Johannes II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Encyclopedia
Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein, born Johann Maria Franz Placidus (Eisgrub
, Moravia
, 5 October 1840 – Valtice
, 11 February 1929), aka Johann II der Gute or Johann II the Good, was the Prince of Liechtenstein
between 1858 and 1929. His reign of 70 years, 3 months is the second-longest in European royal history after that of Louis XIV of France
.
. He ascended to the throne shortly after his 18th birthday, and as such his reign is the longest precisely documented tenure of any monarch since antiquity in which a regent
was never employed. His mother served as his regent during the first years of his reign. Johann II overtook control from his mother in 1860.
, Johann II granted a new constitution in 1921. It granted considerable political rights to common Liechtensteiners, the latter making the principality a constitutional monarchy
. This constitution survives today but with revisions, most notably in 2003.
Liechtenstein left the German Confederation
in 1866. Not long after, the army of Liechtenstein was abolished as it was regarded as an unnecessary expense.
and its successor states, to forge closer relations with Switzerland
, particularly after World War I
. Liechtenstein was neutral during World War I
but the war did break Liechtenstein's alliance with Austria-Hungary
and led it to go into a customs union with Switzerland
. Late in Johann's reign, in 1924 the Swiss franc
became Liechtenstein's official currency.
Between 1905 - 1920, Schloss Vaduz
was renovated and expanded. Prince Johann II did not live in the castle or even Liechtenstein, though his successors would eventually move there in 1938. Schloss Vaduz
would be their home.
He was the 987th Knight
of the Order of the Golden Fleece
in Austria
.
Upon his death in 1929, Johann II was succeeded by his brother Franz I.
Lednice
Lednice is a village in South Moravia in the Czech Republic. In 1996 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an exceptional example of the designed landscape that evolved in the Enlightenment and afterwards under the care of a single family." It contains a palace and the largest...
, Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, 5 October 1840 – Valtice
Valtice
The town of Valtice in the Czech Republic contains one of the most impressive Baroque residences of Central Europe. It was designed as the seat of the ruling princes of Liechtenstein by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach in the early 18th century. Construction was supervised by Domenico...
, 11 February 1929), aka Johann II der Gute or Johann II the Good, was the 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 1858 and 1929. His reign of 70 years, 3 months is the second-longest in European royal history after that of Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
.
Early life
Johann II was the son of Aloys II, Prince of Liechtenstein and Countess Franziska KinskyFranziska 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...
. He ascended to the throne shortly after his 18th birthday, and as such his reign is the longest precisely documented tenure of any monarch since antiquity in which a 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...
was never employed. His mother served as his regent during the first years of his reign. Johann II overtook control from his mother in 1860.
Law and reform
In 1862, Johann II issued Liechtenstein's first constitution. Later, after Liechtenstein left the German confederation in 1866 and after World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Johann II granted a new constitution in 1921. It granted considerable political rights to common Liechtensteiners, the latter making the principality a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
. This constitution survives today but with revisions, most notably in 2003.
Liechtenstein left the German Confederation
German Confederation
The German Confederation was the loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to coordinate the economies of separate German-speaking countries. It acted as a buffer between the powerful states of Austria and Prussia...
in 1866. Not long after, the army of Liechtenstein was abolished as it was regarded as an unnecessary expense.
Foreign affairs
Johann II somewhat cooled relations with Liechtenstein's traditional ally, Austria-HungaryAustria-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...
and its successor states, to forge closer relations with Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, particularly after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Liechtenstein was neutral during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
but the war did break Liechtenstein's alliance with Austria-Hungary
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...
and led it to go into a customs union with Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Late in Johann's reign, in 1924 the Swiss franc
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
became Liechtenstein's official currency.
Patron of the arts
Johann II added much to the Liechtenstein Princely Collections. Although considered a prominent patron of the arts and sciences during his long reign, Johann II was also considered to be rather unsociable and did not participate in social events. He never married or had any children, like several other members of his family.Between 1905 - 1920, Schloss Vaduz
Schloss Vaduz
Vaduz Castle is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. The castle gave its name to the town of Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, which it overlooks from an adjacent hilltop.-History:...
was renovated and expanded. Prince Johann II did not live in the castle or even Liechtenstein, though his successors would eventually move there in 1938. Schloss Vaduz
Schloss Vaduz
Vaduz Castle is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. The castle gave its name to the town of Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, which it overlooks from an adjacent hilltop.-History:...
would be their home.
He was the 987th 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...
.
Upon his death in 1929, Johann II was succeeded by his brother Franz I.