Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein, reigned 1989 – present; Credit – Wikipedia
Liechtenstein is a micro-state in Alpine Central Europe bordered by Switzerland and Austria. The House of Liechtenstein which takes its name from Liechtenstein Castle in Lower Austria, near Vienna, built circa 1140, has ruled in the area since the 12th century. Over the centuries, the family gained land in Moravia, Lower Austria, Silesia, and Styria. Several Liechtenstein princes served as close advisors to the Habsburg family.
In 1608, Karl I of Liechtenstein was made the Fürst (Prince) by Holy Roman Emperor Matthias after siding with him in a political battle. The family purchased the Lordship of Schellenberg in 1699 and the County of Vaduz in 1712 from the Hohenems family. Then, in 1719, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor elevated the territory to a Fürstentum (Principality) with the name Liechtenstein. Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1938 – 1989) was the first sovereign prince to live full-time in Liechtenstein.
The succession to the throne of Liechtenstein is based upon agnatic primogeniture which forbids women to succeed. A United Nations committee raised concerns regarding gender equality with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In 2007, Prince Hans-Adam II explained that the succession law is older than the Principality of Liechtenstein itself, it is a family tradition that does not affect the citizens and the Constitution of Liechtenstein states that succession to the throne is a private family matter.
Below is an indexed listing with biographical articles about the Princely Family of Liechtenstein at Unofficial Royalty. If it says “Notable Issue” before a name, that means not all of the children for the parent of that person are listed. Also listed below are links to the various Liechtenstein Content Areas.
House of Liechtenstein (1608 – present)
Family of Karl I, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Karl I, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1608 – 1627)
- Baroness Anna Maria von Boskowitz and Černahora, Princess of Liechtenstein (wife of Karl I)
- Notable Issue: Prince Karl Eusebius (see below)
Family of Karl Eusebius, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Karl Eusebius, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1627 – 1684)
- Princess Johanna Beatrix of Dietrichstein (wife of Karl Eusebius)
- Notable Issue: Prince Hans-Adam I (see below)
Family of Hans-Adam I, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Hans-Adam I, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1684 – 1712)
- Princess Erdmuthe Maria Theresia of Dietrichstein (wife of Hans-Adam I, had seven children, no surviving sons)
- Notable Issue: Princess Maria Gabriele of Liechtenstein (third cousin and first wife of Josef Johann Adam, see below)
Family of Josef Wenzel I, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Josef Wenzel I, Prince of Liechtenstein (great-grandnephew of Karl I, reigned 1712 – 1718, Regent 1732 – 1745, reigned 1748 – 1772)
- Princess Anna Maria of Liechtenstein (first cousin and wife of Josef Wenzel I, had four children who all died in childhood)
Family of Anton Florian, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Anton Florian, Prince of Liechtenstein (uncle of Joseph Wenzel I, reigned 1718 – 1721)
- Countess Eleonore Barbara von Thun-Hohenstein (wife of Anton Florian)
- Notable Issue: Josef Johann Adam, Prince of Liechtenstein (see below)
- Notable Issue: Princess Anna Maria of Liechtenstein (see above, wife of Josef Wenzel I)
Family of Josef Johann Adam, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Josef Johann Adam, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1721-1732)
- The Four Wives of Josef Johann Adam, Prince of Liechtenstein
- (1) Princess Maria Gabriele of Liechtenstein (third cousin and 1st wife of Josef Johann Adam, had one son who died in childhood)
- (2) Countess Marianne of Thun-Hohenstein (2nd wife of Josef Johann Adam, died twenty days after the wedding)
- (3) Countess Maria Anna Katharina of Oettingen-Spielberg (3rd wife of Josef Johann Adam, had five children, three died in childhood)
- Notable Issue: Prince Johann Nepomuk Karl (see below)
- (4) Countess Maria Anna Kottulinska von Kottulin (4th wife of Josef Johann Adam, had two children who died in childhood)
Family of Johann Nepomuk Karl, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Johann Nepomuk Karl, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1732 – 1748, was succeeded by Prince Josef Wenzel I who had previously reigned 1712 – 1718 and served as Regent 1732 – 1745 )
- Countess Maria Josefa von Harrach-Rohrau, Princess of Liechtenstein (wife of Johann Nepomuk Karl, had three children, only one daughter survived childhood)
Family of Franz Josef I, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Franz Josef I, Prince of Liechtenstein (nephew of Josef Wenzel I, reigned 1772 – 1781)
- Countess Marie Leopoldine von Sternberg, Princess of Liechtenstein (wife of Franz Josef I)
- Notable Issue: Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein (see below)
- Notable Issue: Johann I Josef, Prince of Liechtenstein (see below)
Family of Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1781 – 1805)
- Karoline von Manderscheid-Blankenheim, Princess of Liechtenstein (wife of Alois I, no children)
Family of Johann I Josef, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Johann I Josef, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1805 – 1836, brother of Alois I)
- Landgravine Josepha of Fürstenberg-Weitra, Princess of Liechtenstein (wife of Johann I Josef)
- Notable Issue: Alois II, Prince of Liechtenstein (see below)
Family of Alois II, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Alois II, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1836 – 1858)
- Countess Franziska Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau, Princess of Liechtenstein (wife of Alois II)
- Notable Issue: Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein (see below)
- Notable Issue: Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein (see below)
Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1858 – 1929, unmarried)
Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1929 – 1938, brother of Johann II)
- Princess Elsa of Liechtenstein (Elisabeth von Gutmann, wife of Franz I, no issue)
Family of Franz Josef II, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Franz Josef II, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1938 – 1989, great-great-grandson of Johann I Josef)
- Princess Gina of Liechtenstein (Countess Georgina von Wilczek, wife of Franz Josef I)
- Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein (see below)
- Prince Philipp of Liechtenstein
- Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein
- Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg (wife of Nikolaus)
- Princess Nora of Liechtenstein
- Prince Wenzel of Liechtenstein
Family of Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
- Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1989 – present)
- Princess Marie of Liechtenstein (Countess Marie Aglaë of Wchinitz and Tettau, wife of Hans-Adam II)
- Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein (see below)
- Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein
- Prince Constantin of Liechtenstein
- Princess Tatjana of Liechtenstein
Family of Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein
- Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein
- Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein (Duchess Sophie in Bavaria, wife of Alois)
- Notable Issue: Prince Josef Wenzel of Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein Miscellaneous Articles
- Ancestors of Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein
- Ancestors of Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein
- First Cousins of Prince Hans-Adam II
- How are current European monarchs related to each other?
- The Jacobite Succession – Pretenders to the British Throne
- Vaduz Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Florin) in Vaduz, Liechtenstein