Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Encyclopedia
Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein, (Franz Joseph Maria Aloys Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignaz Benediktus Gerhardus Majella), (16 August 1906, Schloss Frauenthal, Styria
Styria (state)
Styria is a state or Bundesland, located in the southeast of Austria. In area it is the second largest of the nine Austrian federated states, covering 16,401 km². It borders Slovenia as well as the other Austrian states of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Burgenland, and Carinthia. ...

, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

 – 13 November 1989, Grabs
Grabs
Grabs is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Werdenberg in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-History:Grabs is first mentioned in 841 as Quaravedes. In 979 it was mentioned as Quadravedes, then in 1235 as Grabdis and in 1253 as Graps.-Geography:Grabs has an area, , of...

, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

) was the Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...

 from 1938 until his death. His full title was Fürst von und zu Liechtenstein, Herzog von Troppau und Jägerndorf, Graf zu Rietberg.

He was the son of Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein
Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein
Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein was the son of Prince Alfred of Liechtenstein and Princess Henriette of Liechtenstein , daughter of Alois II of Liechtenstein...

 and his wife Archduchess Elisabeth of Austria
Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria
Prince Aloys renounced his rights to the succession on 26 February 1923, in favor of their son Franz Joseph II. Elisabeth thus was always known with the style Princess Aloys of Liechtenstein. On 25 July 1938, Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein died, passing the throne on to their eldest son. Prince...

 (daughter of Archduke Karl Ludwig
Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria
Archduke Karl Ludwig Joseph Maria of Austria was the younger brother of Franz Joseph I of Austria and the father of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria , whose assassination ignited the start of World War I.-Biography:He was born at Schönbrunn in Vienna, the son of Archduke Franz Karl of Austria ...

). He succeeded his childless cousin, Prince Franz I, after his father renounced his right of succession in his favour in 1921.

During his reign women received voting rights for the first time, following a referendum on the topic (among men only) in 1984.

Franz Joseph was an extremely popular sovereign in Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...

. He was the first ruling prince to live full-time in the principality. He also oversaw the economic development of Liechtenstein from a poor agricultural backwater into one of the richest countries (per capita) in the world.

He was the 1,240th Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....

 of the Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Golden Fleece
The Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It evolved as one of the most prestigious orders in Europe...

 in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

.

World War II

Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...

 remained neutral throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, and its neutrality was never violated by any of the combatants. However, two factors have linked the Liechtensteinian State to the Axis cause:
  • In 2005, it was revealed that Franz Joseph II profited directly from the Holocaust. Labourers from the Strasshof
    Strasshof an der Nordbahn
    Strasshof an der Nordbahn is a suburban town 25 km east of Vienna, Austria. The main attraction is the railroad museum . An historical locomotive built by LOFAG is displayed in the town.-History:...

     concentration camp, provided by the SS
    Schutzstaffel
    The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...

    , had worked on estates in Austria
    Austria
    Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

     owned by the Liechtensteinian Princely House.
  • At the end of the war, Liechtenstein
    Liechtenstein
    The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...

     gave asylum
    Right of asylum
    Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...

     to about 500 soldiers of the First Russian National Army (a collaborationist Russian force within the German Wehrmacht
    Wehrmacht
    The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...

    ). Eventually, Argentina
    Argentina
    Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

     agreed to permanently resettle the asylum seekers. In contrast, the British Army sent Russians they had captured
    Operation Keelhaul
    Operation Keelhaul was carried out in Northern Italy by British and American forces to repatriate Soviet Armed Forces POWs of the Nazis to the Soviet Union between August 14, 1946 and May 9, 1947...

     who had fought on the side of Germany against the Soviet Union to the USSR where they were sent into the Gulags.

Marriage and children

On 7 March 1943, at Vaduz
Vaduz
Vaduz is the capital of the principality of Liechtenstein and the seat of the national parliament. The town, located along the Rhine, has about 5,100 inhabitants , most of whom are Roman Catholic. Its cathedral is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop....

, Franz Joseph II married Georgine ("Gina") Countess of Wilczeck (24 October 1921 – 18 October 1989). They had five children:
  • HSH Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
    Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
    Hans-Adam II , is the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein. He is the son of Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein and his wife Countess Georgina von Wilczek . He also bears the titles Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Count of Rietberg...

     (born 1945)
  • HSH Prince Philipp Erasmus of Liechtenstein (full name: Prince Philipp Erasmus Alois Ferdinand Maria Sebaldus, born 19 August 1946, Zürich
    Zürich
    Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...

    ). Married in Brussels
    Brussels
    Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...

     on 11 September 1971 Isabelle Fernande Ghislaine Guillemette Elisabeth de L'Arbre de Malander (born 24 November 1947, Ronse
    Ronse
    Ronse is a Belgian city and a municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality only comprises the city of Ronse proper.- Early settlements to 14th century :...

    ), daughter of Jean Baptiste de L' Arbre de Malander and wife Guillemette Grassal. Together, they have 3 sons::
    • HSH Prince Alexander of Liechtenstein (born 19 May 1972, Basel
      Basel
      Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...

      ). Married civilly in Vaduz
      Vaduz
      Vaduz is the capital of the principality of Liechtenstein and the seat of the national parliament. The town, located along the Rhine, has about 5,100 inhabitants , most of whom are Roman Catholic. Its cathedral is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop....

       on 24 January 2003 and religiously in Salzburg
      Salzburg
      -Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...

       on 8 February 2003 Astrid Barbara Kohl
      Kohl
      Kohl is a German word meaning cabbage.Kohl may stand for*Kohl , a traditional Middle Eastern cosmetic*Kohl's, a company that operates department stores located in the United States*KOHL, a radio station in Fremont, California...

       (born 13 September 1968, Regensburg
      Regensburg
      Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...

      ), daughter of Theodor Kohl
      Kohl
      Kohl is a German word meaning cabbage.Kohl may stand for*Kohl , a traditional Middle Eastern cosmetic*Kohl's, a company that operates department stores located in the United States*KOHL, a radio station in Fremont, California...

       and wife Ingrid Schlechta. They had one daughter:
      • HSH Princess Theodora Alexandra Isabella Antonia Nora Marie of Liechtenstein (born 20 November 2004, Chêne-Bougeries
        Chêne-Bougeries
        Chêne-Bougeries is a municipality in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. It recently crossed the symbolic barrier of 10,000 inhabitants and thus became officially a city.-History:Chêne-Bougeries is first mentioned in 1270 as Quercus...

        , Geneva
        Geneva
        Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...

        , Switzerland
        Switzerland
        Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

        )
    • HSH Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein (born 12 May 1974, Uccle
      Uccle
      Uccle or Ukkel is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.Uccle is known for its well-to-do areas, its green spots and its high rental rates.-History:...

      ). He used to date model
      Model (person)
      A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....

       Adriana Lima
      Adriana Lima
      Adriana Lima is a Brazilian model, best known as a Victoria's Secret Angel since 2000, and as a spokesmodel for Maybelline cosmetics from 2003 to 2009...

      .
    • HSH Prince Rudolf Ferdinand of Liechtenstein (b. Uccle
      Uccle
      Uccle or Ukkel is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.Uccle is known for its well-to-do areas, its green spots and its high rental rates.-History:...

      , 7 September 1975)
  • HSH Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein
    Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein
    Prince Nikolaus Ferdinand Maria Josef Raphael of Liechtenstein , is the third son of Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein and his wife Countess Gina von Wilczek. Prince Nikolaus was born in Zurich, and is the Ambassador of Liechtenstein in Belgium and non-resident Ambassador to the Holy See...

     (born 1947), married Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg
    Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein
    Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein is the fourth child and second daughter of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg...

    , and had four children
  • HSH Princess Nora of Liechtenstein
    Princess Nora of Liechtenstein
    Princess Norberta "Nora" of Liechtenstein, Countess of Rietberg, Dowager Marchioness of Mariño , is the daughter of Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein and his wife Countess Gina of Wilczek , and thus younger sister of the current Prince of Liechtenstein, Hans-Adam II.-Education and...

     (born 31 October 1950, Zürich
    Zürich
    Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...

    ), married in Vaduz
    Vaduz
    Vaduz is the capital of the principality of Liechtenstein and the seat of the national parliament. The town, located along the Rhine, has about 5,100 inhabitants , most of whom are Roman Catholic. Its cathedral is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop....

     civilly on 10 June 1988 and religiously on 11 June 1988 Vicente Sartorius y Cabeza de Vaca, 3rd Marquess de Mariño
    Vicente Sartorius y Cabeza de Vaca
    Vicente Sartorius y Cabeza de Vaca, 4th Marquess de Mariño was a Spanish nobleman and Olympic bobsledder.-Bobsleigh career:In the 1950s, Sartorius had a professional bobsled career...

     (Madrid
    Madrid
    Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...

    , 30 November 1931 - Ibiza
    Ibiza
    Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...

    , 22 June 2002), and had an only daughter:
    • María Teresa Sartorius y de Liechtenstein (b. Madrid
      Madrid
      Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...

      , 21 November 1992)
  • HSH Prince Franz Josef Wenzeslaus (Wenzel) Georg Maria of Liechtenstein (Zürich
    Zürich
    Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...

    , 19 November 1962 - Vaduz
    Vaduz
    Vaduz is the capital of the principality of Liechtenstein and the seat of the national parliament. The town, located along the Rhine, has about 5,100 inhabitants , most of whom are Roman Catholic. Its cathedral is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop....

    , 28 February 1991) One theory about the prince's death is that he was involved with erotic asphyxiation but had miscalculated resulting in his death.

Final years

Franz Joseph handed over most of his powers to his son, Hans-Adam, in 1984.
Franz Joseph II died on 13 November 1989, a mere twenty-six days after his wife. Ruling Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...

 for 51 years, he was the longest-ruling sovereign in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

 at the time of his death.

Ancestry



External links

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