Continuité dynastique et conscience historique dans le duché de Luxembourg. La chronique de Nicolas de Naves (1521)

This article analyses the short chronicle De la duce de Luxembourg et conte de Chiny written by Nicolas de Naves (ca. 1472 – 1546) in 1521. The author of this historical work retraces the dynastic succession of the county (and later duchy) of Luxembourg from the 11th century (Conrad I) up to the Burgundian period (Charles the Bold). The original manuscript is lost, but four copies are known to survive. It is argued here that the emperor Charles V himself commissioned this study. To date, Nicolas de Naves is mainly known for his outstanding political career as he was the first president of the provincial council of Luxembourg. However, he should also be considered among the earliest « Luxembourgish » historians. Based on Nicolas de Naves’ text, this article also raises the question of the role of dynastic continuity in the late medieval and early modern duchy of Luxembourg in the larger context of identity constructions in the Burgundian-Habsburg state into which the duchy was incorporated in 1443.