Early life:
Jean Benoît Guillaume Robert Antoine Louis Marie Adolphe Marc d'Aviano (as his full name was;) was born on 5 January 1921 at Berg Castle, in central Luxembourg. He was the firstborn of then-reigning Grand Duchess Charlotte (1896-1985) & her French-born husband, Prince Félix of Bourbon-Parma (1893-1970). He was followed by five siblings (four sisters & a brother) born between 1922 & 1929. His second name was given after Pope Benedict XV (1854-1922; Pontiff. 1914-22), who was among his godparents.From the very time of his birth Jean was his mother's heir-apparent, however he begun to be officially styled as Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg upon reaching adulthood in 1939. He received a primary education in Luxembourg and completed his secondary education at a Roman Catholic boarding school in London. After returning to Luxembourg (1939) he also was privately tutored at the palace.
Young Prince Jean (centre) with his parents & siblings |
World War II
In 1940 Nazi Germany invaded Luxembourg. The Grand Ducal family was forced to emergently leave the country on 10 May, going to France in exile. When the Axis forces approached, the royal family crossed the borders through Spain & Portugal, for the United Kingdom. Here the Grand Duchess & Government in exile remained, while Prince Felix & their children went to America (with a special warship, sent by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt). They temporary located to Canada, where Prince Jean studied law & Political Science at the Laval University, Quebec City.'John Luxembourg' |
Under the nickname "John Luxembourg", he receives training in the battalion, ahead of the planned D-Day landings to Normandy. He lands near Bayeux (Normandy) on June 11, 1944 (five days after D-Day), and participates in the battle of Caen & the liberation of Brussels (September 3, 1944). On September 10, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean with his father, Prince-Consort Felix enter to the liberated Luxembourg, and receive a triumphal, heroical welcome. However Jean rejoined his army unit a few days later, to be involved in the 'Operation Market Garden (in Arnhem) and the subsequent invasion to Germany by the Allied forces.
After taking part in several decisive battles, breaking the German front near Antwerp & moving towards Bremen & Hamburg (with the Guards Armoured Division), Jean received the order to return to Luxembourg for the official welcome of his Sovereign mother back from exile. Grand Duchess Charlotte returned on April 14, 1945, and His Royal Highness was here to meet & greet her. Following the end of WWII, Jean was sent for some time to Berlin, where, representing the Luxembourgish allied military mission, he closely monitored the questiong over deported Luxembourgians' repatriation (in Germany). The Hereditary Grand Duke left British Army in 1947.
Marriage & family:
Jean & Josephine-Charlotte at their wedding |
Their wedding plans were officially announced on December 26, and they were married on 9 April 1953 in Luxembourg, first civilly at the Grand Ducal Palace & then religiously (the same day) at Notre Dame Cathedral. Their marriage was widely reported to be arranged as an initiative to improve bilateral relations between the two countries with various sources telling that the couple were both in love with somebody else, and weren't allowed to marry them. On wedding day the bride was nevrous enough, which became evident during the Cathedral ceremony: she walked on the wrong side of the altar, confused her wedding vows (breaking down to tears), and stepped on her wedding veil more than once, when they were exiting. Jean tried to comfort her, but Josephine-Charlotte collapsed later on the banquet, which had to be cancelled.
Hereditary Grand Duke Jean with his young family, in 1963 |
However, their marriage would last for more than half-a-century, eventually developing to a happy family life. Together they had five children: Marie-Astrid (b. 1954), Henri (current Grand Duke of Luxembourg - b. 1955), Jean (b. 1957), Margareta (b. 1957) & Guillaume (b. 1963).
Grand Duke of Luxembourg:
Jean (centre) taking the oath of Grand Duke - 12/11/1964 |
During the Reign of Grand Duke Jean, Luxembourg evolved from a minor industrial developing country to an international financial centre. Although historically less important events than in his mother's reign ocurred, the tiny state played a central role to the creation of European Union, and became the seat of European Court of Justice. Jean himself was credited to be a kind and polite leader, influential on the European project & very punctual in his duties, prioritizing the wellbeing of his people. The recognition of a favourable leader in his face was particularly seen when fellow French statesman (& ex-officio Co-Prince of Andorra) Georges Pompidou said that should Europe choose a Hereditary President, "it would certainly be the Grand Duke of Luxembourg". For His contribution to the European unity & integration, Grand Duke Jean was awarded with the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen (1986).
Luxembourgish 100 francs with Grand Duke Jean's portra |
Despite Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy, the Grand Duke has also executive powers, with the government Bills needing his signature to be passed and Judges being appointed by him for life. As such, His Royal Highness played an important role & also somehow influenced his time's politics.
In their capacity as the Sovereign Head of State's Couple, Grand Duke Jean & Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte undertook numerous official visits throughout their tenure, and received numerous honours and awards by fellow leaders & monarchs. In Britain, while on a state visit in 1972, Jean received the knighthood of centuries-old chivalry Order of Garter, becoming its 948th Stranger member. Having served the Irish guards for many years, he was upgrated to the Colonel of its regiment in 1984, holding that position until 2000. Thus he participated in the annual Trooping the Colour parade in UK (the Queen's official birthday celebration) each June, riding in uniform behind Queen Elizabeth II. He also was present at the annual St. Patrick's day celebration every 17th March.
Grand Duke Jean (far left) at a St. Patrick's day' festivities |
The Grand Duke was named Honorary General of the British Army by Queen Elizabeth II in 1995.
Furthermore Grand Duke Jean - a lover of sports & keen sportsman himself in his youth - had been a member of International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 1946 to 1998, and then became its honorary member. Additionally during his reign, the Grand Duke signed a degree (Arrêté Grand-Ducal - 21/09/1995), in which he established the titles of: Prince & Princess of Luxembourg to all the legal descendants of the monarch or heir, Prince/Princess of Nassau to members of the royal family & their legal descendants, & Count/ess of Nassau to any illegitimate descendants (or Princesses, married without the monarch's contest). It also included the style of Royal Highness for the first two categories, and the repeal of a previous (1986) degree, which (initially) renounced the titles of the House of Bourbon & Parma (passed by Jean's father, Prince Félix) from members of the royal family.
Retirement & later years:
Grand Duke Jean (sitting) signs his act of abdication (2000) |
Grand Duke Jean & Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte |
The former Sovereign Grand Ducal Couple retained their titles and moved to Fischbach Castle (central Luxembourg) in Summer 2002. Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte died here on 10 January 2005, aged 77, of lung cancer. As a widower, the elder statesman continued to appear in public for family events (like weddings & jubilees), commemorations, and support causes close to his heart.
At his wife's funeral (2005), nearby his son, Grand Duke Henri |
Jean was a patron of numerous assossiations, related to sports, education, environment & veterans, as well as the Chief Scout of Luxembourg's Scout Assossiation (which he was very proud of). In his free time, His Royal Highness was passionate in photography, flora & fauna, music & the Arts. MUDAM, Luxembourg's museum of modern art was dedicated (as an initiative) to his silver jubilee of reign (in 1989), and opened by him on 1 July 2006; it bears Grand Duke Jean's name in his honour.
Grand Duke Jean (second raw on the wheelchair) at D-Day 70 |
At his 90th birthday (in 2011) |
A proud patriarch, he passed away in hospital after a short illness, surrounded by the large family he left behind.
He is survived by his five children, children-in-law, 21 living grandchildren (a grandson died at birth back in 1984), some grandchildren-in-law, 15 great-grandchildren, a (surviving) sister, and distant family members. The youngest of his siblings, Alix, Princess of Ligne, died earlier this year, aged 89.
Grand Duke Henri' statement, announcing the death of his father (April 23. 2019) |
Above: Jean celebrates his 98th birthday with his family; bellow: Grand Duke Jean & Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, during their Reign. |
HRH JEAN BENOIT GUILLAUME ROBERT ANTOINE LOUIS MARIE ADOLPE MARC D'AVIANO (5 January 1921 - 23 April 2019); Grand Duke of Luxembourg (12/11/1964-7/10/2000), Duke of Nassau, Prince of Bourbon & of Parma; WWII veteran, General of the Luxembourgish Army, Honorary General of the British Army, Colonel of the regiment of Irish Guards, honorary member of the IOC, Chief Scout of Luxembourg's Scout Assossiation, (etc.); recipient of the Charlemange Prize (1986)... 948th Stranger member of the Order of Garter (UK), Knight of the Order of Seraphim (Sweden), etc...; elder statesman; World's Oldest Living monarch (2010-2019), the longest-lived Sovereign Monarch/Head of State & 7th oldest living state leader in the world (by the time of his death).
Au revoir, Monseigneur!!!
See also this (developing) publication about Grand Duke Jean's death & state funeral:
https://royaleventsintheword.blogspot.com/2019/04/death-state-funeral-of-former-grand.html
Videos from highlights of Grand Duke Jean's life:
& Further, additional links of information:
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