FAQ

Here are some questions and answers about the Principality of Liechtenstein. If you find any examples of bad grammar or spelling, and I am sure you will, do not hesitate to tell me. I will appreciate it.
This page was last updated on 27 of March 2003.
 
1. What is the name of the Princely House of Liechtenstein and how did this family gain the throne?
2. Can a woman become Reigning Princess of Liechtenstein?
3. Have there been any Reigning Princesses of Liechtenstein?
4. Where can I find the part of the Constitution that regards the succession in English?
5. Who are in line of succession to the throne of Liechtenstein?
6. Who was the last Prince to be crowned?
7. Which Prince reigned for the longest period?
8. Which Prince reigned for the shortest period?
9. Can a Prince/Princess of Liechtenstein marry whomever he/she wants?
10. What power does the Prince have today?
11. Which are the Liechtensteinian noble titles?
12. What is the Liechtensteinian Coat of Arms?
13. Which are the Dutch Orders?
14. How is Prince Hans Adam II related to other European Monarchs?
1. What is the name of the Princely House of Liechtenstein and how did this family gain the throne?
The name is Liechtenstein. The family once took the name after a castle in Austria. In 1712 they bought the County of Vaduz. Earlier they had bought the estate Schellenberg. In 1719 Vaduz and Schellenberg became a Reichsfürstentum with the head of the Liechtenstein family as Reigning Prince. The new principality was given the name Liechtenstein after its reigning family.

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2. Can a woman become Reigning Princess of Liechtenstein?
No.

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3. Have there been any Reigning Princesses of Liechtenstein?
No.

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4. Where can I find the part of the Constitution that regards the succession in English?
You can find it right here.

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5. Who are in line of succession to the throne of Liechtenstein?
These are the descendants of Prince Franz Josef II, but there are many other Princes in line of succession:
1. HSH Hereditary Prince Alois (b. 1968). The Reigning Prince's eldest son.
2. HSH Prince Joseph-Wenzel (b. 1995). Prince Alois's eldest son.
3. HSH Prince Georg Antonius (b. 1999). Prince Alois's second son.
4. HSH Prince Nikolaus (b. 2000). Prince Alois's youngest son.
5. HSH Prince Maximilian (b. 1969). The Reigning Prince's second son.
6. HSH Prince Alfons (b. 2001). Prince Maximilian's son.
7. HSH Prince Constantin (b. 1972). The Reigning Prince's youngest son.
8. HSH Prince Philipp (b. 1946). The Reigning Prince's eldest brother.
9. HSH Prince Alexander (b. 1972). Prince Philipp's eldest son.
10. HSH Prince Wenzeslaus (b. 1974). Prince Philipp's second son.
11. HSH Prince Rudolf (b. 1976). Prince Philipp's youngest son.
12. HSH Prince Nikolaus (b. 1947). The Reigning Prince's youngest brother.
13. HSH Prince Josef-Emanuel (b. 1989). Prince Nikolaus's son.
 

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6. Who was the last Prince to be crowned?
Princes are not crowned.

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7. Which Monarch reigned for the longest period?
That was Johannes II 1858-1929, who reigned for 70 years, 2 months and 30 days.

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8. Which Monarch reigned for the shortest period?
That was Anton Florian 1719-1721, who reigned for 2 years, 8 months and 18 days.

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9. Can a Prince/Princess of Liechtenstein marry whomever he/she wants?
No, he/she must ask for permission. The rules are rather complicated. The part of the Constitution of the Princely Family of Liechtenstein that concerns marriages is found here.

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10. What power does the Reigning Prince have today?
He is the most powerful of all European Monarchs. He can e.g. dismiss both the Parliament and the Government and he appoints judges.

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11. Which are the Liechtensteinian noble titles?
Graf and Freiherr.

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12. What is the Liechtensteinian Coat of Arms?
You find a picture here:

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13. Which are the Liechtensteinian Orders?

To be answered.

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14. How is Prince Hans Adam II related to other European Monarchs?
Denmark
Prince Hans Adam and Queen Margrethe II are fourth cousins twice removed. They are descendants of King Maximilian I Josef of Bavaria. These are the lines: Maximilian I Josef - Sophie - Karl Ludwig - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II and Maximilian I Josef - Augusta - Josephine de Beauharnais - Carl XV - Louise - Christian X - Frederik IX - Margrethe II or Maximilian I Josef - Augusta - Josephine de Beaurnais - Oscar II Gustaf V - Gustaf VI Adolf - Ingrid - Margrethe II.
Sweden
Prince Hans Adam II and King Carl XVI Gustaf are fifth cousins. They are descendants of Karl Ludwig of Hohenlohe-Langeburg. These are the lines: Karl Ludwig - Marie - Adelhied - Marie-Therese - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II and Karl Ludwig - Ernst - Adelheid - Karoline Mathilde - Victoria Adelheid - Sibylla - Carl XVI Gustaf.
Norway
Prince Hans Adam II and King Harald V are fourth cousins once removed. They are descendants of King Maximilian I Josef of Bavaria. These are the lines: Maximilian I Josef - Karl Ludwig - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II and Maximilian I Josef - Augusta - Josephine - Oscar II - Carl - Märtha - Harald V.
United Kingdom
Prince Hans Adam II and Queen Elizabeth II are seventh cousins once removed. They are descendants of Prince Johan Willem Friso of Nassau-Dietz. These are the lines: Johan Willem Friso - Charlotta Amalia - Karl Friedrich - Karl Ludwig - Karoline - Sophie - Karl Ludwig - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II and Johan Willem Friso - Willem IV - Caroline - Henriette - Alexander - Franz - Mary - George VI - Elizabeth II.
Spain
Prince Hans Adam II and King Juan Carlos I are fifth cousins. They are descendants of the Spanish King Carlos IV. These are examples of the lines: Carlos IV - Charlota Joqquina - Miguel I of Portugal - Maria Teresa - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II and Carlos IV - Fernando VII - Isabel II - Alfonso XII - Alfonso XIII - Juan - Juan Carlos I.
Belgium
Prince Hans Adam II and King Albert II are third cousins. They are descendants of the Portuguese King Miguel I. These are the lines: Miguel I - Marie-Thérèse - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II and Miguel I - Marie José - Elisabeth - Leopold III - Albert II.
Luxembourg
Prince Hans Adam II and Grand Duke Henri are third cousins. They are descendants of the Portuguese King Miguel I. These are the lines: Miguel I - Marie-Therese - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II and Miguel I - Marie-Anne - Charlotte - Jean I - Henri.
The Netherlands
Prince Hans Adam II and Queen Beatrix are fifth cousins. They are descendants of Karl Ludwig of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. These are the lines: Karl Ludwig - Marie - Adelheid - Marie-Thérèse - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II and Karl Ludwig - Emelie - Adelheid - Ernst - Bernhard - Bernhard - Beatrix.
Monaco
Prince Hans Adam II and Rainier III are fifth cousins. They are descendants of Karl Ludwig, Margrave of Baden. These are the lines: Karl Ludwig - Karoline - Sophie - Karl Ludwig - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II and Karl Ludwig - Karl Ludwig - Marie Elisabeth - Mary Victoria Douglas-Hamilton - Louis II - Charlotte - Rainier III.
Bulgaria
Prince Hans Adam II and King Simeon II fourth cousins once removed. They are descendants of King Ferdinando of the Two Sicilies. These are the lines: Ferdinando - Maria Teresa - Franz Karl - Karl Ludwig - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II and Ferdinando - Maria Amelia - Clémentine - Ferdinand I - Boris III - Simeon II.
Greece
Prince Hans Adam II and King Constantinos II are fifth cousins. They are descendants of Karl Ludwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. These are the lines: Karl Ludwig - Marie - Adelheid - Marie-Thérèse - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II Karl Ludwig - Ernst - Adelheid - Augusta Victoria - Victoria Luise - Friedrike - Konstantinos II.
Portugal
Prince Hans Adam II and Prince Duarte Pio are
Romania
Prince Hans Adam II and Prince Duarte Pio are fourth cousins once removed. They are descendants of King Joao II of Portugal. These are the lines: Joao II - Miguel I - Marie Thérese - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II and Joao II - Pedro I - Maria II - Antonia - Ferdinand I - Carol II - Mihai I.

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