Franz Joseph II
Quick Facts
Biography
Franz Joseph II (Franz Josef Maria Aloys Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignaz Benediktus Gerhardus Majella; 16 August 1906 – 13 November 1989) was the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein from 1938 until his death.
Franz Joseph was the son of Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein and Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria. He succeeded his childless grand-uncle, Prince Franz I, after his father renounced his right of succession in his favour in 1923.
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. 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.
World War II
Liechtenstein remained neutral throughout World War II, and its neutrality was not violated by any of the combatants.
Just before the end of the war, the Prince granted political asylum to 494 First Russian National Army pro-Axis pro-emperor Vladimir White emigres led by General Boris Smyslovsky.
Marriage and children
On 7 March 1943, at St. Florin's in Vaduz, Franz Joseph II married Countess Georgina of Wilczek (24 October 1921 – 18 October 1989). They had five children, twelve grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren:
- Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein (14 February 1945, Zurich) he married Countess Marie Aglaë of Wchinitz and Tettauon 30 July 1967. 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 Alexander Wilhelm Hans Adam of Liechtenstein (19 May 1972, Basel). Married civilly in Vaduz on 24 January 2003 and religiously in Salzburg on 8 February 2003 Astrid Barbara Kohl (13 September 1968, Regensburg), daughter of Theodor Kohl and wife Ingrid Schlechta. They had one daughter:
- Princess Theodora Alexandra Isabella Antonia Nora Marie of Liechtenstein (20 November 2004, Chêne-Bougeries, Geneva, Switzerland), founder of the Green Teen Team wildlife project.
- Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein (12 May 1974, Uccle). He used to date model Adriana Lima.
- Prince Rudolf Ferdinand of Liechtenstein (b. Uccle, 7 September 1975). Married in Istanbul on 20 April 2012 Miss Tilsim Tanberk.
- Princess Alienor Faye of Liechtenstein (29 September 2014 – 13 December 2015)
- Princess Laetitia of Liechtenstein (21 July 2016)
- Prince Karl Ludwig of Liechtenstein (21 July 2016)
- Prince Alexander Wilhelm Hans Adam of Liechtenstein (19 May 1972, Basel). Married civilly in Vaduz on 24 January 2003 and religiously in Salzburg on 8 February 2003 Astrid Barbara Kohl (13 September 1968, Regensburg), daughter of Theodor Kohl and wife Ingrid Schlechta. They had one daughter:
- Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein (24 October 1947, Zurich) he married Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg on 20 March 1982. They have four children.
- Princess Norberta of Liechtenstein (31 October 1950, Zurich) she married Don Vicente Sartorius y Cabeza de Vaca, 3rd Marqués de Mariño on 11 June 1988. They have one daughter:
- Doña María Teresa Sartorius y de Liechtenstein (b. Madrid, 21 November 1992).
- Prince Franz Josef Wenceslaus of Liechtenstein (Zurich, 19 November 1962 – Vaduz, 28 February 1991). Died unmarried and without issue, at the age of twenty-eight.
Final years
Franz Joseph handed over most of his powers to his son, Hans-Adam, on 26 August 1984. Franz Joseph II died on 13 November 1989, a mere twenty-six days after his wife. Ruling Liechtenstein for 51 years, he was among the longest-ruling sovereigns in Europe and the longest-serving national leaders in the world at the time of his death.
Titles, styles and honours
Titles and styles
- 16 August 1906 – 25 July 1938: His Serene Highness Prince Franz Joseph of Liechtenstein, Count Rietberg
- 25 July 1938 – 13 November 1989: His Serene Highness The Prince of Liechtenstein
Honours
National honour
- Liechtenstein: Sovereign Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Grand Star
Foreign honours
- Austria
- Austrian Imperial and Royal family: 1, 240th 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
- 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
- Vatican: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
- Holy See: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Pope Pius IX