Luxembourg Coup of 1856
Encyclopedia
The Luxembourg Coup of 1856, also called the Putsch of 1856, was a reactionary revision of Luxembourg
's constitution
on 27 November 1856. Whilst not a true coup d'etat
or revolution
, its detractors dubbed it a 'royal coup', as the King-Grand Duke
, William III
, greatly expanded his powers, and the name has stuck. Aimed at reversing the liberal successes embodied in the 1848 constitution, the major changes enacted by William were undone with the promulgation of a new constitution in 1868, after the Luxembourg Crisis
. However, some, such as the creation of the Council of State
, have lasted until the present day.
To form the government of Luxembourg at the time required the support of both the Chamber of Deputies
and the Grand Duke
; without the former, the de la Fontaine
government collapsed in 1848, whilst Jean-Jacques Willmar's government was fired by the Grand Duke in 1853 despite still having the confidence of the Chamber of Deputies. This created a rivalry between the monarchy and the Chamber.
In the speech from the throne
on 7 October 1856, the Governor of Luxembourg, Prince Henry, announced the amendment of the constitution, which he claimed was required to bring it into line with the rest of the German Confederation
. The liberals in the Chamber were outraged, and demanded that any changes respect the freedoms won in the Revolutions of 1848
and the independence of Luxembourg from the Netherlands
. The liberals' draft reply was passed by 31 votes to 15.
On 28 October, the Chamber voted to adjourn on 19 November. On that day, the Chamber withdrew its confidence in the government and requested another adjournment, which was rejected. The liberals left the Chamber, refusing to return the following day. In response to this, the Grand Duke dissolved the Chamber, and the government presented the Grand Duke with a new constitution, as well as a condemnation of the oppositions' withdrawal. The Grand Duke signed on 27 November, and the changes were published in Mémorial
on 30 November. It was approved by the German Confederation on 29 January 1857.
The changes included:
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
's constitution
Constitution of Luxembourg
The Constitution of Luxembourg is the supreme law of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The modern constitution was adopted on 17 October 1868.Whilst the constitution of 1868 marked a radical change in Luxembourg's constitutional settlement, it was technically an amendment of the original constitution...
on 27 November 1856. Whilst not a true coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
or revolution
Revolution
A revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.Aristotle described two types of political revolution:...
, its detractors dubbed it a 'royal coup', as the King-Grand Duke
King-Grand Duke
The designation of King-Grand Duke was held by the three monarchs of the House of Orange-Nassau that ruled Luxembourg and the Netherlands in personal union, between 1815 and 1890...
, William III
William III of the Netherlands
William III was from 1849 King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg until his death and the Duke of Limburg until the abolition of the Duchy in 1866.-Early life:William was born in Brussels as son of William II of the Netherlands and...
, greatly expanded his powers, and the name has stuck. Aimed at reversing the liberal successes embodied in the 1848 constitution, the major changes enacted by William were undone with the promulgation of a new constitution in 1868, after the Luxembourg Crisis
Luxembourg Crisis
The Luxembourg Crisis was a diplomatic dispute and confrontation in 1867 between France and Prussia over the political status of Luxembourg. The confrontation almost led to war between the two parties, but was peacefully resolved by the Treaty of London....
. However, some, such as the creation of the Council of State
Council of State of Luxembourg
The Council of State is an institution in Luxembourg that advises the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies. Until 1 January 1997, it was also the country's supreme administrative court, but this function was ceded to the newly created Administrative Tribunal and Administrative Court.The...
, have lasted until the present day.
To form the government of Luxembourg at the time required the support of both the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg
The Chamber of Deputies , abbreviated to the Chamber, is the unicameral national legislature of Luxembourg. 'Krautmaart' is sometimes used as a metonym for the Chamber, after the square on which the Hôtel de la Chambre is located....
and the Grand Duke
Grand Duke of Luxembourg
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the sovereign monarch and head of state of Luxembourg. Luxembourg has been a grand duchy since 15 March 1815, when it was elevated from a duchy when placed in personal union with the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
; without the former, the de la Fontaine
Gaspard-Théodore-Ignace de la Fontaine
Gaspard-Théodore-Ignace de la Fontaine was a Luxembourgian politician and jurist. He led the Orangist movement and was the first Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for four months, from 1 August 1848 until 6 December of the same year.His third son, Edmond, better known by his pen name 'Dicks',...
government collapsed in 1848, whilst Jean-Jacques Willmar's government was fired by the Grand Duke in 1853 despite still having the confidence of the Chamber of Deputies. This created a rivalry between the monarchy and the Chamber.
In the speech from the throne
Speech from the Throne
A speech from the throne is an event in certain monarchies in which the reigning sovereign reads a prepared speech to a complete session of parliament, outlining the government's agenda for the coming session...
on 7 October 1856, the Governor of Luxembourg, Prince Henry, announced the amendment of the constitution, which he claimed was required to bring it into line with the rest of the German Confederation
German Confederation
The German Confederation was the loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to coordinate the economies of separate German-speaking countries. It acted as a buffer between the powerful states of Austria and Prussia...
. The liberals in the Chamber were outraged, and demanded that any changes respect the freedoms won in the Revolutions of 1848
Revolutions of 1848
The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848. It was the first Europe-wide collapse of traditional authority, but within a year reactionary...
and the independence of Luxembourg from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The liberals' draft reply was passed by 31 votes to 15.
On 28 October, the Chamber voted to adjourn on 19 November. On that day, the Chamber withdrew its confidence in the government and requested another adjournment, which was rejected. The liberals left the Chamber, refusing to return the following day. In response to this, the Grand Duke dissolved the Chamber, and the government presented the Grand Duke with a new constitution, as well as a condemnation of the oppositions' withdrawal. The Grand Duke signed on 27 November, and the changes were published in Mémorial
Mémorial
Mémorial is the official gazette of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is published by the Central Legislation Service , an agency of the government of Luxembourg. Until the Second World War, Mémorial was published in both French and German, which were the two official languages of Luxembourg...
on 30 November. It was approved by the German Confederation on 29 January 1857.
The changes included:
- The creation of the Council of StateCouncil of State of LuxembourgThe Council of State is an institution in Luxembourg that advises the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies. Until 1 January 1997, it was also the country's supreme administrative court, but this function was ceded to the newly created Administrative Tribunal and Administrative Court.The...
, modelled on the French body and appointed by the Grand Duke. Whilst the appointment model was revised in 1866, the Council of State still exists to this day. - Restrictions on freedom of the pressFreedom of the pressFreedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
, lifted in 1868. - Adding to the constitution that 'sovereignty resides in the person of the King-Grand Duke', which was removed with an amendment on 15 May 1919.
- An increase in the poll taxPoll taxA poll tax is a tax of a portioned, fixed amount per individual in accordance with the census . When a corvée is commuted for cash payment, in effect it becomes a poll tax...
, scrapped only with the introduction of universal suffrage in 1919. - The reorganisation of elections to the Chamber of Deputies to include two classes of deputies. Those that paid more than 125 francs in tax elected 15 members representing the districts; those paying between 10 francs and 125 francs elected 16 members representing the cantons, thus giving the rich a representation far beyond their proportion of the population, similar to the provisions of the Constitution of the Kingdom of PrussiaConstitution of the Kingdom of PrussiaThe Constitution of the Kingdom of Prussia was adopted in 1850 and amended in the following years. This constitution was far less liberal than the federal constitution of the German Empire....
adopted a few years before. This was undone by the new constitution in 1868.