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William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Biebrich Palace, 22 Apr 1852 – Berg Castle, 25 Feb 1912

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 22 Apr 1852

    Born in Biebrich Palace

  2. 1894–1902

    6 children are born

  3. 1905–1912

    Monarch of Luxembourg

  4. 25 Feb 1912

    Dies in Berg Castle, aged 59

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 6

During his lifetime

He lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Biebrich Palace.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1850s · William is born in Biebrich Palace

In the news1859

First trains connect Luxembourg to neighbors

The first railway lines connected Luxembourg City to Thionville and Arlon, ending the country's economic isolation.

Getting around

Limitations of mail-coach travel

Before railways became dominant, mail-coaches reached speeds of 8 to 12.7 km/h, but their daily range was limited to around 100 kilometers due to frequent stops, meals, and border controls.

At the table

Potatoes and Bread as Staples

Working-class families relied heavily on potatoes and rye bread as their staple diet, often eating potatoes two or three times a day. Eggs and butter were considered expensive luxuries, with some workers rarely, if ever, having access to an egg.

The Crimean War. Britain, France and the Ottomans fought Russia in Crimea; Florence Nightingale’s nurses changed how the wounded were cared for.In Europe · 1853–1856

The Crimean War. Britain, France and the Ottomans fought Russia in Crimea; Florence Nightingale’s nurses changed how the wounded were cared for.

William Simpson, artist (1823-1899) E[dmond]. Morin, lithographer (1824 - 1882), · public domain

What people wore

Creative Sewing to Save Fabric

To save money on expensive fabrics, rural women often sewed a piece of linen into the hidden parts of their dresses that were covered by an apron, a practice known as Magsachte.

Music

Music and dance at public festivals

Popular festivities like shooting festivals and local fairs were central to social life, while the educated classes attended balls, concerts, and theater performances.

Daily life

Compulsory schooling and kindergarten costs

Children were required to attend school from ages six to fourteen, often carrying books in long tin satchels. In model kindergartens, families could pay fees between sixpence and three shillings a month for care and meals.