150th anniversary of Luxembourg's independence
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== Background == |
== Background == |
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In contrast to some other nations, including neighboring [[Belgium]], Luxembourg does not have a universally accepted independence date, let alone an established tradition to commemorate it. In fact, a number of historical events could be considered worthy of such designation but it was due to external circumstances that they did not end up with such recognition.{{sfn|Péporté |
In contrast to some other nations, including neighboring [[Belgium]], Luxembourg does not have a universally accepted independence date, let alone an established tradition to commemorate it. In fact, a number of historical events could be considered worthy of such designation but it was due to external circumstances that they did not end up with such recognition.{{sfn|Péporté|Kmec|Majerus|Margue|2010|pp=115–116}} |
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One candidate could be the year of 1815 when Luxembourg was elevated to the rank of grand duchy and gained its formal autonomy at the [[Congress of Vienna]]. However, no commemorative tradition could realistically emerge within the next 50 years later, as in 1865 the country was still within the [[German Confederation]]. A century on, in 1915, the Grand Duchy was occupied by the [[German Empire]], which made celebrations impossible.{{sfn|Péporté |
One candidate could be the year of 1815 when Luxembourg was elevated to the rank of grand duchy and gained its formal autonomy at the [[Congress of Vienna]]. However, no commemorative tradition could realistically emerge within the next 50 years later, as in 1865 the country was still within the [[German Confederation]]. A century on, in 1915, the Grand Duchy was occupied by the [[German Empire]], which made celebrations impossible.{{sfn|Péporté|Kmec|Majerus|Margue|2010|pp=115–116}} |
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Another possible date could be 1867, the year of [[Luxembourg Crisis]] and the ''second'' [[Treaty of London (1867)|Treaty of London]], which resulted in the final establishment of Luxembourg's independence. Yet, in 1917 the country was still under the German WWI occupation, so no commemorative measures were undertaken.{{sfn|Péporté |
Another possible date could be 1867, the year of [[Luxembourg Crisis]] and the ''second'' [[Treaty of London (1867)|Treaty of London]], which resulted in the final establishment of Luxembourg's independence. Yet, in 1917 the country was still under the German WWI occupation, so no commemorative measures were undertaken.{{sfn|Péporté|Kmec|Majerus|Margue|2010|pp=115–116}} |
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The year of 1839, when the ''first'' [[Treaty of London (1839)|Treaty of London]] was signed, and the German-speaking Luxembourg as it is known nowadays was created, was therefore best positioned to produce a commemorative tradition. A proposal to celebrate the 50th anniversary was put forward by Prime Minister [[Paul Eyschen]] in 1888, and those plans were only scrapped due to concerns about the health of King [[William III of the Netherlands]], who at the time was also the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The 100th anniversary of the treaty was properly celebrated in 1939.{{sfn|Péporté |
The year of 1839, when the ''first'' [[Treaty of London (1839)|Treaty of London]] was signed, and the German-speaking Luxembourg as it is known nowadays was created, was therefore best positioned to produce a commemorative tradition. A proposal to celebrate the 50th anniversary was put forward by Prime Minister [[Paul Eyschen]] in 1888, and those plans were only scrapped due to concerns about the health of King [[William III of the Netherlands]], who at the time was also the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The 100th anniversary of the treaty was properly celebrated in 1939.{{sfn|Péporté|Kmec|Majerus|Margue|2010|pp=115–116}} |
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== Preparations == |
== Preparations == |
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The idea to commemorate the Grand Duchy's independence was conceived by a number of Luxembourgers from the country's cultural elite: writer {{ill|Jul Christophory|lb|Jul Christophory}}, organist {{ill|Jean-Jacques Kasel|lb|Jean-Jacques Kasel (Organist)}}, lawyer [[Christian Calmes]], and, most prominently, historian [[Gilbert Trausch]]. The group suggested then-[[Prime Minister of Luxembourg|Prime Minister]] [[Jacques Santer]], whom Trausch and Kasel knew personally. The government approved the initiative and agreed to provide necessary funding.{{sfn|Péporté |
The idea to commemorate the Grand Duchy's independence was conceived by a number of Luxembourgers from the country's cultural elite: writer {{ill|Jul Christophory|lb|Jul Christophory}}, organist {{ill|Jean-Jacques Kasel|lb|Jean-Jacques Kasel (Organist)}}, lawyer [[Christian Calmes]], and, most prominently, historian [[Gilbert Trausch]]. The group suggested then-[[Prime Minister of Luxembourg|Prime Minister]] [[Jacques Santer]], whom Trausch and Kasel knew personally. The government approved the initiative and agreed to provide necessary funding.{{sfn|Péporté|Kmec|Majerus|Margue|2010|pp=115–116}} |
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Going back to holding the independence celebrations on anniversary commemorations to the [[Treaty of London (1839)|1839 Treaty of London]] was also Trausch's idea, who had been emphasizing the importance of that particular event for the history of Luxembourg for more than a decade at that point.{{sfn|Péporté |
Going back to holding the independence celebrations on anniversary commemorations to the [[Treaty of London (1839)|1839 Treaty of London]] was also Trausch's idea, who had been emphasizing the importance of that particular event for the history of Luxembourg for more than a decade at that point.{{sfn|Péporté|Kmec|Majerus|Margue|2010|pp=115–116}} |
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A commission in charge of 150th independence anniversary celebrations was assembled by the government in September 1987. October 1987 saw the launch of a sub-committee to oversee the future ‘From State to Nationhood, 1839–1989’ exhibit. Gilbert Trausch was appointed the chair of both.{{sfn|Péporté |
A commission in charge of 150th independence anniversary celebrations was assembled by the government in September 1987. October 1987 saw the launch of a sub-committee to oversee the future ‘From State to Nationhood, 1839–1989’ exhibit. Gilbert Trausch was appointed the chair of both.{{sfn|Péporté|Kmec|Majerus|Margue|2010|pp=115–116}} |
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== Notes == |
== Notes == |
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* {{cite book |last1=Margue |first1=Michel|author-link1=Michel Margue |
* {{cite book |last1=Margue |first1=Michel|author-link1=Michel Margue |
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|first2=Pit|last2=Péporté|ref=Margue & Péporté|date=2011|editor-last1=Evans |editor-first1=R.J.W.|editor-last2=Marchal|editor-first2=G.P.|title=The Uses of the Middle Ages in Modern European States. Writing the Nation |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230283107_7|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|pages=88–112|chapter=Medieval Myths and the Building of National Identity: the Example of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg|isbn=978-0-230-28310-7|doi=10.1057/9780230283107_7}} |
|first2=Pit|last2=Péporté|ref=Margue & Péporté|date=2011|editor-last1=Evans |editor-first1=R.J.W.|editor-last2=Marchal|editor-first2=G.P.|title=The Uses of the Middle Ages in Modern European States. Writing the Nation |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230283107_7|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|pages=88–112|chapter=Medieval Myths and the Building of National Identity: the Example of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg|isbn=978-0-230-28310-7|doi=10.1057/9780230283107_7}} |
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* {{cite book|title=Inventing Luxembourg: Representations of the Past, Space and Language from the Nineteenth to the Twenty-First Century|series=National Cultivation of Culture |first1=Pit |last1=Péporté |first2=Sonja |last2=Kmec |first3=Benoît |last3=Majerus|first4=Michel|last4=Margue |
* {{cite book|title=Inventing Luxembourg: Representations of the Past, Space and Language from the Nineteenth to the Twenty-First Century|series=National Cultivation of Culture |first1=Pit |last1=Péporté |first2=Sonja |last2=Kmec |first3=Benoît |last3=Majerus|first4=Michel|last4=Margue|date=2010|isbn=978-90-04-18881-5|chapter=2.3. Te 1989 Anniversary: A Return to a National Model|pages=115–121}} |
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* {{cite book|title=Building National Museums in Europe 1750-2010. Conference proceedings from ''EuNaMus, European National Museums: Identity Politics, the Uses of the Past and the European Citizen, Bologna 28-30 April 2011''|editor-first1=Peter |editor-last1=Aronsson |editor-first2=Gabriella |editor-last2=Elgenius|publisher=Linköping University Electronic Press|url=http://www.ep.liu.se/ecp_home/index.en.aspx?issue=064|chapter=National Museums in Luxembourg|first1=Felicity|last1=Bodenstein|chapter-url=https://ep.liu.se/ecp/064/023/ecp64023.pdf}} |
* {{cite book|title=Building National Museums in Europe 1750-2010. Conference proceedings from ''EuNaMus, European National Museums: Identity Politics, the Uses of the Past and the European Citizen, Bologna 28-30 April 2011''|editor-first1=Peter |editor-last1=Aronsson |editor-first2=Gabriella |editor-last2=Elgenius|publisher=Linköping University Electronic Press|url=http://www.ep.liu.se/ecp_home/index.en.aspx?issue=064|chapter=National Museums in Luxembourg|first1=Felicity|last1=Bodenstein|chapter-url=https://ep.liu.se/ecp/064/023/ecp64023.pdf}} |
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