- Franz Josef I, Prince of Liechtenstein
Franz Josef I, Prince of Liechtenstein ("Franz Josef Johann Adam") (
19 November 1726 Milan -18 August 1781 Metz ) was a Prince of Liechtenstein from 1772 until his death.He was the son of Prince Emanuel of Liechtenstein (
3 February 1700 -15 January 1771 ) and Maria Antonia von Dietrichstein (10 September 1706 -7 June 1777 ). Franz Josef was the eldest of their thirteen children. He was a nephew of Josef Wenzel.Franz Josef had been recognised heir to Liechtenstein since 1723, when his uncle's only son had died. Josef Wenzel took Franz Josef under his wing and Franz Josef accompanied him in a campaign in Northern
Italy , fighting with Wenzel at theBattle of Piacenza . The battle was a victory for theHoly Roman Empire , of which Liechtenstein was a part.In 1763, Franz Josef traveled on behalf of the Emperor to
Spain , in order to bring the bride of Archduke Leopold a picture of the Archduke. In 1767, he became Privy Councillor, and in 1771, he received theOrder of the Golden Fleece .Once Franz Josef became Prince of Liechtenstein, he showed great interest in its economic problems and the ever increasing Liechtenstein art collection.
Marriage and Issue
Franz Josef married Marie Leopoldine von Sternberg (
11 December 1733 -27 June 1809 ), a member of the Bohemian nobility, onJuly 6 ,1750 inValtice . The couple had 8 children:*Prince Josef Franz (
6 July 1752 -10 February 1754 )
*Princess Maria "Leopoldine" (30 January 1754 -16 October 1823 ); married toKarl Emanuel, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg
*Princess Marie "Antonie" (14 March 1756 -1 December 1821 ); a Nun
*Prince Franz de Paula Josef (19 May 1758 -16 August 1760 )
*Prince Alois (14 May 1759 -24 March 1805 )
*Prince Johann (26 June 1760 -20 April 1836 )
*Prince Philipp Josef (2 July 1762 -18 May 1802 )
*Princess Maria "Josepha" (13 April 1768 -8 August 1845 )
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.