Nassau Family Pact
Encyclopedia
The Nassau Family Pact was a mutual pact of inheritance
and succession
made in 1783 by princes of the old German noble and sovereign family of Nassau
. It confirmed Salic Law
to operate in favor of all agnatic
lines of the family, divided into first surviving lines which existed in the Middle Ages
(Walramian
and Ottonian
). The pact chiefly provided that in case of one of the lines becoming extinct, the other would succeed in its hereditary Nassau lands ("the main concept of the Erbverein was that if either the Ottonian or Walramian male line would become extinct the other line would succeed").
There was a clause to provide for a so-called Semi-Salic continuation to the dynasty in an undefined way if both the lines were to die out in the male line ("also arranged for that in the absence of all male successors, females could succeed"). In case of the extinction of all male lines, the closest heir to the last male will succeed and in turn will be succeeded by the heirs of that closest one. If the closest heir happens to be a woman, the pact was silent about whether her husband receives rights or not. There was no precise stipulation what precisely happens after that closest heir: will the succession evolve to heirs general, or only to heirs male; what happens if that issue dies out. However, it is easy to understand that in case of total extinction of an heir's line, the next heir (or line) will take its place.
The pact was agreed to be applied to "Imperial fiefs" which meant those territories owned or acquired in the then Holy Roman Empire
. The Pact thus in 1890 determined the succession of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
, a territory acquired into the dynasty only after the pact was sealed but which at the time had been a member of the German Confederation, a body that was regarded as the successor to the Holy Roman Empire. The pact did not apply to the succession in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
, a state not then regarded as formerly imperial. Luxembourg was thus inherited by the Weilburg
branch, the only extant branch from that date onwards.
In 1907, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg
(William IV), head of the House of Nassau, determined that the branch of the Count of Merenberg
was, as morganatic, incapable to succeed to the sovereignties of the House of Nassau. This effectively meant that the Grand Duke himself was then the only surviving agnate of the House.
Having himself only daughters, he felt the need to organize the succession further and remedy some of the undefined points. In April 1907 the grand duke decreed (approved in July 1907 by legislature of Luxembourg and thereafter enacted) amendments to the house law
of Nassau. The succession law thus amended governs the current succession in Luxembourg, and apparently the succession specifically provided by the Pact itself is fulfilled and the pact's impact is exhausted.
Marie-Adélaïde succeeded according to the 1907 law, an outcome that was identical with the stipulations of this pact.
Were any successions of the House of Nassau outside Luxembourg to need to be adjudicated afterwards, it is unclear what the pact would provide — whether a line identical with that of modern Luxembourg's, or different.
Inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, rights and obligations upon the death of an individual. It has long played an important role in human societies...
and succession
Order of succession
An order of succession is a formula or algorithm that determines who inherits an office upon the death, resignation, or removal of its current occupant.-Monarchies and nobility:...
made in 1783 by princes of the old German noble and sovereign family of Nassau
House of Nassau
The House of Nassau is a diversified aristocratic dynasty in Europe. It is named after the lordship associated with Nassau Castle, located in present-day Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The lords of Nassau were originally titled Count of Nassau, then elevated to the princely class as...
. It confirmed Salic Law
Salic law
Salic law was a body of traditional law codified for governing the Salian Franks in the early Middle Ages during the reign of King Clovis I in the 6th century...
to operate in favor of all agnatic
Agnatic seniority
Agnatic seniority is a patrilineal principle of inheritance where the order of succession to the throne prefers the monarch's younger brother over the monarch's own sons. A monarch's children succeed only after the males of the elder generation have all been exhausted...
lines of the family, divided into first surviving lines which existed in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
(Walramian
Walram II of Nassau
-Biography:Walram was the elder son of Count Henry II of Nassau and Matilda of Guelders. He was chief cavalry officer in the service of Emperor Rudolf I.In about 1247, Henry II abdicated, passing the reign to Walram's younger brother, Otto...
and Ottonian
Otto I of Nassau
Otto I of Nassau , Count of Nassau was the younger son of Count Henry II of Nassau and Matilda of Geldern. Otto I became the count of Dillenburg, Hadamar, Siegen, Herborn and Beilstein after many years of quarrel with his brother Count Walram II. In the division of 17 December 1255 he received...
). The pact chiefly provided that in case of one of the lines becoming extinct, the other would succeed in its hereditary Nassau lands ("the main concept of the Erbverein was that if either the Ottonian or Walramian male line would become extinct the other line would succeed").
There was a clause to provide for a so-called Semi-Salic continuation to the dynasty in an undefined way if both the lines were to die out in the male line ("also arranged for that in the absence of all male successors, females could succeed"). In case of the extinction of all male lines, the closest heir to the last male will succeed and in turn will be succeeded by the heirs of that closest one. If the closest heir happens to be a woman, the pact was silent about whether her husband receives rights or not. There was no precise stipulation what precisely happens after that closest heir: will the succession evolve to heirs general, or only to heirs male; what happens if that issue dies out. However, it is easy to understand that in case of total extinction of an heir's line, the next heir (or line) will take its place.
The pact was agreed to be applied to "Imperial fiefs" which meant those territories owned or acquired in the then Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. The Pact thus in 1890 determined the succession of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
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...
, a territory acquired into the dynasty only after the pact was sealed but which at the time had been a member of the German Confederation, a body that was regarded as the successor to the Holy Roman Empire. The pact did not apply to the succession in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
, a state not then regarded as formerly imperial. Luxembourg was thus inherited by the Weilburg
Weilburg
Weilburg is, with just under 14,000 inhabitants, the third biggest town in Limburg-Weilburg district in Hesse, Germany, after Limburg an der Lahn and Bad Camberg.- Location :...
branch, the only extant branch from that date onwards.
In 1907, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg
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...
(William IV), head of the House of Nassau, determined that the branch of the Count of Merenberg
Count of Merenberg
Count of Merenberg is the title bestowed in 1868 by the reigning Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont, George Victor, upon the morganatic wife and male-line descendants of Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau , who married Natalia Alexandrovna Pushkina , former wife of Russian General Mikhail Leontievich...
was, as morganatic, incapable to succeed to the sovereignties of the House of Nassau. This effectively meant that the Grand Duke himself was then the only surviving agnate of the House.
Having himself only daughters, he felt the need to organize the succession further and remedy some of the undefined points. In April 1907 the grand duke decreed (approved in July 1907 by legislature of Luxembourg and thereafter enacted) amendments to the house law
House law
House law or House laws are rules that govern a royal family or dynasty in matters of eligibility for succession to a throne, membership in a dynasty, exercise of a regency, or entitlement to dynastic rank, titles and styles...
of Nassau. The succession law thus amended governs the current succession in Luxembourg, and apparently the succession specifically provided by the Pact itself is fulfilled and the pact's impact is exhausted.
Marie-Adélaïde succeeded according to the 1907 law, an outcome that was identical with the stipulations of this pact.
Were any successions of the House of Nassau outside Luxembourg to need to be adjudicated afterwards, it is unclear what the pact would provide — whether a line identical with that of modern Luxembourg's, or different.