Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein

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Johann II
Johann II v Liechtenstein.jpg
Prince of Liechtenstein
Reign 12 November 1858 – 11 February 1929
Predecessor Aloys II
Successor Franz I
Born (1840-10-05)5 October 1840
Eisgrub, Moravia
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Valtice, Czechoslovakia
Burial Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Vranov
Full name
Johann Maria Franz Placidus
House Liechtenstein
Father Aloys II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Mother Franziska Kinsky

Johann II (Johann Maria Franz Placidus; 5 October 1840 – 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 and 90 days is the second-longest in European royal history after that of Louis XIV of France.

Early life

Johann II was the son of Aloys II, Prince of Liechtenstein and Countess Franziska Kinsky. 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.[1]

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 I, 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.

Foreign affairs

Johann II somewhat cooled relations with Liechtenstein's traditional ally, Austria-Hungary 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 broke 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.[2]

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,[3] 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.[4]

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.

Ancestry

Family of Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16. Prince Emanuel of Liechtenstein
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8. Franz Joseph I, Prince of Liechtenstein
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 17. Countess Antonia of Dietrichstein-Weichselstädt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4. Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 18. Count Franz Philipp of Sternberg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9. Countess Leopoldine of Sternberg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 19. Countess Leopoldina of Starhemberg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2. Alois II, Prince of Liechtenstein
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 20. Ludwig August Egon, Landgrave of Fürstenberg-Weitra
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10. Joachim Egon, Landgrave of Fürstenberg-Weitra
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21. Countess Maria Anna of Kirchberg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5. Landgravine Josepha of Fürstenberg-Weitra
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 22. Count Philipp Karl of Oettingen-Wallerstein
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11. Countess Sophia Maria of Oettingen-Wallerstein
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 23. Countess Charlotte Juliane of Oettingen-Baldern
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1. Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24. Franz de Paula, 3rd Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12. Joseph Ernst, 4th Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 25. Countess Sidonie of Hohenzollern-Hechingen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6. Count Franz de Paula Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 26. Ferdinand Bonaventura II, Count of Harrach-Rohrau and Thannhausen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13. Countess Rosa of Harrach-Rohrau and Thannhausen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 27. Countess Maria Rosa of Harrach-Rohrau and Thannhausen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3. Countess Franziska Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 28. Count Eugen Wenzel of Wrbna and Freudenthal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 14. Count Rudolf of Wrbna and Freudenthal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 29. Countess Maria Theresia Kollonitz of Kollegrad
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7. Countess Therese of Wrbna and Freudenthal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 30. Dominik Andreas, Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15. Countess Maria Theresia of Kaunitz-Rietberg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 31. Countess Bernhardine of Plettenberg-Wittem
 
 
 
 
 
 

References

  1. ↑ Worldstatesmen.org – Liechtenstein Retrieved 16 December 2007
  2. ↑ Welcome.li Yellow Pages of Liechtenstein Retrieved 16 December 2007
  3. ↑ Portal of the Principality of Liechtenstein – Princely House – Prince Johann II Retrieved 16 December 2007
  4. ↑ Prince Johann II Retrieved 16 December 2007

External links

Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Born: 5 October 1840 Died: 11 February 1929
Regnal titles
Preceded by Prince of Liechtenstein
1858–1929		 Succeeded by
Franz I
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