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
Franz Joseph II official portrait
Prince of Liechtenstein
Reign25 July 1938 – 13 November 1989
PredecessorFranz I
SuccessorHans-Adam II
Prime Ministers
Born(1906-08-16)16 August 1906
Schloss Frauenthal,
Deutschlandsberg, Austria-Hungary
Died13 November 1989(1989-11-13) (aged 83)
Grabs, Switzerland
Burial
SpouseCountess Georgina von Wilczek
IssueHans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Prince Phillipp
Prince Nikolaus
Princess Nora
Prince Wenzel
Full name
Franz Josef Maria Aloys Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignaz Benediktus Gerhardus Majella
HouseHouse of Liechtenstein
FatherPrince Aloys of Liechtenstein
MotherArchduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria
ReligionRoman 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.