Luxembourg/Luxembourgers

Luxembourg/Luxembourgers:
Development of a Nation
How Luxembourg became
Luxembourg,
and how the Luxembourgers became Luxembourger.

How
Luxembourgers as a people, and the country of Luxembourg as a nation-state,
evolved and materialized into current form, in terms of ancestral
bloodlines, language, borders, culture, and even how they
received their name.

Ancestral Background
Development of Language
Formation of Borders
Etymology (How Name Received)
Culture
Luxembourg in 2008

Luxembourger Ancestral Background:

1. The area of modern Luxembourg was inhabited by
   Celts, then overran with Germanics (during age of migrations after
   collapse of Roman Empire in 5^th century), who absorbed
   the Celtic population.
2. Holy
   Roman Empire (HRE). In 953, the German Kingdom becomes the Holy
   Roman Empire (HRE), after entering into a partnership with the Pope
   in Rome. The King of the Germans is  recognized as Holy Roman
   Emperor by Rome in exchange for guaranteed independence of Papal
   States (centered around Rome – rule by Church). The Holy Roman
   Empire was a collection of German duchies, principalities and other
   entities that offered at least token loyalty to the partnership of
   the Emperor and the Pope. The Emperor and Pope formed (at least in
   theory) a secular-ecclesiastic partnership in governing the empire.
   In reality, the two offices were often at odds, even directing acts
   of hostility toward one another. The German princes, dukes, etc. of
   member states within the HRE typically operated with autonomy,
   cooperating with the emperor when unifying causes arose, such as
   military campaigns to expand or protect the empire. Other
   nationalities were brought under HRE-rule throughout history, such
   as Italy and Burgundy (French). Many German entities eventually
   broke away from the Holy Roman Empire to form their own distinct
   nations, such as the Dutch, Swiss and Austrians.
3. German (non-Dutch) influence dominated, as it
   remained an independent county in the Holy Roman Empire from 963
   until being elevated to duchy status in 1354. Since the
   Germanic/Celtic integration, it remained largely ethnically
   homogenous with the rest of the main body of German peoples.
4. Ceded to Austria as part of Austrian
   Netherlands, pegging its destiny to the Netherlands from this point
   forward (especially with
   
   Belgium – Southern Netherlands), opening it up to minor Dutch
   influence upon people’s genetic composition.
5. Conquered by France in 1794, Napoleon’s France
   annexes modern Belgium and Luxembourg (Southern/Austrian
   Netherlands) in 1795, making it part of France, introducing a French
   population into these areas. As a result, Luxembourgers would come
   to include a French component.
6. Upon Napoleonic France’s utter defeat, the
   Southern Netherlands would be incorporated into the United Kingdom
   of the Netherlands from 1815 to 1830. Belgium would then declare
   independence in 1830, gaining independence after war in 1839. The
   French-dominated section of Luxembourg would join Belgium, and would
   be incorporated into Belgium upon achieving independence, reducing
   Luxembourg territory by more than half, finalizing the modern
   borders of the nation of Luxembourg. As a result, its populace would
   be primarily Germanic, with some French component.

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Development of Language in Luxembourg:
See

German Language

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Formation of Luxembourg Borders:

1. The land of historical Luxembourg was
   purchased by a German count, forming it into the County of
   Luxembourg in 963. Before, it had been part of Frankish Kingdom,
   then owned by a monastery under Holy Roman Empire rule. Elevated to
   duchy status in 1354.
2. Conquered by Burgundy in 1469, being
   incorporated into the Burgundian Netherlands (independent from the
   Holy Roman Empire).
3. 1477 – Austria gains Burgundian Netherlands.
4. 1556 – Spain annexes Low Counties (Seventeen
   Provinces), which includes the Burgundian Netherlands (and thus
   Luxembourg).
5. During 80-Years War (1568-1648), as a
   Catholic-dominated region, it remained with Spain (along with modern
   Belgium, forming the Southern Netherlands).
6. Napoleonic France conquers Southern
   Netherlands in 1794, annexing them in 1795 as part of France.
7. After Napoleonic Wars, Belgium and Luxembourg
   are enjoined with the Netherlands by the European Powers in 1815,
   forming the contrived Kingdom of the Netherlands. Dutch people still
   distinct from Belgians, as they had been a separate nation for more
   than a century now, even though their early history was common.
   Thus, Belgium separates to form Kingdom of Belgium in 1830, forming
   modern boundaries of both Netherlands and Belgium. After declaring
   independence in 1830, a war of independence with the Netherlands
   ensues, lasting until 1839, with the Kingdom of Belgium gaining
   independence. The French speaking portion of Luxembourg would join
   the Belgian revolution, being annexed into Belgium upon gaining
   independence, causing Luxembourg to lose more than half its
   territory. With this, its modern borders were achieved.

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Etymology (How Name
Received):

Luxembourg was located on
traditional Celtic grounds, used Celtic word for “little” (lucilem), and
German word for “castle” (burg). English adaptation comes to Luxembourg.

Luxembourg Culture:

Luxembourg culture is an eclectic mix between German and French culture.
Luxembourg has long been an outback in the various empires or nations
that have consumed it, leaving it with a rural tradition. Similar to
Belgium, it is at a natural geopolitical hub, giving rise to a very
strong transportation industry, which has played a major role in
Luxembourg developing one of the world’s strongest economies, on a per
capita basis.

Luxembourg in
2008:

Economy: Extremely strong and
diversified economy. Number one in the world in GDP per capita. High
standard of living.
Government: Constitutional monarchy (democracy with monarch still
in place).
Religion: Roman Catholic 87%, Nations dominated by Catholicism
like Luxembourg tend to be a little more religious (although still very
secular, with the trend deepening this). Survey: 44% believe in God, 28%
believe in some other form of intelligent design, 22% atheist/agnostic.

Demographics: Luxembourgers the vast majority. Mix of Celtic
origin, Germanic peoples that overran the territory during the era of
migrations, along with a French blend.
Foreign Policy: NATO
Population: 486,006 (2008)

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