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

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 apparent 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 Regiment 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

Birth and family

thumb|upright|left|Jean's parents, Charlotte and Felix, in 1919.

Jean was born on 5 January 1921 at Berg Castle in central Luxembourg, the first child of Grand Duchess Charlotte and of Prince Félix. He was born just two years after his mother's accession as Grand Duchess, which took place after her elder sister Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde had been forced to abdicate in 1919 when she was accused of being pro-German during the First World War. As the eldest child of the reigning Grand Duchess, he was heir apparent from birth. Among his godparents was Pope Benedict XV, who gave him his second name.

Childhood and education

Prince Jean was raised with his five siblings, and grew up primarily at his parents' residence, Berg Castle, in the town of Colmar-Berg. 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 at Ampleforth College, a Roman Catholic boarding school in the United Kingdom.

Hereditary Grand Duke

Second World War

thumb|upright|left|German troops cross the border to Luxembourg on 10 May 1940.

Just a few months later, World War II broke out. Although the country declared itself neutral and unarmed, the Luxembourgers knew from their World War I experience that their country's neutrality would not necessarily protect them. 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, together with the government of Luxembourg.

At first, they sought refuge in Paris, before fleeing France only weeks later, after receiving transit visas to Portugal from the Portuguese consul Aristides 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 in Cascais, 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 father Prince Félix, his siblings, Princess Elisabeth, Princess Marie Adelaide, Princess Marie Gabriele, Prince Charles and Princess Alix, the nanny Justine Reinard and the chauffeur Eugène Niclou, along with his wife Joséphine, boarded the S.S. Trenton headed for New York City, where they sought refuge in the United States, renting an estate in Brookville, New York.

thumb|Prince Jean, together with his father [[Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma|Prince Félix at the liberation of Luxembourg City in 1944.]]

He joined the British Army as a volunteer in the Irish Guards in November 1942. 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. From 1984 until his abdication, he served as Colonel of the Regiment of the Irish Guards,

Marriage

thumb|[[Medal struck at the occasion of the wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Jean and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium in 1953.]]

In October 1952, Jean was officially engaged to Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium, his third cousin, 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.

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. 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.

Together with his wife, his parents and his sister Elisabeth, Jean took part in the ship tour organized by Queen Frederica and her husband King Paul of Greece in 1954, which became known as the "Cruise of the Kings" and was attended by over 100 royals from all over Europe.

Reign

thumb|Grand Duke Jean taking his constitutional oath before the [[Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg)|Chamber of Deputies on 12 November 1964.]]

Jean was named Lieutenant-Representative of the Grand Duchess on 28 April 1961. The same day, he was made a General of the Armed Forces of Luxembourg.

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. He abdicated on 7 October 2000, and was succeeded on the throne by his son Henri. It was inaugurated in his presence in July 2006.

Later life

Retirement

thumb|upright|Jean at the wedding of his grandson [[Prince Louis of Luxembourg|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. 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.

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.

At the time of his death, he was the longest lived undisputed monarch in history.

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

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."

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."

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, sent a letter of condolences to her cousin, Grand Duke Henri.

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."

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's Municipal Park, similar to the statue of Grand Duchess Charlotte on Place Clairefontaine. A contest for the selection of a design was due to start in 2021, but was delayed and finally started in June 2025.

Issue

thumb|upright|The Grand Ducal couple with their children (July 1971).

  • Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria (born 17 February 1954)
  • Prince Jean (born 15 May 1957)
  • Prince Guillaume (born 1 May 1963) This decree was, however, repealed by another decree on 21 September 1995.

Honours

National

  • 80px Recipient of the Military Medal (17 December 2002)
  • 80px<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -68px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">54px</span> Recipient of the Luxembourg War Cross with bronze palm
  • :
  • Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold I
  • Recipient of the World War II Cross of War Medal with bronze palm
  • : Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (1993)
  • :
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour
  • Recipient of the World War II Cross of War Medal
  • Empire of Iran: Recipient of the Commemorative Medal of the 2, 500th Year Celebration of the founding of the Persian Empire (14 October 1971)
  • : Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 October 1973)
  • :
  • Knight of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy
  • : Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (6 February 1998)
  • : Bailiff Knight Grand Cross of Justice of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Special Class
  • :
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
  • Recipient of the Queen Juliana Inauguration Medal
  • Recipient of the Silver Wedding Anniversary Medal of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard
  • Recipient of the Wedding Medal of Princess Beatrix and Claus van Amsberg
  • Recipient of the War Commemorative Cross
  • :
  • Grand Collar of the Order of the Tower and Sword
  • Grand Collar of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique (29 January 1985)
  • :
  • 1,184th Knight of the Royal Order of the Golden Fleece (16 June 1983)
  • Knight of the Collar of the Order of Charles III (8 July 1980)
  • :
  • Knight with Collar of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (18 July 1951)
  • Recipient of the 50th Birthday Commemorative Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf (30 April 1996)
  • : Knight of the Order of the Royal House of Chakri (17 October 1960)
  • :
  • 948th Stranger Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter (1972)
  • Recipient of the 1939–1945 Star Medal

Honorary military appointments

  • United Kingdom
  • Colonel of the Irish Guards (21 August 1984 – 7 October 2000)
  • General in the British Army (17 March 1995 – 7 October 2000)