European Kingdoms

Liechtenstein / Vaduz

Formerly part of the Roman province of Raetia, this region remained an obscure and unimportant part of Swabia until it was formed into a small state (just 167 square kilometres or 62 square miles of mostly mountainous terrain) by the Holy Roman Empire in the thirteenth century, during the collapse of East Francia. It is made up of two medieval lordships: Vaduz and Schellenberg. The latter were a family of ancient Bohemian extraction, faithful servants of the empire.

County of Vaduz (Schellenberg)
c.AD 1267 - 1350

Dates for the earliest counts are uncertain.

fl c.1267

Marquard I

fl c.1267

Henry I

Joint rule.

fl c.1300

Marquard II

fl c.1300

Ulrich

Joint rule.

fl c.1303

Schwigger

fl c.1303

Marquard III

Joint rule.

fl c.1303

Henry II

fl c.1318

Henry III

fl c.1318

Egilolf

Joint rule.

? - 1350

Henry IV

? - 1350

Albert

Joint rule.

County of Vaduz (Werdenberg)
AD 1350 - 1397

1350 - 1354

Hartmann III

1354 - 1367

Rudolph IV

1354 - 1416

Hartmann IV

1354 - 1397

Henry VII

County of Vaduz (Brandis)
AD 1416 - 1507

1416 - 1456

Wolfhard I

1456 - 1486

Ulrich (II)

1456 - pre-1486

Wolfhard II

1456 - 1487

Sigmund

1486 - 1507

Louis

1486 - 1507

Sigmund II

County of Vaduz (Sulz)
AD 1507 - 1613

1507 - 1535

Rudolph V

1535 - 1566

John Louis I

1566 - 1572

Alwig XI

1566 - 1569

William

Joint rule.

1572 - 1611

Rudolph VIII

1608

The county is elevated by the emperor to a principality of the Holy Roman Empire.

1611 - 1613

John III

Died 1617.

Principality of Hohenems-Vaduz
AD 1613 - 1712

1613 - 1638

Caspar

1638 - 1646

Jacob Hannibal II

1646 - 1662

Francis William I

1662 - 1686

Ferdinand Charles

1662 - 1712

Jacob Hannibal II Frederick

1662 - 1691

Francis William II

1691 - 1712

Francis William Maximilian Charles Posthumous

Died 1759.

1699 & 1712

The titles pass to the Liechtensteins. The Hohenems-Vaduz title itself continues to exist without any power until the branch becomes extinct in 1766.

Principality of Liechtenstein
AD 1712 - Present Day

John Adam I acquired the two Hohenem family titles of Schellenberg (in 1699) and Vaduz (in 1712). His successor was granted these territories as a hereditary and sovereign principality in 1719, and the state was renamed after the new ruling house. It survives to this day, having so far outlived its founder by nearly two hundred years.

By 2008, the tiny principality had a population of just 34,247 subjects, but the head of state, Prince Alois, acting as regent for John Adam II, had more power than most surviving monarchs, being able to sack his government if he wished. The country was by now famous for its banks, reputedly being one of the most secretive tax havens in the world. It was also one of the richest.

1699 / 1712

John Adam I

1712 - 1721

Anthony Florian

Confirmed as Prince of Liechtenstein (1719).

1721 - 1732

Joseph

1732 - 1748

John Charles

1748 - 1772

Wenceslaus

1772 - 1781

Francis Joseph I

1781 - 1805

Aloysius / Alois I

1805 - 1836

John I

1806 - 1813

The French under Napoleon Bonaparte invade the Holy Roman Empire, terminating its existence. Liechtenstein becomes a member of the French-controlled Confederation of the Rhine until its dissolution in 1813. Two years later, the Austrian-presided German Confederation performs much the same role, with the principality once again a member.

1836 - 1858

Aloysius / Alois II

1858 - 1929

John II

1929 - 1938

Francis

1938 - 1989

Francis Joseph II

1989 - Present

John Adam II

2004 - Present

Prince Alois

Regent. Born 1968.