Luxembourg coup of 1856

[1] Whilst not a true coup d'état or revolution, its detractors dubbed it a "royal coup", as the reigning Grand Duke of Luxembourg, William III, greatly expanded his powers, and the name has stuck.

[2] The formation and sustaining of a government 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.

[2] 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.

On that day, the Chamber withdrew its confidence in the government and requested another adjournment, which was rejected.