"RUE PHILIPPE II" IN THE HEART OF LUXEMBOURG CITY

The history of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg starts in 962 when Othon 1st created the Saint Germanic Empire.

Sigefroi (922 - 998) was the first count of a territory that would become the county of Luxembourg. The following year, he acquired the "fortin Lucilinburhuc" (which means little fortress and is the origin of Luxembourg's name) by an exchange contract with Saint-Maximin’s abbey in Trier, and made a county of it.

In 1308, the count of Luxembourg, Henri VII, was elected King of Germany and was crowned as Emperor in Rome in 1312.

At the abdication in 1555 of the Roman Germanic Emperor Charles V (1500 – 1558), in favor of his son Philippe II, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Netherlands was given to the Habsburg of Spain. Philippe II became the sovereign of the future Luxembourgish state. 

WHO WAS PHILIPPE II?

Philippe II was born on May 21st, 1527 at Valladolid (Spain). Son of Charles V and Isabelle of Portugal (1503 – 1539), the reign of this prince on the Spanish house of Habsburg marked the diplomatic apogee of Spain.

Philippe II became Prince of the Netherlands, King of the Spaniards (Principe de las Españas) on January 16th, 1556. He was the King of Portugal from 1580 until his death (on September 13th, 1598) at the Escorial Palace where he spent a large part of his life.