Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein, 1719 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed

On 23 January 1719 Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, united Vaduz and Schellenberg and raised them to a principality named Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866, when the German Confederation was dissolved. The economic devastation caused by World War I forced the country to conclude a customs and monetary union with its neighbour Switzerland. During World War II, Liechtenstein remained officially neutral, looking to Switzerland for assistance and guidance.

Seat of power: Vaduz

Rulers

Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein

Prince of Lichtenstein, 1805–1836

As Prince of Liechtenstein, Johann made forward-thinking reforms but also had an absolutist governing style. In 1818 he granted a constitution, although it was limited in its nature. He expanded agriculture and forestry and radically reorganized his administration.

Portrait of Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein: Johann Baptist von Lampi the Elder, Public domain, file

Prince Alois II, Prince of Liechtenstein

Prince of Lichtenstein, 1836–1858

He was the sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein from 20 April 1836 until his death in 1858. Aloys contributed actively to Liechtenstein's economic and political development.

Portrait of Prince Alois II, Prince of Liechtenstein: Friedrich von Amerling, Public domain, file

Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein

Prince of Lichtenstein, 1858–1929

In 1862 Johann II issued Liechtenstein's first constitution. After World War I, Johann II granted a new constitution, ratified on 5 October 1921, which gave considerable political rights to common Liechtensteiners and made the principality a constitutional monarchy. Like his ancestors, he never lived in the principality of Liechtenstein, but on the Austrian and Moravian estates of the House of Liechtenstein.

Portrait of Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein: Hermann Clemens Kosel, Public domain, file

Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein

Prince of Lichtenstein, 1929–1938

A few weeks after he took the title, 395,360 acres of land belonging to the Liechtenstein family were seized by Czechoslovakia. On 31 March 1938 he made his first cousin twice removed Franz Joseph his regent following the Anschluss of Austria. Franz stated that he gave the regency to Franz Joseph because of his old age, but it was speculated that he did not wish to remain in control of the principality if Nazi Germany were to invade, primarily because his wife Elisabeth von Gutmann was of Jewish relation.

Portrait of Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein: Hermann Clemens Kosel, Public domain, file

Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein

Prince of Lichtenstein, 1938–1989

Franz Joseph supported Prime Minister Josef Hoop's policy of non-binding, non-provocative diplomacy towards Nazi Germany, while tying the country as closely as possible to Switzerland during the war. In March 1939 he and Josef Hoop paid an official visit to Berlin, where they met Adolf Hitler and Joachim von Ribbentrop. In 1984 Franz Joseph handed over most day-to-day governmental decision making to his son, Hereditary Prince Hans-Adam, but remained the legal head of state.

Portrait of Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein: Presse- und Informationsamt, Vaduz, Attribution, file

Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein

Prince of Lichtenstein, 1989 to today

Hans-Adam formally succeeded as Prince of Liechtenstein upon the death of his father on 13 November 1989. A referendum in 2003 passed Hans-Adam's revision of the Constitution of Liechtenstein, which expanded his powers. In 2004 he handed the power of making day-to-day governmental decisions to his eldest son, Hereditary Prince Alois, as regent, but legally remains the head of state.

Portrait of Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein: Roland Korner, Attribution, file

Culture

Vaduz has a kind of folksong, known as Köpugeäng, that has been greatly influenced by Switzerland.
The Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein is a museum of modern and contemporary art.
On 1 July 1984 Liechtenstein became the last country in Europe to grant women the right to vote, after referendums rejected it in 1968, 1971 and 1973.
The Liechtenstein Army was abolished for financial reasons in February 1868.

Picture

Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein and also the seat of the national parliament.

Image: Lucas Kendall, CC BY-SA 4.0, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.