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The Liechtenstein dynasty, from which the principality takes its name (rather than
vice-versa), is the family which reigns by constitutional, hereditary right over
the nation of Liechtenstein. Only dynastic members of the House of Liechtenstein
are eligible to inherit the throne, and the dynasty's membership,
rights and responsibilities are defined by a law of the family,
which is enforced by the reigning Prince and may be altered by vote
among the family's dynasts, but which may not be altered by the
government or parliament of Liechtenstein.[1]
See also List of princes of
Liechtenstein.
History
Valtice Castle used to be
the principal seat of the Liechtenstein family in the Czech
Republic (then in Czechoslovakia) until
World War II, when the Communists seized
power and confiscated it.
The family comes from Castle Liechtenstein in Lower Austria, which the family
possessed from at least 1140 to the 13th century, and from 1807
onwards. Through the centuries, the dynasty acquired vast swathes
of land, predominantly in Moravia, Lower Austria, Silesia and Styria, though in all cases, these territories
were held in fief under other more senior feudal lords,
particularly under various lines of the Habsburg family, to whom
several Liechtenstein princes served as close advisors. Thus, and
without any territory held directly under the Imperial throne, the
Liechtenstein dynasty was unable to meet a primary requirement to
qualify for a seat in the Imperial diet, the Reichstag.
The family yearned greatly for the added power which a seat in
the Imperial government would garner, and therefore searched for
lands to acquire which would be unmittelbar or held without any
feudal personage other than the Holy Roman Emperor himself having
rights on the land. After some time, the family was able to arrange
the purchase of the minuscule Herrschaft ("Lordship") of Schellenberg and
county of Vaduz (in 1699 and
1712 respectively) from the Hohenems family. Tiny Schellenberg and Vaduz
possessed exactly the political status required, no feudal lord
other than their comital
sovereign and the suzerain Emperor.
Thereby, on January 23, 1719, after purchase had been duly made,
Charles VI, Holy Roman
Emperor decreed Vaduz and Schellenberg were united, and raised to
the dignity of Fürstentum (principality) with the name
"Liechtenstein" in honour of "[his] true servant, Anton Florian of Liechtenstein". It is on
this date that Liechtenstein became a sovereign member state of the
Holy Roman Empire. Ironically, but as testament to the pure
political expediency of the purchases, the Princes of Liechtenstein
did not set foot in their new principality for several decades.
This article shows the descendants of Franz Joseph II,
Prince of Liechtenstein, the father of the present (2006) Head of State, Prince Hans-Adam
II.
According to the Constitution
of the Princely House of Liechtenstein of 26 October 1993 all
members other than the reigning prince shall bear the titles:
Prince/Princess of Liechtenstein, Count/Countess of Rietberg.
The US Senate's subcommittee on tax haven banks has charged that
the LGT
Bank which the family owns, and on whose board they serve "is a
willing partner, and an aider and abettor to clients trying to
evade taxes, dodge creditors or defy court orders."[2]
Current
Princely Family (closest members only)
- Hans-Adam II, Prince
of Liechtenstein (born 14 February 1945), eldest son; married
30 July 1967, Marie Aglaë, Countess
Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau. They have four children:
- Alois Philipp
Maria, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968),
married 3 July 1993, Duchess Sophie
in Bavaria (born 28 October 1967). They have four children:
- Prince Joseph
Wenzel Maximilian Maria of Liechtenstein (born 24 May 1995
in London)
- Princess Marie-Caroline Elisabeth Immaculata of
Liechtenstein (born 17 October 1996 in Grabs, Canton of
St. Gallen)
- Prince Georg Antonius Constantin Maria of
Liechtenstein (born 20 April 1999 in Grabs)
- Prince Nikolaus Sebastian Alexander Maria of
Liechtenstein (born 6 December 2000, in Grabs)
- Prince Maximilian Nikolaus Maria of Liechtenstein
(born 16 May 1969 in St.
Gallen), married 29 January 2000 at the church of Saint Vincent
Ferrer in New York, Angela Gisela Brown
(born 3 February 1958, Bocas del Toro, Panamá) They have one child:
- Prince Alfons Constantin Maria of Liechtenstein (born 18 May
2001, in London)
- Prince Constantin Ferdinand Maria of Liechtenstein (born 15
March 1972 in St. Gallen), married 5 June 1999, in Csicse, Countess
Marie Gabriele Franciska Kálnoky de Köröspatak (born 16 July 1975
in Graz) They have three children:
- Prince Moritz Emanuel Maria of Liechtenstein (born 27 May 2003
in London)
- Princess Georgina Maximiliane Tatjana Maria of Liechtenstein
(born 23 July 2005 in Vienna)
- Prince Benedikt Ferdinand Hubertus Maria of Liechtenstein,
(born 18 May 2008 in Vienna)
- Princess Tatjana of Liechtenstein full name Princess Tatjana
Nora Maria of Liechtenstein (born 10 April 1973 in St. Gallen),
married 5 June 1999, at St. Florin's in Vaduz, Baron Philipp von Lattorff, son of Baron
Claus-Jürgen von Lattorff and Countess Julia Batthyány de
Német-Ujvár (born 25 March 1968 in Graz). They have six children:
- Lukas Maria von Lattorff (born 13 May 2000 in Wiesbaden)
- Elisabeth Marie Angela Tatiana von Lattorff (born 25 January
2002 in Grabs)
- Marie Theresa von Lattorff (born 18 January 2004 in Grabs)
- Camilla Katharina Maria von Lattorff (born 14 November 2005 in
Monza)
- Anna Pia Theresia Maria von Lattorff (born 3 August 2007 in Hausleiten)
- Sophia Katharina Maria von Lattorff (born 30 October 2009 in Hausleiten)
- Prince Philipp Erasmus of Liechtenstein
(born 19 August 1946 in Zurich), second son; married 11 September
1971, at Abbaye de Notre Dame de la Cambre in Brussels, Isabelle de
l'Arbre de Malander (born 24 November 1947 in Ronse) They have three children:
- Prince Alexander of Liechtenstein (born 19 May 1972 in Basel); married 8-9 February 2003
Astrid Kohl (born 13 September 1968).
- Princess Theodora of Liechtenstein (born 20 November
2004).
- Prince Wenzeslaus of
Liechtenstein (born 12 May 1974 in Uccle, Belgium)
- Prince Rudolf Ferdinand of Liechtenstein (born 7 September 1975
in Uccle, Belgium)
- Prince Nikolaus Ferdinand
Maria Josef Raphael of Liechtenstein (born 24 October 1947 in
Zurich),
third son; married 20 March 1982, at Notre Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg, Princess Margaretha of
Luxembourg, (born 15 May 1957, Betzdorf Castle). They have four
children:
- Prince Leopold Emmanuel of Liechtenstein (born 20 May 1984,
died 20 May 1984).
- Princess Maria-Annunciata Astrid Joséphine Veronica of
Liechtenstein (born 12 May 1985 in Brussels)
- Princess Marie-Astrid Nora Margarita Veronica of
Liechtenstein (born 26 June 1987 in Brussels)
- Prince Josef-Emanuel Leopold Marie of Liechtenstein
(born 7 May 1989 in Brussels)
- Princess Norberta (Nora)
Elisabeth Maria Assunta Josefine Georgine et omnes sancti of
Liechtenstein (born 31 October 1950), only daughter; married 11
June 1988 Don Vicente Sartorius y
Cabeza de Vaca (30 November 1931-2002), Marquess de Mariño, and
she has a daughter,
- Maria Teresa Sartorius y de Liechtenstein (born 21 November
1992 in Madrid).
References
See also
References
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