Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein
Encyclopedia
Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein, born Franz de Paula Maria Karl August (Schloss Liechtenstein, 28 August 1853 – Feldsberg, 25 July 1938) was the Prince of Liechtenstein
between 1929 and 1938. He was the son of Aloys II of Liechtenstein and his wife Countess Franziska Kinsky
. Franz succeeded his older brother Johann II, as Prince of Liechtenstein in 1929.
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.
Like his brother Johann II, Franz I had no children. His first cousin once removed Prince Aloys
was heir presumptive
, but Aloys removed himself from the line of succession in favor of his son, Franz Josef
, in 1921.
Franz I married Elisabeth von Gutmann
(Vienna
, 8 January 1875 - Vitznau
, 28 September 1947), a noblewoman of Jewish descent, on 22 July 1929 in Vienna
, without issue.
He was the 1,204th Knight
of the Order of the Golden Fleece
in Austria
.
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 on the throne if Nazi Germany
invaded his small Principality
. Franz I died on 25 July 1938, and was formally succeeded by Franz Joseph, who became Franz Joseph II, 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...
between 1929 and 1938. He was the son of Aloys II of Liechtenstein and his wife Countess Franziska Kinsky
Franziska Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
align=right|Countess Franziska de Paula Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau was princess consort of Aloys II, Prince of Liechtenstein. She was the daughter of Count Franz de Paula Joseph Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau and his wife Countess Therese of Wrbna and Freudenthal...
. Franz succeeded his older brother Johann II, as Prince of Liechtenstein in 1929.
Franz I served as the Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
ambassador at the Court of Tsar Nicholas II
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
in St. Petersburg between 1894 and 1899. As Prince of Liechtenstein, he continued the economic reforms initiated by his brother.
Like his brother Johann II, Franz I had no children. His first cousin once removed Prince Aloys
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...
was heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
, but Aloys removed himself from the line of succession in favor of his son, Franz Josef
Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein, , was the Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein from 1938 until his death...
, in 1921.
Franz I married Elisabeth von Gutmann
Elisabeth von Gutmann
Elisabeth von Gutmann was princess consort of Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein.-Early life:Elisabeth was born at Vienna, Austria-Hungary, she was the daughter of Wilhelm Ritter von Gutmann and his wife Ida Wodianer...
(Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, 8 January 1875 - Vitznau
Vitznau
Vitznau is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Vitznau was first mentioned in 998. In the 19th century it became a popular destination for tourism, especially from England; the imposing Park Hotel Vitznau west of town dates from the...
, 28 September 1947), a noblewoman of Jewish descent, on 22 July 1929 in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, without issue.
He was the 1,204th 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...
.
In March 1938 the elderly Franz I named Franz Joseph the country's regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
. 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 on the throne if Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
invaded his small Principality
Principality
A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or by a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince....
. Franz I died on 25 July 1938, and was formally succeeded by Franz Joseph, who became Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein, , was the Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein from 1938 until his death...
.