the last sovereign Duke of Nassau, and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg
1817 CE
to 1905 CE
Adolphe (Adolf Wilhelm August Karl Friedrich; July 24, 1817 – November 17, 1905) is the last sovereign Duke of Nassau, reigning from August 20, 1839 until the duchy's annexation to Kingdom of Prussia in 1866
In 1890, he becomes Grand Duke of Luxembourg following the death of King William III of the Netherlands, ending the personal union between the Netherlands and Luxembourg, until his own death in 1905.
He is the first monarch of Luxembourg from the House of Nassau-Weilburg.
Adolphe becomes Duke of Nassau in August 1839, following the death of his father William.
After Austria's defeat in Austro-Prussian War of 1866, the Duchy of Nassau is annexed to Kingdom of Prussia and he loses his throne.
From 1815 to 1839, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is ruled by the kings of the Netherlands as a province of the Netherlands.
Following the Treaty of London (1839), the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg becomes independent but remains in personal union with the Netherlands.
Following the death of his sons, King William III of the Netherlands has no male heirs to succeed him.
In the Netherlands, females are allowed to succeed to the throne.
Luxembourg, however, follows Salic law, which bars females from succession
Thus, upon King William III's death, the crown of the Netherlands passes to his only daughter, Wilhelmina, while that of Luxembourg passes to Adolphe in accordance with the Nassau Family Pact.
Adolphe dies in 1905 and is succeeded as Grand Duke of Luxembourg by his son, William IV.
