Franz Joseph I, Prince of Liechtenstein
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Franz Joseph I, Prince of Liechtenstein, born Franz de Paula Joseph Johann Nepomuk Andreas (Milan, 19 November 1726 – Metz, 18 August 1781) was the 8th Prince of Liechtenstein from 1772 until his death.
He was the son of Prince Emanuel of Liechtenstein (3 February 1700-15 January 1771) and Maria Anna Antonia Countess von Dietrichstein-Weichselstädt Baroness zu Hollenburg und Finkenstein (10 September 1706-7 June 1777). Franz Josef was the eldest of their thirteen children. He was a nephew of Joseph Wenzel I, whom he succeeded on 10 February 1772.
Franz Joseph had been recognised heir to Liechtenstein since 1723, when his uncle's only son had died. Joseph Wenzel took Franz Joseph under his wing and Franz Joseph accompanied him in a campaign in Northern Italy, fighting with Wenzel at the Battle of Piacenza. The battle was a victory for the Holy Roman Empire, of which Liechtenstein was a part.
He was the 802nd Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Austria.
In 1763, Franz Josef traveled on behalf of the Emperor to Spain, in order to bring the bride of Archduke Leopold a picture of the Archduke. In 1767, he became Privy Councillor, and in 1771, he received the Order of the Golden Fleece.
Once Franz Joseph became Prince of Liechtenstein, he showed great interest in its economic problems and the ever increasing Liechtenstein art collection.
Marriage and issue
Franz Josef married Marie Leopoldine Gräfin von Sternberg (Vienna, 11 December 1733 – Feldsberg, 27 June 1809), a member of the Bohemian nobility, on 6 July, 1750 in Valtice or Feldsberg. The couple had 8 children:
- Prince Joseph Franz de Paula Emanuel Philipp Isaias (Vienna, 6 July 1752 - Vienna, 17 February 1754)
- Princess Leopoldina Maria Anna Francisca de Paula Adelgunda (Vienna, 30 January 1754 - Frankfurt, 16 October 1823), married in Felsberg on 1 September 1771 Karl Emanuel, Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels-Rotenburg,[1] and had issue
- Princess Maria Antonia Aloysia Walburga Mechthildis (Vienna, 14 March 1756 - Vienna, 1 December 1821), a Nun
- Prince Franz de Paula Joseph (Vienna, 19 May 1758 - Vienna, 15 August 1760)
- Aloys I, Prince of Liechtenstein (1759-1805)
- Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein (1760-1836)
- Prince Philipp Joseph Aloys Martinianus (Vienna, 2 July 1762 - Vienna, 18 May 1802), unmarried and without issue
- Princess Maria Josepha Hermenegilde (Vienna, 13 April 1768 - Hütteldorf, 8 August 1845), married in Vienna on 15 September 1783 Nikolaus 7te Fürst Esterházy von Galántha (Vienna, 12 December 1765 - Como, 24 November 1833),[2] and had issue
References
- ^ http://pages.prodigy.net/ptheroff/gotha/hesse.html Landgravial House of Hesse-Rheinfels-Rothenburg
- ^ http://pages.prodigy.net/ptheroff/gotha/esterhazy.html Princely and Countly House of Esterházy de Galántha
External links
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