Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Franz Joseph II | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Prince of Liechtenstein | |||||
Reign | 25 July 1938 – 13 November 1989 | ||||
Predecessor | Franz I | ||||
Successor | Hans-Adam II | ||||
Prime Ministers | |||||
Born | |||||
Died | 13 November 1989 Grabs, St. Gallen, Switzerland[1][2][3][4] | (aged 83)||||
Burial | |||||
Spouse |
Countess Georgina von Wilczek (m. 1943; died 1989) | ||||
Issue | |||||
| |||||
Liechtenstein | |||||
Father | Prince Alois of Liechtenstein | ||||
Mother | Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria | ||||
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Franz Joseph II (Franz Josef Maria Alois Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignaz Benediktus Gerhardus Majella;[a] 16 August 1906 – 13 November 1989) was the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein from 25 July 1938 until his death in November 1989.
Franz Joseph was the son of
Franz Joseph was an extremely popular sovereign in Liechtenstein. 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.
Early life
Franz Joseph was born on 16 August 1906 in
He spent most of his youth throughout various family-owned estates in
Franz Joseph was made
Reign
Early reign
On 31 March 1938,
Although officially Franz stated that he had given the regency to Franz Joseph due to his old age, it was speculated that he did not wish to remain in control of
World War II
, 1943.Franz Joseph oversaw the formation of a coalition government between the Progressive Citizens' Party and the Patriotic Union that would prevent government deadlock and help retain Liechtenstein's neutrality.[19][20]
In March 1939 he along with Josef Hoop paid an official visit to Berlin where they met Adolf Hitler and Joachim von Ribbentrop where they discussed safeguarding Liechtenstein's independence and neutrality while maintaining good relations.[21] Franz Joseph later reminisced on the visit and stated that Hitler showed little interest in them and that it only took place in order to "flatter Hitler's ego".[19]
While Franz Joseph was on this visit in March 1939, the German National Movement in Liechtenstein (VBDL) staged an amateurish coup attempt, first trying to provoke a intervention from Nazi Germany by burning swastikas, followed by declaring an Anschluß with Germany. The leaders were almost immediately arrested and the hoped-for German invasion failed to materialise.[22][23] Despite this, he periodically sent congratulatory letters to Hitler throughout the war, such as the thwarting of the 20 July plot, of which he briefly replied.[18]
During the war, Liechtenstein’s princely family owned land in Austria whose managers hired Nazi forced labour, but a much later inquiry found the family not to have known about this.[24] In 1945 all the family’s estates in Czechoslovakia and Poland were expropriated without compensation by the Third Czechoslovak Republic and the Provisional Government of Poland.[25]
Just before the end of the war, Franz Joseph granted political asylum to First Russian National Army pro-Axis pro-emperor Vladimir White emigres led by General Boris Smyslovsky, who were being cared for by the Liechtenstein Red Cross.[26] On 16 August 1945, the Soviet Union sent a delegation to Liechtenstein in an attempt to repatriate the Russians, which was refused despite increasing Soviet pressure to participate in the repatriation program.[27] Eventually the government of Argentina offered the Russians asylum, and about a hundred people left.[10]
According to
Later life
After losing roughly 80% of their property, Franz Joseph and his family sought to sell artworks from their collection in order to generate income, such as Leonardo da Vinci Ginevra de' Benci in 1967 and Frans Hals's Willem van Heythuysen portrait that was sold to the Bavarian State Painting Collections in 1969.[25]
Franz Joseph oversaw a family-owned bank ran by the House of Liechtenstein with branches in London, Zürich, New York City and Frankfurt which made the principality an ideal tax haven for wealthy individuals and private foreign companies, this allowed Liechtenstein to experience rapid economical growth throughout his reign, transforming the principality into one of the richest countries in the world.[28]
Franz Joseph played a role in maintaining Liechtenstein's diplomatic relations. He and Georgina von Wilczek hosted
Franz Joseph handed over most of his powers to his son, Hans-Adam on 26 August 1984.[33] Franz Joseph II had been suffering from poor health and died on 13 November 1989, 26 days after his wife.[19] Ruling Liechtenstein for 51 years, he was among the longest-ruling sovereigns in Europe and the longest-serving national leader in the world at the time of his death.[34] He was succeeded by his son Hans-Adam as Hans-Adam II.
Marriage and children
On 7 March 1943, at
- Countess Marie Aglaë of Wchinitz and Tettau on 30 July 1967.[38]They have four children and fifteen grandchildren.
- Prince Philipp of Liechtenstein (19 August 1946, Zürich) he married Isabelle de l'Arbre de Malander on 11 September 1971. They have three sons and four grandchildren.
- Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein (24 October 1947, Zürich) he married Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg on 20 March 1982. They have four children.
- Vicente Sartorius y Cabeza de Vaca, 3rd Marqués de Mariñoon 11 June 1988. They had one daughter.
- Prince Franz Josef Wenceslaus of Liechtenstein (Zürich, 19 November 1962 – Vaduz, 28 February 1991). Died unmarried and without issue, at the age of twenty-eight.
Honours
- Austria
- Austrian Imperial and Royal family: Knight with Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece
- Austria: Grand Cross of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria, Grand Star[39]
- Greek Royal Family: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Redeemer
- Iranian Imperial Family: Recipient of the Commemorative Medal of the 2,500-year Celebration of the Persian Empire[40]
- Vatican: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre[41]
- Holy See: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Pope Pius IX
See also
- Princely Family of Liechtenstein
Notes
References
- ^ "Prince Franz Josef Ii Of Liechtenstein Dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ "Liechtenstein's Prince Franz Josef II, 83". Los Angeles Times. 15 November 1989.
- ^ "Franz Josef of Liechtenstein, 83, A Head of State for 51 Years, Dies". The New York Times. 15 November 1989.
- ^ "Principality Grieves as Prince Franz Josef II Buried". Associated Press.
- ^ "Worldroots". Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Prince Franz Josef II (1938 – 1989)". Liechtenstein Princely House Official Website. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ISBN 978-2-908003-04-8.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ "Liechtenstein Royal Family". Monarchies of Europe. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ eejm (16 June 2013). "Prince Alois of Liechtenstein". Unofficial Royalty. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German). Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- ^ "Prince Franz to Return to Estate". Daily News. 1 April 1938. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Oldest Former Ruler Succumbs". Kenosha News. 26 July 1938. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Prince Franz of the 'Postage Stamp State' Retires". Louis Post-Dispatch. 1 May 1938. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ a b "NAZIS IN CABINET IN LIECHTENSTEIN; Prince Franz Joseph, the New Ruler, Names Them Though Pledging Independence HITLER MOVEMENT GAINS Its Growing Strength Was One Reason for Abdication of Franz 1, Old Sovereign". The New York Times. 1 April 1938. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German). Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ Hartmann, Gerhard (5 October 2012). "Franz Josef Hoop". Österreichische Cartellverband (in German). Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ Streitwireless, Clarence (10 April 1938). "GUARANTEE SOUGHT BY LIECHTENSTEIN; Principality Wants to Join Switzerland if Powers Fail to Back Independencece GERMAN INVASION FEARED". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German). Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Liechtenstein's Prince Franz Josef II, 83". Los Angeles Times. 15 November 1989. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Parties in Liechtenstein 1921-1943". Prince and People: Liechtenstein Civics (in German). 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "Prince Franz Josef II visits Adolf Hitler in Berlin". Liechtenstein-Institut (in German). 27 March 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German). Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "Liechtenstein Jails Nazi For Attempt at Uprising". The New York Times. 27 April 1939. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ "Nazi Camp Labor Used in Liechtenstein – DW – 04/14/2005". Deutsche Welle.
- ^ a b "Prince Franz Josef II Von Und Zu Liechtenstein". Liechtenstein The Princely Collections (in German). 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ ARGENTINA: Last of the Wehrmacht – Monday, Apr. 13, 1953 Archived 23 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ISBN 0-684-15635-0.
- ^ Tikkanen, Amy (21 April 2023). "Francis Joseph II, prince of Liechtenstein". Britannica. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Royal Holiday in Liechtenstein, 1965". The Royal Watcher. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ "Royal Holiday in Liechtenstein, 1980". The Royal Watcher. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ "AROUND THE WORLD; Liechtenstein Women Win Right to Vote". The New York Times. 2 July 1984. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
- ^ Hofmann, Paul (23 July 1989). "WHAT'S DOING IN: Liechtenstein". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "Liechtenstein's Franz Josef II Dead at 83 : Royalty: The tiny nation's popular prince was the world's longest-reigning monarch". Los Angeles Times. 14 November 1989. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Franz Josef, Liechtenstein Ruler, Weds; Adolf Hitler Sends His Congratulations". The New York Times. 8 March 1943. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "Princess Gina". Liechtenstein Princely House Official Website. 3 July 2022. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Liechtenstein Princess Has Son". The New York Times. 18 February 1945. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "Liechtenstein's Crown Prince Takes a Bride". The New York Times. 31 July 1967. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "Reply to a parliamentary question" (PDF) (in German). p. 231. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ "Iran Collection". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ "Erste feierliche Investitur der Schweiz | Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem". oessh.ch. Archived from the original on 18 February 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2015.