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Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein

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Franz I
File:Franz I von Liechtenstein.jpg
Prince of Liechtenstein
Reign11 February 1929 – 25 July 1938
PredecessorJohann II
SuccessorFranz Josef II
Born(1853-08-28)28 August 1853
Schloss Liechtenstein, near Vienna
Died25 July 1938(1938-07-25) (aged 84)
Valtice, Czechoslovakia
Burial
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Brno
SpouseElisabeth von Gutmann
Names
Franz de Paula Maria Karl August
HouseLiechtenstein
FatherAloys II
MotherFranziska Kinsky

Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein, born Franz de Paula Maria Karl August (28 August 1853 – 25 July 1938), was the Prince of Liechtenstein between 1929 and 1938.

Early life

He was the younger son of Aloys II of Liechtenstein and his wife Countess Franziska Kinsky. Franz succeeded his older brother Johann II, as Prince of Liechtenstein on February 11, 1929.

Career

Franz I served as the Austro-Hungarian ambassador at the Court of Tsar Nicholas II in St. Petersburg between 1894 and 1899. As Prince of Liechtenstein, he continued the economic reforms initiated by his brother.

He was the 1,204th Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Austria.

Succession

Like his brother Johann II, Franz I had no children. His nephew Prince Aloys was heir presumptive, but Aloys removed himself from the line of succession in favor of his son, Franz Josef, in 1923.

In March 1938 the elderly Franz I named Franz Joseph the country's regent. Although he cited old age as his reason for relinquishing his duties, it is widely believed that it was because he had no desire to be ruling if Nazi Germany invaded his small Principality. Franz I died on 25 July 1938, and was formally succeeded by his grandnephew, Franz Joseph II.

Personal life

On 22 July 1929, Franz I married Elisabeth von Gutmann (8 January 1875, in Vienna – 28 September 1947, in Vitznau), a noblewoman of Jewish descent, in Vienna, without issue.

In 1937, on the anniversary of his marriage, Franz founded the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein.[1]

Ancestry

Family of Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein
16. Prince Emanuel of Liechtenstein
8. Franz Joseph I, Prince of Liechtenstein
17. Countess Antonia of Dietrichstein-Weichselstädt
4. Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein
18. Count Franz Philipp of Sternberg
9. Countess Leopoldine of Sternberg
19. Countess Leopoldine of Starhemberg
2. Alois II, Prince of Liechtenstein
20. Ludwig August Egon, Landgrave of Fürstenberg-Weitra
10. Joachim Egon, Landgrave of Fürstenberg-Weitra
21. Countess Maria Anna of Kirchberg
5. Landgravine Josepha of Furstenberg-Weitra
22. Count Philipp Karl of Oettingen-Wallerstein
11. Countess Sophia Maria of Oettingen-Wallerstein
23. Countess Charlotte Juliane of Oettingen-Baldern
1. Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein
24. Franz de Paula, 3rd Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
12. Joseph Ernst, 4th Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
25. Countess Sidonie of Hohenzollern-Hechingen
6. Count Franz de Paula Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
26. Ferdinand Bonaventura II, Count of Harrach-Rohrau and Thannhausen
13. Countess Rosa of Harrach-Rohrau and Thannhausen
27. Countess Maria Rosa of Harrach-Rohrau and Thannhausen
3. Countess Franziska Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
28. Count Eugen Wenzel of Wrbna and Freudenthal
14. Count Rudolf of Wrbna and Freudenthal
29. Countess Maria Theresia Kollonitz of Kollegrad
7. Countess Therese of Wrbna and Freudenthal
30. Dominik Andreas, Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg
15. Countess Maria Theresia of Kaunitz-Rietberg
31. Countess Bernhardine of Plettenberg-Wittem

References

  1. ^ Megan C. Robertson (9 August 2008). "Principality of Liechtenstein: Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein". Medals of the World. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein
Born: 28 August 1853 Died: 25 July 1938
Regnal titles
Preceded by Prince of Liechtenstein
1929–1938
Succeeded by