La Clef du cabinet des princes de l'Europe

La Clef du cabinet des princes de l'Europe was the first newspaper published in Luxembourg. Its inaugural issue appeared in Luxembourg City on 1 July 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession, and the publication continued monthly until July 1794. The title can be translated approximately as “The Key to the Cabinet of the Princes of Europe,” followed by a subtitle describing it as a historical and political compilation on the matters of the day. The name expressed the publication’s editorial ambition: to provide readers with information about the decisions and intrigues taking place in the governmental cabinets where European questions of war, diplomacy and peace were handled. The enterprise was established by Claude Jordan, a librarian, printer and journalist from Valence, and André Chevalier, a French printer from Bourg-en-Bresse who operated a printing press in Luxembourg City. Jordan had previously been associated with the Gazettes de Hollande in Leiden and Amsterdam. Their decision to publish from Luxembourg was directed primarily toward readers in Lorraine and the French market. At that time, there was not yet a distinct Luxembourgish newspaper market, so the publication’s commercial and editorial outlook was transnational from the beginning. The newspaper followed a regular and recognizable structure. International reports were arranged by kingdom or territory, while a section devoted to gossip and current affairs covered court ceremonies, royal hunts and dynastic births. It also included reviews of newly published books. Over time, the paper expanded its coverage of regional parliaments and printed material relating to Enlightenment thinkers who criticized absolutist government. This combination of diplomatic reporting, court information, political commentary and literary notices made it more than a simple local news sheet. For its first twelve years, the publication did not identify its editor or place of publication. It lacked a royal privilege, leaving it vulnerable to unauthorized reprinting, and it was also subject to a substantial stamp duty. In 1716, Jordan and Chevalier separated after a dispute concerning profits. Jordan moved to Paris and later published the related Suite de la clef, ou Journal historique sur les matières du temps, which continued until 1776. Chevalier secured authorization to continue La Clef du cabinet des princes, although the identity of the editor during the immediate post-Jordan period remained unclear. After 1730, Pierre Bourgeois is identified as the editor. The publication’s influence weakened after 1750 as the French newspaper regime became less restrictive and the number of competing periodicals increased. The established Gazettes de Hollande and La Clef du cabinet consequently faced a more crowded market. In 1769, La Clef du cabinet was banned after publishing critical material concerning famines. It nevertheless continued until July 1794, when publication ceased. The title occupies an important place in Luxembourg’s media history as an early example of a commercially oriented, internationally focused newspaper produced in the territory that became Luxembourg.

La Clef du cabinet des princes de l'Europe was founded in Luxembourg City in 1704 by Claude Jordan and André Chevalier. Jordan, born in Valence around 1659, was a librarian, printer and journalist who had previously worked with the Gazettes de Hollande in Leiden and Amsterdam. Chevalier, a French printer from Bourg-en-Bresse, operated a press in Luxembourg. Together they created a periodical intended for readers in Lorraine, then an independent territory, and for the French market. Luxembourg was the production base rather than the primary audience: a separate Luxembourgish newspaper market had not yet developed. The publication’s title announced its purpose. It presented itself as a key to the cabinets of Europe, promising access to the political decisions and court affairs behind major events. Its first issue appeared on 1 July 1704, in the context of the War of the Spanish Succession. The newspaper then appeared monthly without interruption until July 1794, making it an unusually long-lived periodical for the early modern European press. Its editorial format remained relatively stable. Reports on international affairs were organized by kingdom, and a recurring section covered court ceremonies, royal hunts and dynastic births. The newspaper also reviewed new books, giving it a literary and intellectual dimension. In later decades, coverage increasingly included regional parliaments and writings associated with Enlightenment thinkers opposed to absolutism. The result was a hybrid publication combining diplomatic reporting, political interpretation, court information and bibliographic commentary. During its first twelve years, the newspaper concealed both the editor’s name and its place of publication. The absence of a royal privilege created practical difficulties. The title was not protected from unauthorized reprinting and had to bear a heavy stamp duty. These constraints illustrate the legal and financial vulnerability of early newspapers, which operated within systems of licensing, taxation and censorship rather than under modern press protections. The founding partnership broke down in 1716 because of a dispute over profits. Jordan left for Paris, where he produced the related Suite de la clef, ou Journal historique sur les matières du temps. That continuation title survived until 1776. Chevalier continued La Clef du cabinet after receiving authorization to publish it. The identity of the editor immediately after Jordan’s departure is uncertain, but Pierre Bourgeois is associated with the editorship after 1730. The newspaper’s competitive position deteriorated after 1750. As restrictions on newspaper publishing in France gradually eased, more periodicals entered the market. This reduced the relative appeal of established titles such as the Gazettes de Hollande and La Clef du cabinet. The publication also encountered direct political pressure. In 1769 it was banned after printing critical articles about famines, demonstrating that its political reporting could bring it into conflict with authorities. Despite commercial competition and censorship, the title continued for another quarter-century. It finally stopped appearing in July 1794. Its historical importance rests not only on its longevity but also on its role as the first newspaper published in Luxembourg and as an early cross-border news enterprise. It connected Luxembourg’s printing infrastructure with French-language readers and the wider European information system at a time when news circulated through licensed presses, reprints and international newspaper networks.

1. 1794Publication ceases

   The monthly newspaper ended publication in July 1794.

   Source
2. 1769Publication banned over famine coverage

   Authorities banned the newspaper after it published critical articles about famines.

   Source
3. 1750Competitive pressure increases

   The gradual relaxation of restrictions on newspaper publishing in France led to more competing periodicals and declining interest in established titles.

   Source
4. 1730Pierre Bourgeois associated with the editorship

   After 1730, Pierre Bourgeois is identified as the newspaper's editor.

   Source
5. 1716Founding partnership ends

   Claude Jordan and André Chevalier separated following a dispute over profits. Jordan moved to Paris, while Chevalier continued the Luxembourg title.

   Source
6. 1704First issue published

   The inaugural issue appeared on 1 July 1704 in Luxembourg City, establishing what is regarded as Luxembourg's first newspaper.

   Source

An internationally oriented early-modern newspaper designed to reveal European diplomatic affairs, court news and political developments to readers in Lorraine and the French-speaking market.

• La Clef du cabinet des princes de l'EuropeNewspaper1704

  A monthly French-language newspaper published from Luxembourg City from 1704 to 1794. It covered European diplomatic and international affairs by kingdom, court ceremonies and dynastic events, regional parliaments, political developments and reviews of new books. Its title positioned it as a guide to the decisions and activities of European rulers and their governmental cabinets.

• Suite de la clef, ou Journal historique sur les matières du tempsRelated newspaper1716

  A related periodical published by Claude Jordan after he left Luxembourg following the 1716 dispute with André Chevalier. Produced in Paris, it continued Jordan's involvement in historical and political journalism and remained in existence until 1776.

• 1769Respond to censorship after famine reportingOther

  Critical articles about famines brought the newspaper into conflict with authorities.

  What changed. Authorities banned La Clef du cabinet.

  Aftermath. The publication eventually resumed or continued sufficiently to remain in existence until July 1794, although the ban marked a significant interruption or restriction.

  Source
• 1716Continue the title after the founders' separationStrategy

  A dispute over profits ended the partnership between Claude Jordan and André Chevalier.

  What changed. Jordan relocated to Paris and created the related Suite de la clef, while Chevalier continued publishing La Clef du cabinet in Luxembourg.

  Aftermath. The original newspaper survived under Chevalier's publishing operation, while Jordan pursued a parallel periodical career in Paris.

  Source
• 1704Launch a Luxembourg-based newspaper for cross-border readersProduct launch

  Jordan and Chevalier sought to publish a newspaper from Luxembourg for readers in Lorraine and the French market, drawing on the model of the Gazettes de Hollande.

  What changed. They launched a monthly publication focused on European political affairs, court news, current events and book reviews.

  Aftermath. The title became the first newspaper published in Luxembourg and continued for almost ninety years.

  Source

• 1769Ban following criticism of famine conditionsControversy

  La Clef du cabinet was banned after publishing articles critical of famines. The episode reflects the political and regulatory risks faced by early newspapers when reporting on sensitive social and governmental failures.

  Source

• 1794Publication ends

  After nearly ninety years of monthly publication, La Clef du cabinet des princes de l'Europe ceased publication in July 1794.

  Other
  Source
• 1716Jordan and Chevalier separate over profits

  The newspaper's two founders ended their partnership following a dispute over the distribution of profits. Jordan moved to Paris, while Chevalier continued the Luxembourg publication.

  Leadership changeOther
  Source
• 1704La Clef du cabinet des princes de l'Europe begins publication

  The first issue of what is regarded as Luxembourg's first newspaper appeared on 1 July 1704. The monthly publication targeted readers in Lorraine and the French market with European political and court news.

  OtherProduct launch
  Source

1. La Clef du cabinet des princes de l'Europe
2. Les journaux au Luxembourg 1704-2004