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Dateline
963 Siegfried, count of the Ardennes and founder of the House of Luxembourg, acquires an old Roman fortress called Lucilinburhuc and builds a small castle on a rocky outcrop called the Bock, laying the foundation for the future city of Luxembourg.
1244 Countess Ermesinda, who is credited with being the founder of Luxembourg, grants rights and freedoms to the citizens of the town of Luxembourg and autonomy to its administration.
1288 Luxembourg suffers a crushing defeat in the Battle of Worringen, putting an end to its acquisition of land in Limburg and Brabant.
1308 Henry VII, count of Luxembourg, is elected king of Germany, and in 1312 is crowned Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV.
1354 Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, the grandson of Henry IV, raises Luxembourg's status from a county to a duchy.
1418 First documented reference to the Town Hall of Luxembourg City, on the site where now stands the Palace of the Grand Dukes.
1443 Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy captures the fortress of Luxembourg and establishes Burgundian rule.
1506 Luxembourg is inherited by the future Habsburg Emperor and King of Spain Charles V.
1573 Following the 1554 destruction of the Town Hall by a gunpowder explosion, construction is completed on the original wing of the ducal palace.
1684 France captures the fortress, ends the rule of the Spanish Habsburgs, and brings the country under French rule.
1697 A second period of Spanish rule begins, when France returns the duchy to Spain.
1713 Beginning of Luxembourg's Golden Age, when it comes under rule of Habsburgs of Austria.
1794-95 The Revolutionary French besiege Luxembourg City. Starvation forces the fortress's Austrian garrison to surrender.
1814 The French garrison withdraws from the fortress.
1815 Treaty of Vienna partitions Luxembourg; lands east of the Moselle, Sûre, and Our are ceded to Prussia, and the remainder go to Holland's King William of Orange as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
1839 Luxembourg's Walloon districts are ceded to Belgium.
1867 Luxembourg's neutrality is guaranteed under the protection of the great powers. Luxembourg City fortifications are razed.
1890 Luxembourg cuts its ties to Holland's House of Orange. Adolf of Nassau serves as the first "indigenous" grand duke.
1912 Marie Adelaide of Nassau becomes the first grand duchess.
1914-18 German troops invade and occupy the country during World War I.
1922 Agreement on economic union with Belgium.
1940 World War II: Nazi Germany invades, May 10. The country is quickly occupied and the royal family and government go into exile.
1944 September: U.S. troops begin liberation of Luxembourg.
1944-45 Battle of the Bulge. Hitler's last great offensive brings destruction to parts of the Grand Duchy. The German army is thrown back again by American troops.
1948 Benelux Customs union with Belgium and the Netherlands.
1949 Luxembourg joins NATO.
1952 As a founding member of the European Coal and Steel Community, Luxembourg is chosen as the seat of important European institutions.
1958 Luxembourg joins the European Economic Community, the forerunner of today's European Union (EU).
1964 Grand Duchess Charlotte abdicates in favor of her son, Grand Duke Jean.
1966 Opening of the European Center on the Kirchberg.
1993 Luxembourg opposes efforts of other EU members to impose withholding tax on savings and investments in the Grand Duchy.
2000 Grand Duke Jean abdicates and is succeeded by his son Henri.
2002 Euro banknotes and coins replace the Luxembourg franc.
2003 Luxembourg joins Germany, Belgium, and France in opposing the invasion of Iraq, prompting sour comment from pro-war countries about the Grand Duchy throwing its "weight" around on the international stage.
2007 Another new terminal opens at Luxembourg Airport (the first was in 2004), greatly improving service for passengers arriving in the Grand Duchy.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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