Francis Joseph II | |||||
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Franz Joseph II official portrait
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Prince of Liechtenstein | |||||
Reign | 25 July 1938 – 13 November 1989 | ||||
Predecessor | Franz I | ||||
Successor | Hans-Adam II | ||||
Prime Ministers | |||||
Born |
Schloss Frauenthal, Deutschlandsberg, Austria-Hungary |
16 August 1906||||
Died | 13 November 1989 Grabs, Switzerland |
(aged 83)||||
Burial | St. Florian Cathedral Vaduz | ||||
Spouse | Countess Georgina von Wilczek | ||||
Issue |
Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein Prince Phillipp Prince Nikolaus Princess Nora, Marchioness of Mariño Prince Franz Joseph ("Wenzel") |
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House | Liechtenstein | ||||
Father | Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein | ||||
Mother | Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria | ||||
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Full name | |
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Franz Josef Maria Aloys Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignaz Benediktus Gerhardus Majella |
Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein (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.
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 for 494 First Russian National Army pro-Axis pro-emperor Vladimir White emigres led by General Boris Smyslovsky.
On 7 March 1943, at Vaduz, Franz Joseph II married Countess Georgina von Wilczek (24 October 1921 – 18 October 1989). They had five children:
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.