Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Prince of Liechtenstein (1938-1989)
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 Prince of Liechtenstein from 1938 until his death.
Francis Joseph II | |||||
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![]() Franz Joseph II official portrait | |||||
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 | |||||
Spouse | Countess Georgina von Wilczek | ||||
Issue | Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein Prince Phillipp Prince Nikolaus Princess Nora Prince Wenzel | ||||
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House | House of Liechtenstein | ||||
Father | Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein | ||||
Mother | Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria | ||||
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Franz Joseph was the son of Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein and Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria. He succeeded his great-uncle, Prince Franz I, after his father renounced his right of succession in his favour in 1921.
Franz Joseph 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.