Prise de Luxembourg 3 Juin 1684.

Title

Prise de Luxembourg 3 Juin 1684.

Description

View showing the capture of Luxembourg on 3 June 1684. The siege of Luxembourg from 27 April to 7 June 1684 was the most important conflict between France and Spain during the War of Reunion of 1683/84. Reduced engraving after the original drawing by Adam Frans van der Meulen (baptised 1632 in Brussels, died 1690 in Paris), original is today in Versailles. Van der Meulen was a Flemish battle, genre and landscape painter.

ca. 1830

Artist

Nyon

Historical Description

Luxembourg has undergone a remarkable development throughout its history. From a small county in the Middle Ages to a strategically important area during the major wars of Europe, and eventually to a modern, prosperous country within the European Union, Luxembourg has established itself as an independent and stable state. The early history of Luxembourg was strongly shaped by Roman and later Frankish rule. During the Roman period, the area was part of the empire, and in the Middle Ages, it belonged to the Frankish kingdoms. In 1354, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV elevated Luxembourg to a duchy, making it an important territorial possession in the Holy Roman Empire. In the 16th century, Luxembourg came under the control of the Habsburgs, who held both the Spanish and Austrian inheritances. Under Spanish rule, Luxembourg was used as a strategic point in the wars between Spain and the Netherlands. In 1795, during the French Revolution, Luxembourg was conquered by the French and incorporated into the French Empire. In 1839, after the Belgian Revolution, Luxembourg was divided between Belgium and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The western part of the country fell to Belgium, while the eastern part remained with the Netherlands. This division shaped Luxembourg's modern geographical boundaries and gave it its current form. Today, Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy and one of the wealthiest countries in the world.