LUXEMBURG (Fr. liik-son-boor, Ger. look'sem-boorg), ef, northwest ern Europe, an independent state, bounded north, east and south by Germany, southwest by France and west by Belgium; greatest length, north to south 55 miles; greatest breadth, 34 miles; area, 99l square miles. It forms part of the plateau of the Ardennes, and has a rugged and mountainous surface, covered in many parts with heaths and morasses, though in general well wooded. Its drainage belongs almost en tirely to the basin of the Moselle. Agriculture is limited in extent by the nature of the surface, but the pastures rear great numbers of cattle, sheep and horses, the last long in high repute for light cavalry. Considerable quantities of iron are smelted from the ore of the duchy. The inhabitants are mostly of German origin, hut French is the language of the educated classes and of business. Pop. about 259,891 (4,007 Protestants, 1,270 Jews).
Luxemburg in early times formed a part of Germany. In 1354 it was erected into a duchy by Charles IV. In 1814 it was converted into a grand-duchy under the king of Holland. Though governed by the Dutch kings as grand dukes it was distinct from the kingdom of Hol land; and on the death of Wilhelm III in 1890 it passed over to Adolf, Duke'of Nassau. It is included in the German Customs Union and formerly was a member of the German Confed eration, 1815-66. By the terms of the Treaty of London of 1867 it became an independent state,. and its integrity was guaranteed by the great European powers. The ruler is assisted in the
government by a chamber of deputies of 53 members, elected directly by the cantons for six years, half of whom retire and submit selves for re-election every three years. The revenue for 1917-18 was estimated at 43,761,428 francs, and the expenditure 48,845,794 francs. There are 325 miles of railway in the grand duchy, and 439 of telegraphs. On the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914, its neutrality was violated by Germany, despite the protests of the reigning grand-duchess, Marie Adelaide, who had succeeded 12 Feb. 1912, on the death of her father, the Grand Duke Wilhelm. The territory was occupied by the German army. Under the terms of the Peace Treaty of 7 May 1919 (Section III) it was stipulated that Ger many renounce her various treaties and con ventions with the Grand Duchy and recognize that it ceased to be a part of the German Zollverein as from 1 Jan. 1919; to renounce all right of exploitation of the railroads; to adhere to the abrogation of its neutrality and to accept in advance any international agreement concern ing Luxemburg arrived at by the Allied Powers. (See WAR, EUROPEAN). Capital, Luxemburg (q.v.). Consult Passmore, T. H, 'In further Ardenne' (London 1905) ; and Renwick, G., 'The Grand Duchy of Luxemburg and Its People' (ib. 1913) ; Putnam, Ruth, 'Luxemburg and Her Neighbors' (New York 1919).