| Jean | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Jean in 1994 | |||||
| Grand Duke of Luxembourg | |||||
| Reign | 12 November 1964 – 7 October 2000 | ||||
| Enthronement | 12 November 1964 | ||||
| Predecessor | Charlotte | ||||
| Successor | Henri | ||||
| Regent | Henri (1998–2000) | ||||
| Regent of Luxembourg | |||||
| Regency | 4 May 1961 – 12 November 1964 | ||||
| Monarch | Charlotte | ||||
| Born | (1921-01-05)5 January 1921 Berg Castle, Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg | ||||
| Died | 23 April 2019(2019-04-23) (aged 98) Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | ||||
| Burial | 4 May 2019 Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | |||||
| |||||
| House | Luxembourg-Nassau (official) Bourbon-Parma (agnatic) | ||||
| Father | Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma | ||||
| Mother | Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | ||||
| Signature |  | ||||
Jean (Jean Benoît Guillaume Robert Antoine Louis Marie Adolphe Marc d'Aviano; 5 January 1921 – 23 April 2019) wasGrand Duke of Luxembourg from 1964 until hisabdication in 2000. He was the first Grand Duke of Luxembourg of Frenchagnatic descent.
Jean was the eldest son ofGrand Duchess Charlotte andPrince Felix. Jean's primary education was initially in Luxembourg, before attendingAmpleforth College in England. In 1938, he was officially named Hereditary Grand Duke as heir apparent to the throne of Luxembourg. While Luxembourg wasoccupied by Germans during theSecond World War, the grand ducal family was abroad in exile. Jean studied at theUniversité Laval in Quebec City. Jean later volunteered to join the British army'sIrish Guards in 1942, and after graduating from theRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst, received his commission in 1943. He participated in theNormandy landings and theBattle for Caen, and joined the Allied forces in theliberation of Luxembourg. From 1984 until 2000, he wasColonel of the Regiment of the Irish Guards.
On 9 April 1953, Jean marriedPrincess 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 sonGrand Duke Henri.
Jean was born on 5 January 1921[1] atBerg Castle in central Luxembourg, the first child ofGrand Duchess Charlotte and ofPrince Félix. He was born just two years after his mother's accession as Grand Duchess, which took place after her elder sisterGrand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde had been forced to abdicate in 1919 when she was accused of being pro-German during theFirst World War.[2] As the eldest child of the reigning Grand Duchess, he washeir apparent from birth. Among his godparents wasPope Benedict XV, who gave him his second name.[3]
Prince Jean was raised with his five siblings, and grew up primarily at his parents' residence,Berg Castle, in the town ofColmar-Berg.[4] The young prince attended primary school in Luxembourg, where he continued the initial stage of secondary education. From 1934 to 1938, he completed secondary school atAmpleforth College, a Roman Catholicboarding school in theUnited Kingdom.[4] Upon reaching maturity, on 5 January 1939 he was styled 'Hereditary Grand Duke', recognising his status as heir apparent.[5]
Just a few months later,World War II broke out. Although the country declared itselfneutral and unarmed, the Luxembourgers knew from theirWorld War I experience that their country's neutrality would not necessarily protect them. On 10 May 1940,Germany invaded Luxembourg, beginning afour-year occupation. Having been warned of an imminent invasion, theGrand Ducal Family escaped the previous night, together with thegovernment of Luxembourg.
At first, they sought refuge in Paris, before fleeing France only weeks later, after receiving transit visas to Portugal from the Portuguese consulAristides de Sousa Mendes, in June 1940. They arrived at Vilar Formoso on 23 June 1940. After travelling through Coimbra and Lisbon, the family first stayed inCascais, in Casa de Santa Maria, owned by Manuel Espírito Santo, who was then the honorary consul for Luxembourg in Portugal. By July they had moved to Monte Estoril, staying at the Chalet Posser de Andrade. On 10 July 1940, Prince Jean, together with his fatherPrince Félix, his siblings,Princess Elisabeth,Princess Marie Adelaide,Princess Marie Gabriele,Prince Charles andPrincess Alix, the nanny Justine Reinard and the chauffeur Eugène Niclou, along with his wife Joséphine, boarded theS.S. Trenton headed for New York City,[6][7] where they sought refuge in the United States, renting an estate inBrookville, New York.[4] The grand duchess travelled from Portugal toLondon, where agovernment in exile was set up, before joining her family in North America.[6] Jean studied Law and Political Science atUniversité Laval,Quebec City.[8]
He joined theBritish Army as a volunteer in theIrish Guards in November 1942.[4] After receiving officer training at theRoyal Military College atSandhurst,[4] Jean wascommissioned as a lieutenant on 30 July 1943,[9] before being promoted tocaptain in 1944. He landed inNormandy on 11 June 1944, and took part in theBattle for Caen and the liberation ofBrussels.[4] On 10 September 1944, he took part in the liberation of Luxembourg before moving on toArnhem and the invasion of Germany.[4] He relinquished his commission in the British Army on 26 June 1947.[10] From 1984 until his abdication, he served asColonel of the Regiment of the Irish Guards,[4] often riding in uniform behindQueen Elizabeth II during theTrooping the Colour.[11]
In October 1952, Jean was officially engaged toPrincess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium, his third cousin, the only daughter ofKing Leopold III of the Belgians and his first wife, PrincessAstrid 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.[12]
They were married inLuxembourg on 9 April 1953, first in the Hall of Ceremonies at theGrand Ducal Palace, later in Luxembourg'sNotre-Dame Cathedral.[13] 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.[14]
The newlyweds were givenBetzdorf Castle inBetzdorf in the eastern part of the grand duchy as their residence.[4] The couple had five children, 22 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.[15]
Together with his wife, his parents and his sister Elisabeth, Jean took part in the ship tour organized byQueen Frederica and her husband KingPaul of Greece in 1954, which became known as the "Cruise of the Kings" and was attended by over 100 royals from all over Europe.
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.[16] The same day, he was made a General of theArmed 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 PresidentGeorges 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.[17][18] In 1986, he was honoured with theCharlemagne Prize inAachen for his efforts towards European integration.[18]
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.[19] Heabdicated on 7 October 2000, and was succeeded on the throne by his sonHenri.[4]
Luxembourg's museum of modern artMudam was officially named "Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean" to commemorate his reign which lasted 36 years.[20] It was inaugurated in his presence in July 2006.[14]
In the summer of 2002, Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte took up residence atFischbach Castle. After his wife died in January 2005, the Grand Duke continued to live there alone.[21] 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.[22]
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.[23][24] At the time of his death, he was thelongest lived undisputed monarch in history.[25]
His funeral was held on Saturday, 4 May at theNotre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg[26] after a period of mourning of 12 days.[27]
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."[26]
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."[26]
Tributes followed from theBelgian 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."[28]
In their tribute, theDutch 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."[28]
In their tribute, theBritish royal family said that the Grand Duke will be "missed, both inside and outside Luxembourg".[29]
In the tribute from theRomanian 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 (viaQueen Anne who was a paternal first cousin of his) as well as "a lifetime of friendship"; the head of the family,Crown Princess Margareta, sent a letter of condolences to her cousin,Grand Duke Henri.[30]
The president of theInternational Olympic CommitteeThomas 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."[31]
A month after Grand Duke Jean's death, the Luxembourgish government announced plans to erect a monument in his honour in the Pescatore section of Luxembourg City'sMunicipal Park, similar to thestatue ofGrand Duchess Charlotte on Place Clairefontaine.[32] A contest for the selection of a design was due to start in 2021, but was delayed and finally started in June 2025.[33][34]
Jean renounced the titles of the House of Bourbon-Parma for himself and his family in 1986.[37] This decree was, however, repealed by another decree on 21 September 1995.[38]
TheArrêté 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.[38][39]
Recipient of theMilitary Medal (17 December 2002)[40]
Recipient of theLuxembourg War Cross with bronze palm[40]
Recipient of theCross of the Order of Resistance[40]
Austrian Imperial and Royal Family: 1,293rd Knight of theImperial and Royal Order of the Golden Fleece
Austria: Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash of theDecoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (1975)[41]
Belgium:
Denmark: Knight of theOrder of the Elephant (22 November 1976)[42]
Finland: Grand Cross with Collar of theOrder of the White Rose of Finland (1993)[43]
France:
Germany: Grand Cross special class of theOrder of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Greek Royal Family: Knight Grand Cross of theRoyal Order of the Redeemer
Holy See: Knight of theOrder of the Golden Spur
Iceland: Collar with Grand Cross Breast Star of theOrder of the Falcon[44]
Empire of Iran: Recipient of theCommemorative Medal of the 2, 500th Year Celebration of the founding of the Persian Empire (14 October 1971)[45]
Italy: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of theOrder of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 October 1973)[46]
House of Savoy:
Japan: Grand Cordon with Collar of theOrder of the Chrysanthemum
Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Bailiff Knight Grand Cross ofJustice of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Special Class
Netherlands:
Norway: Grand Cross with Collar of theOrder of Saint Olav (1964)
Poland: Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit of the Republic of Poland[47]
Portugal:
Spain:
Sweden:
Thailand: Knight of theOrder of the Royal House of Chakri (17 October 1960)
United Kingdom:
United States of America: Recipient of theSilver Star Medal[40]
CanadaFrance:
Alsace: Honorary Degree of theUniversity of Strasbourg[40]United States of America
Ohio: Honorary Degree of theMiami University[40][52] United Kingdom
Colonel of theIrish Guards (21 August 1984 – 7 October 2000)[53] General in theBritish Army (17 March 1995 – 7 October 2000)[53]
Bronze Wolf Award for contributions to worldwideScouting, 1995
GoldOlympic Order, 1998
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Cadet branch of theHouse of Nassau Born: 5 January 1921 Died: 23 April 2019 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Grand Duke of Luxembourg 1964–2000 | Succeeded by |
| Titles in pretence | ||
| Preceded by Charlotte | — TITULAR — Duke of Nassau 1964–2000 Reason for succession failure: Prussian annexation of Nassau in 1866 | Succeeded by Henri |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by | Colonel of theIrish Guards 1984–2000 | Succeeded by |
Generations are numbered from the accession ofAdolphe as Grand Duke of Luxembourg in 1890. | ||
| 1st generation | .svg) | |
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Generations are numbered from the accession ofWilliam as Duke of Nassau in 1816. | ||
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*also aprince of Luxembourg ^also aprince of Bourbon-Parma §not a Luxembourgian prince by birth, but createdPrince Consort | ||
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