spoken language is Luxembourgish, but almost every person knows French and German since childhood - without this it is impossible to work either in business, or in tourism, or in any other. Because very often you have to travel abroad or receive foreign guests.
As already mentioned, the population in the Duchy of Luxembourg exceeds 600 thousand people. However, this does not mean that they all live here. The fact is that real estate here has an astronomical value. Despite huge salaries, not everyone can afford to rent or buy an apartment or house. Therefore, more than 100 thousand people (half of the working population) go to work from Germany or France, and return home at the end of the working day. This is explained by the fact that real estate in these countries is much cheaper, and there are not the slightest problems when processing documents or visas when crossing borders - usually border guards do not even ask for a passport.
Economy
Many EU organizations are located in Luxembourg (a city, not a duchy), which brings in a lot of income. In addition, here you can see more than 200 banks and almost 1000 investment funds - no other city in the world can boast of such indicators. Moreover, only a small part of the total number falls on the share of Luxembourg banks and funds - these are mainly foreign organizations.
The fact is that Luxembourg is an offshore zone, which can significantly reduce the costs of transactions. This is what allows the state to have such a significant income - 150,554 dollars a year per capita (for comparison, in Russia - 8,946, in the USA - 57,220 and even in Switzerland - only 81,000).
True, there is almost no own industry. Only 10% of GDP comes from local production of pig iron and iron. This makes the state and its population extremely dependent on the economy of other countries. For example, the 2008 crisis hit the well-being of many people very hard, depriving them of their property.
Agriculture
Surprisingly, such a rich and tiny country can boast of an extremely developed agriculture - the government does not at all think that it is easier to buy food abroad, having enough funds for this. Farmers receive huge subsidies, which allows them to supply quality products to the citizens of the country. Apparently, the government is well aware that a state dependent on the supply of products from abroad is extremely vulnerable and cannot be called independent.
Cattle breeding is very developed, almost completely covering the needs of the population in milk and meat. There are also chic gardens - the mild climate and the almost complete absence of frosts make it possible to grow many crops.
Many families have been involved in winemaking for generations. Local vineyards are almost as good as French ones. Especially many plantations are located in the vicinity of Ona flows through the valley, protected from cold winds from all sides. Local wine varieties "Rivaner", "Moselle" and "Riesling" are very popular among connoisseurs.
Transport in the country
It is also worth touching on the topic of transport. Despite the small size of the state, local residents have to travel a lot - as already mentioned, about 100 thousand people cross the border twice a day.
In general, in the Duchy of Luxembourg, the rules for importing cars from Russia are quite simple. If the car is not new (released more than 6 months ago or has a mileage of more than 6,000 kilometers), then the tax does not need to be paid at all. Otherwise, you must provide the invoice received at the time of purchase, a certificate of residence, a gray card (a special document issued in Luxembourg) and have the car itself with you to check the numbers.
But if you wish, you can always rent a car on the spot - it's much easier. And in general, transport here is inexpensive (especially by the standards of Europe). A one-time bus ride costs less than 1 euro. And for 4 euros you can buy a daily pass, which is valid not only in all buses around the country, but also in second-class railway cars.
The most famous village in the country
By far the most famous village in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is Schengen. Just a few decades ago, not even all the inhabitants of the country knew about it. However, after the signing of an agreement uniting the disparate countries of Europe into one Schengen zone, this name thundered throughout the world.
But, despite this, flows of tourists do not seek here. Therefore, Schengen residents lead the same quiet, calm and measured life as before. The population here is quite small - less than a thousand people. They are mainly engaged in the cultivation of grapes and the production of wine, which is popular throughout the country and abroad.
Attractions
Of course, it is impossible not to talk about the sights of the Duchy of Luxembourg, if we talk about it. In general, there are quite a lot of them.
For example, in the capital, it is worth visiting the Palace of the Grand Dukes - a majestic building built in the middle of the sixteenth century and today being the residence of local rulers.
Some tourists will be interested in visiting the Bock casemates. Located near Luxembourg, they are up to 40 meters deep and over 20 kilometers long! Many mysterious passages, gloomy chambers and exits to the surface make them one of the main attractions of the capital and the whole country. From here you can get off almost anywhere in the city. And during the Second World War, the casemates were used as a bomb shelter for local residents - a serious depth made the former prison a safe haven.
Wine connoisseurs should definitely go along the Luxembourg Wine Trail. With a length of 42 kilometers, it brings together several villages, almost the entire population of which has been growing grapes and making wine for generations. You can try a variety of varieties here - not a single person who understands such drinks will be disappointed.
You can also visit the Golden Frau - a monument erected in memory of the inhabitants of Luxembourg who died in the First World War. Then the country was occupied by Germany, many of its citizens fought in the ranks of the French army. On the battlefields, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg lost about two thousand people. The monument is a gilded figure of a woman holding out her hands with a wreath. It is installed on a pedestal 21 meters high, at the foot of which there are two figures - a killed soldier and his comrade, mourning the loss.
The main symbols of the country
Of course, speaking about the country, it is worth noting its main symbols - the coat of arms and the flag.
The coat of arms is quite exquisite - against the background of an ermine mantle, two golden lions, looking in different directions, hold a shield, where against a background of blue and white stripes on the hind legs stands a third lion - red. The shield, like the entire coat of arms, is topped with a crown.
But the flag of the Duchy of Luxembourg is not so pompous - it consists of three horizontal stripes: red, white, blue. And this often causes confusion - after all, the Netherlands flag is exactly the same. The only difference is that the blue stripe has a slightly darker color. However, problems still arise when identifying the flag - such embarrassments often occur at different levels.
Some people are interested in the question of what Luxembourg is - a principality or a duchy. At the head is one person who, in theory, has complete power. However, since the word dukedom appears in the official name, the country would be correctly classified in this category.
Surprisingly, Luxembourg, not having the slightest reserves of oil, gas or other energy sources, boasts the lowest gasoline prices in Western Europe. The government is well aware that many citizens have to travel a significant distance per day (they live in one state and work in another), so they spend a lot of money to keep the cost of fuel at an acceptable level. Many people take advantage of this - the Germans and the French come here to fill up the car. Yes, and local residents often speculate in fuel, buying cheaper and reselling at the border much more expensive.
Almost a third of the country's area is occupied by artificially planted forests.
Men here have an average life expectancy of 78 years, and women - 83 years.
Conclusion
Our article is coming to an end. From it you learned a lot of interesting and new things about the amazing Duchy of Luxembourg. We tried to tell you about all areas - from the economy and agriculture to history and sights.
Founding of Luxembourg
The name "Luxembourg" was first mentioned in 963 in an agreement between Count Siegefreud and the abbey of St. Maximin in Trier. Count Siegefroyd became the owner of the rock, on which he later built a fortified castle. A city grew up around this place, and then a country, which is why Count Sigefreud is considered the founder of Luxembourg.
Until 1354, Luxembourg remained a relatively independent county, part of the German Empire. The country then changed its status as a county to the higher status of a duchy, also, importantly, annexing the county of Shani. Starting from the 13th century, Luxembourg began to turn into a real duchy.
From the Dukes of Burgundy to the Netherlands
The dynasty of the Counts of Luxembourg ended in 1437, and the ownership passed to the ruling House of Habsburg of Spain. The acquisition of Luxembourg by Philip the Good of Burgundy in 1443 was decisive in his fate. Having entered the Burgundian state, and then the Netherlands, Luxembourg became an intermediate link between the kingdom of France and the German Empire. With the death of Charles the Bold, son of Philip the Good, the Burgundian era ended, and in 1715 the northern counties passed to the Austrian House of Habsburg. These counties created a confederation called the Netherlands, to which Luxembourg belonged until 1839. In 1795, Luxembourg became part of the French Republic and was given the name "Département des Forêts" (Department of Forests). During the reign of Louis XIV it was already under French occupation, during which Vauban fortified the city of Luxembourg.
Luxembourg as an independent state
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna raised the status of the Duchy of Luxembourg to that of a Grand Duchy, theoretically making it independent while at the same time binding it to a personal union with the Netherlands. These were considered two states ruled by the same sovereign: William I of the Orange-Nassau dynasty, King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The Treaty of London in 1839 became the starting point in the history of Luxembourg as an independent country. In accordance with it, Luxembourg was divided into two parts - the French-speaking half went to Belgium, while the German-speaking half continued to be the Grand Duchy. From that moment on, Luxembourg's national identity began to really take shape, especially after the appearance of its first national anthem in 1859. But Luxembourg realized that he could not be self-sufficient. Therefore, in 1842, William II made him a member of the customs union with Germany, the so-called "Zolverein" ("Zollverein").
Development of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to World War II
This period was a period of sustained economic growth in the country, after mining sites were discovered and railways were built to transport coal (Luxembourg, together with Lorraine, constitutes a large coal basin). The increased demand for labor has led to numerous immigration. The personal union between Luxembourg and the Netherlands ceased in 1890, after the death of the last male descendant of the Oran-Nassau dynasty, and the crown passed to the Nassau-Weilburg branch, the only Nassau line to have a male descendant. It was then that Luxembourg finally got its own dynasty, with the Grand Duke Adolf as the country's first representative. Germany's failed attempt to annex Luxembourg in 1914, which would have violated the neutrality the country had maintained since 1867, prompted Luxembourg to achieve independence and withdraw from the customs union. Thus, in 1921, the Grand Duchy entered into an economic union with Belgium, known as the Belgian-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU). Later, the Belgian franc was adopted as the currency of the Union, while maintaining a limited issue of the Luxembourg franc.
Years between the wars
The economic depression of the first post-war years was followed by a period of prosperity, but from 1929 Luxembourg was affected by the global economic crisis. In the steel industry, he focused primarily on France as a supplier of iron ore and on Germany as a market for his steel products.
World War II and restoration as a member of the European Union
During World War II, Luxembourg, which was in the hands of the German occupiers, experienced forced Germanization. In addition, during the Second World War, more than 2% of the population of Luxembourg lost their lives (for comparison, in France this number was 1.5%). This injury has become a source of great desire for recovery. The priority for the Grand Duchy was to open itself economically to the rest of the world. Needing to become part of a larger market, Luxembourg abandoned its neutrality, becoming a founding member of the United Nations in 1945 and a member of NATO in 1949. The Belgian-Luxembourg Economic Union, which collapsed during the occupation, was restored after liberation. In 1951, Luxembourg became a member of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), since the steel industry accounted for 75% of its industrial output, and, in 1957, a member of the European Economic Community (EEC). The ECSC became the basis for a new period of growth, while membership in the EEC marked the beginning of economic expansion. As the first seat of the ECSC, the City of Luxembourg has become one of the headquarters of the European Union, along with Strasbourg and Brussels. The emergence of a major financial center, accompanied by the accelerating integration of Luxembourg into the European Union, turned it into one of the most cosmopolitan cities since the 1960s. Luxembourg's financial center also enabled the country to overcome the steel crisis of 1974-75. Today, Luxembourg has a good position in the international arena, where it plays an active role, especially in the field of cooperation in the field of assistance to developing countries. Citizens of other countries make up 38% of Luxembourg's population. It is also considered a microcosm of Europe and an example of openness to the rest of the world.
Some of the oldest human remains were discovered in the area of present-day Luxembourg and date back to 5140 BC. However, it is much more difficult to say about the first civilized population of this territory. It is known that in the period between 450 and 53 BC (in that year the Romans set foot on this land), the Belgian tribes of the Treveri and Mediomatrics inhabited this land. But with the conquest of the region by the Franks in the 5th century, a clearer (from a historical point of view) period begins - the era of the Middle Ages. At the end of the 7th century, the population of the territory of modern Luxembourg was converted to Christianity thanks to the Monk Willibrord, who founded the Benectian order there. In the Middle Ages, the land was alternately included in the Frankish kingdom of Austrasia, then in the Holy Roman Empire, and later - in Lorraine. In 963, Luxembourg gained independence as a result of an exchange of strategic territories. The fact is that on its territory there was a fortified castle - Lisilinburg (Little Fortress), which laid the foundation for the state. At the head of this tiny domain was Siegfried. His descendants expanded their territories slightly through wars, political marriages, inheritances, and treaties. In 1060, Conrad was proclaimed the first count of Luxembourg. His great-great-granddaughter became the famous ruler Ermesinda, and his great-grandson Henry VII, in turn, was Holy Roman Emperor from 1308. Already in 1354 the county of Luxembourg became a duchy. But in 1443, Elisabeth Gerlitz, niece of the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, was forced to cede this possession to Philip III of Burgundy.
In 1477, Luxembourg passed to the Habsburg dynasty, and during the division of the empire of Charles V, the territory came under the control of Spain. When the Netherlands rebelled against Philip II, King of Spain, Luxembourg remained neutral. As a result of this rebellion, the duchy passed into the possession of the rebel side. The beginning of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) passed quite calmly for Luxembourg, but with the entry into France in 1635, real trouble and ruin came to the duchy. In addition, the Peace of Westphalia (1648) did not bring peace to Luxembourg - this happened only in 1659 as a result of the conclusion of the Iberian Treaty. In 1679-1684, Louis XIV, King of the Sun, systematically captured Luxembourg, but in 1697 France handed it over to Spain. During the War of the Spanish Succession, Luxembourg, along with Belgium, returned to the Habsburgs, who now ruled Austria. Six years after the start of the French Revolution, Luxembourg passed again to France, so that the state experienced all the vicissitudes of fate along with the French - the Directory and Napoleon. The former territory was divided into three departments (departements), in which the constitution of the Directory and the corresponding system of government were in force. The peasants of Luxembourg fell under the anti-church measures of the French government, and the introduction of military duty in 1798 led to an uprising in Luxembourg, which was brutally suppressed.
With the fall of Napoleon, French rule ended in Luxembourg, and its fate was decided by the Congress of Vienna in 1815: it was granted the status of a Grand Duchy with William I (representative of the Orange-Nassau dynasty, King of the Netherlands) at the head. Luxembourg retained autonomy, and the connection with the Netherlands was rather nominal - only because the duchy was considered William's personal possession. The territory was also part of the German Confederation, and a Prussian garrison was stationed on its territory. William's rule was quite tough, as he perceived the population of the territory as personal property and suppressed them with huge taxes. Naturally, Luxembourg in 1830 supported the Belgian uprising against William, and in October of that year it was announced that Luxembourg was part of Belgium, although William did not revoke his rights to the territory. In 1831, France, England, Russia, Prussia and Austria decided that Luxembourg should remain with William I and enter the German Confederation. At the same time, the French-speaking population was transported to Belgium. Thus, until 1867, Luxembourg was part of the Netherlands on the basis of autonomy.
In 1842, William II signed an agreement with Prussia, according to which Luxembourg became a member of the Customs Union. This move significantly improved the economic and agricultural development of the duchy, infrastructure was restored, and railways appeared. In 1841, Luxembourg was granted a constitution, which, however, did not meet the wishes of the population. The French Revolution of 1848 greatly influenced the autonomy, since under its influence William granted a more liberal constitution, which was amended in 1856. With the collapse of the confederation in 1866, Luxembourg became a fully sovereign state. Officially, this happened on September 9, 1867.
With the death of William III in 1890, the Netherlands was left without a male heir, so the Grand Duchy passed to Adolf, Duke of Nassau, and then to his son William, who died in 1912. Over the years of their reign, they were little interested in issues of state administration, but Mary Adelaide, William's daughter, developed a vigorous activity there, which was not appreciated by the population. During the years of World War I, Luxembourg remained neutral, although in 1914 Germany occupied it, and Mary Adelaide did not particularly protest. According to the Treaty of Versailles, Mary Adelaide was forced to give the throne to her sister Charlotte. By the way, according to the results of the referendum, the majority of the population was against the republican form of government, they wanted to see Charlotte on the throne. In 1940, Germany occupied Luxembourg for the second time. True, now the government refused to compromise with the Nazis, so the entire court was forced to emigrate and live in exile. In the duchy, "traditional" Nazi orders were established, the French language was banned. In September 1944, liberation came. In the same year, Luxembourg entered the Economic Union with Belgium and the Netherlands (Benelux). With the entry into NATO in 1949, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg violated its centuries-old military neutrality. In 1964, Prince Jean ascended the throne of Luxembourg.
But the story goes on...
👁 8.8k (27 in a week) ⏱️ 3 min.
A tiny state like Luxembourg has a very old and complicated history. Since it has always been sandwiched between strong and warlike states, it has changed hands many times. The French, Germans, Spaniards, Dutch and Austrians ruled here. But the historical territory of Luxembourg is larger than the size of the modern Grand Duchy - part of it remained as the Belgian province of Luxembourg, other neighbors also pinched off a piece for themselves.
The toponym "Luxembourg" itself is translated as "fortress" or "small castle". It was this name that the fortifications of the city of Luxembourg, carved into the rock, which Europeans often called "Northern Gibraltar" had. This ancient fortress, fused with steep cliffs near the bed of the Alzet River, was considered impregnable and was able to survive until 1867.
First there was a city...
The history of the country actually began with the city of Luxembourg. This strategically important and militarily convenient place was the first to be used by the Romans. They fortified it to protect the region of Belgica - the northeastern part of Gaul. When the Roman Empire fell, Luxembourg in the 5th century took possession of the Franks, after which he was part of the next huge empire of Charlemagne . It is known that Siegfried I - one of the descendants of Charles ruled the local lands in 963-987. Next, when Conrad in the 11th century awarded the title of Count of Luxembourg, then founded the dynasty that ruled here until the 14th century.
For the city of Luxembourg, the year of foundation falls on the 963rd when this name was first mentioned in a treaty concluded between the Trier abbey of St. Maximin and Count Siegfried. The latter became the owner of the rock, on which he later erected his fortified castle. Over the centuries, a city grew up around it, and with it a small country. That's why Count Siegfried is considered the founder of Luxembourg..
Before 1354 In the 1980s, the county of Luxembourg, which was part of the German Empire, had partial independence, and then it raised its status, becoming a duchy, besides, along the way, it annexed the county of Chani. In 1437 The dynasty of the Counts of Luxembourg ended, and the right to own the country passed to the Spanish Habsburgs. Decided the fate of the country its purchase in 1443 year Philip of Burgundy the Good. Luxembourg first became part of the Duchy of Burgundy, and later in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Thus, he became an intermediate point between the European heavyweights - the French kingdom and the German Empire. When the son of Philip the Good, Charles the Bold, died, the northern counties of Burgundy fell to the Austrian Habsburgs. These counties created their own confederation - the Netherlands, where up to before 1839 years and included Luxembourg.
period of independence
The subsequent history of Luxembourg was no less interesting. Congress of Vienna in 1815 raised the status of Luxembourg - from an ordinary duchy it became great. Theoretically, he became independent, but there was a personal union with the Netherlands - the two states were ruled by one monarch - William I of Nassau-Oran, who was both the king of the Netherlands and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. In 1839 The Treaty of London paved the way for Luxembourg's independence. But before that it was divided into 2 parts: the francophone one joined Belgium, and the German-speaking one turned into the Grand Duchy proper. It was from that time that the national identity of the country began to take shape, which was strengthened by the appearance of the first national anthem in 1859.
Until the Second World War, there was a steady economic development of Luxembourg, especially when coal was found there and railways were built to transport it. Labor shortages led to increased immigration. In 1914 Germany unsuccessfully tried to annex the country, which could violate its neutrality, maintained since 1867. This prompted Luxembourg to declare independence and withdraw from the customs union. BUT in 1921 formed an economic union with Belgium.
World War II period
Germany during the Second World War occupied Luxembourg and staged a forced Germanization there. Over 2% of the Duchy's population died in this war.- relatively even more than that of a participant in the war - France, which lost only 1.5% of the population. But these losses only caused an increase in the desire of the people to restore the country. It made it a priority to open itself up economically to the rest of the world.
Post-war rise
To become part of a large market, Luxembourg had to give up its neutrality, so it in 1945 joined the founding states of the UN, and in 1949 joined NATO. The economic union with Belgium, broken up during the war, was restored again. In 1951 In the same year, the country joined the European Coal and Steel Community, which set up its first headquarters here. Then Luxembourg, along with Brussels and Strasbourg, became the headquarters for various EU bodies.
Accelerated integration into the European Union and its transformation into a major financial center made the city of Luxembourg a true cosmopolitan center after the 1960s. Thanks to the presence of a financial center, the country more easily overcame the "steel" crisis of 1974-75. Modern Luxembourg plays an active role in the international arena, having a good position there, its role in helping developing countries is especially noticeable.
10 0 1 2
Comments (2)
|
