Grand Duke Adolphe
Service Information et Presse, Luxembourg
Prince Adolphe of Nassau was born on 24 July 1817 at Biebrich Palace, his family's residence in Wiesbaden. He acceeded as Duke of Nassau on 20 August 1839. Adolphe's first marriage, on 31 January 1844 in St Petersburg, was to Grand Duchess Elisaveta of Russia, niece of Tsar Nicholas I. His young bride died in childbirth less than a year later and, in deep mourning, Adolphe ordered the construction of a Russian Orthodox chapel in Wiesbaden, consecrated  to her memory.
Several years later, on 23 April 1851, Adolphe married Princess Adelaide of Anhalt-Dessau. The couple had five children: Prince Guillaume (born in 1852), Prince Friedrich (born in 1854), Princess Marie (born in 1857), Prince Franz Joseph (born in 1859) and Princess Hilda (born in 1864).

In the Austro-Prussian war of 1866, Duke Adolphe sided with Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria. Austria lost the war and, on 7 September 1866, Nassau was incorprated into the Prussian Empire.

Adolphe spend several years in exile in Vienna before settling at Hohenburg Castle in Lenggries, Bavaria. On 23 November 1890, at the age of 73, Adolphe succeeded Guillaume III as Grand Duke of Luxembourg, in accordance with the Nassau family pact. In 1891, he became the owner of the grand-ducal castles of Berg, Vianden and Fischbach.

Grand Duke Adolphe had little interest in his new realm, leaving all political matters in the hands of his prime minister, Paul Ayschen, while he himself remained in Lenggries. Although his actions were motivated by a desire to continue living in Bavaria, away from the Grand Duchy, they had the effect of establishing the monarchy's position above political affairs.

Grand Duke Adolphe died on 17 November 1905 at Hohenburg Castle.

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