Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Franz Josef II, Prince of Liechtenstein,
Franz Joseph Maria Aloys Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignaz Benediktus Gerhardus Majella , (
August 16,
1906,
Schloss Frauenthal,
Styria,
Austria –
November 13,
1989) was the prince of
Liechtenstein from 1938 until his death. His full title was
Fürst von und zu Liechtenstein, Herzog von Troppau und Jägerndorf, Graf zu Rietberg.He was son of Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein and his wife Archduchess Elisabeth of
Austria (daughter of
Archduke Karl Ludwig). He succeeded his childless cousin, Prince
Franz I, after his father renounced his right of succession in his favour in 1921.
During his reign women received voting rights for the first time, following a referendum on the topic (among men only) in 1984.
Franz Josef was an extremely popular monarch in Liechtenstein. He was the first ruling prince to live full-time in the principality. He was widely credited with keeping Liechtenstein out of
World War II, and he also oversaw the economic development of Liechtenstein from a poor agricultural backwater into one of the richest countries (per capita) in the world.
On
7 March 1943, at
Vaduz, Franz Josef II married Countess Georgine "Gina" of Wilczeck (
24 October 1921-24 October
1989). They had five children:
*
Hereditary Prince Hans-Adam (born 1945)
*
Prince Phillipp (born 1946)
*
Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein (born 1947)
*
Princess Norberta "Nora" (born 1950)
* Franz Josef Wenzeslaus "Wenzel" (1962-1991)
Franz Josef handed over most of his powers to his son, Hans-Adam, in 1984.Franz Josef II died in
november 13,
1989, a mere twenty days after his wife, therefore ruling Liechtenstein for 51 years.
*
Princely Family of Liechtenstein
