They endeavored to compensate for this in a measure by raising Luxemburg to a duchy, but could not prevent part of it from crumbling away and the whole (1444) falling to Burgundy by conquest.ĭuring Early Modern Times, the Netherlands changed sovereignty according to dynastic and political hazards. The advancement of the reigning family brought no advantage to the country, as the counts wandered farther and farther from home, and concerned themselves only with the affairs of the Empire or the Kingdom of Bohemia. His wife, Beatrice, had borne him two sons, both of whom attained the highest honours and excellence: Baldwin, afterwards Archbishop of Trier, and Henry, who obtained the Roman imperial crown as Henry VII (1309). His successor, Henry VI, remained until nearly 1288 at war near Woringen. He took part in Saint Louis's crusade against Tunis. Her son and successor, Henry V (1247-81), showed the influence of his noble mother. She was especially noted for the impulse she gave to religious life by the foundation of monasteries. His dominions passed first to the counts of Namur and subsequently to Ermesinde, who reigned from 1196 to 1247. The last of Siegfried's male descendents, Conrad II, died about 1126. In the middle of the tenth century (963?) the feudal lord, Siegfried, who held rich possessions in the Forest of Ardennes, acquired the Castellum Lucilini (supposed to have been built by the Romans) with the lands in its vicinity, and styled himself Graf von Lützelburg. In the division of Charlemagne's empire (843) the provinces in question fell to the share of the Emperor Lothair. Devastated and depopulated, they were occupied by the victorious Franks. During the Germanic migration the north-eastern provinces of the Roman Empire suffered greatly. As more than half of the subsequent Duchy of Lorraine belonged for centuries to the Diocese of Trier, it is a logical conclusion that the Christianization of the Ardennes proceeded principally from there. Since 316 the town was the see of a bishop. The Christian Faith was introduced at a very early period. Under Emperor Constantine (323-337) Trier (Augusta Trevirorum) became the capital of the province Belgica prima, and later the residence of the prefects of Gaul. On the Lower Moselle and its tributaries dwelt at that time (53 B.C.) the powerful race of the Treviri, who, in alliance with the people under their protection (for example the Eburones under Ambiorix), at first gave the Romans great trouble, but they were soon compelled to yield to superior numbers and gradually attained the highest civilization. The first written account of this country and people is found in the fifth book of Cæsar's "Commentarii de Bello Gallico". During the 20th century, this wealthy and dynamic country acted as a catalyst in the unification of Europe. Before obtaining its independence during the 19th century, Luxembourg lived under successive Burgundian, Spanish, French, Austrian and Dutch sovereignty. In Early Modern Times, its fortress was a major bone of contention in the battle between the great powers. During the Middle Ages, its princes wore the crown of the Holy Roman Empire. The turbulent past of the Grand Duchy is a true mirror of European history. Nestled between France, Belgium and Germany in the heart of Europe, it has been involved in the great European developments. Despite its small size - 2,586 km2 and home to 476,000 inhabitants - the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a sovereign state with a rich history.
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