Monarchy of Liechtenstein
The monarchy of Liechtenstein is the constitutional
form of government by which a hereditary sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein
reigns as the head of state of Liechtenstein. The current Fürst von und zu Liechtenstein (German)
monarch is Prince Hans-Adam II.[1] The House of
Liechtenstein, after which the sovereign principality
was named in 1719, hails from Liechtenstein Castle in
Lower Austria, which the family possessed from the
middle of the twelfth century to the thirteenth century,
and from 1807 onward. It is the only remaining
European monarchy that practises strict agnatic
Arms of His Serene Highness the Prince of
primogeniture.
Liechtenstein
Incumbent
History
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.
Without any territory held immediately from the
Imperial crown, the Liechtenstein family, although Hans-Adam II
noble, did not qualify for a seat in the Diet of the Holy since 13 November 1989
Roman Empire. By purchase in 1699 and 1712 from
Details
the counts of Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems of,
respectively, the small lordship of Schellenberg and the Style His Serene Highness
county of Vaduz, the Liechtensteins acquired Heir apparent Alois
immediate lands within the Holy Roman Empire which First monarch Karl I
made them eligible for elevation to the Imperial Diet.
Formation 20 December 1608
Thereby, on 23 January 1719, Emperor Charles VI
decreed Vaduz and Schellenberg were henceforth Residence Vaduz Castle
united and raised to the status of a Fürstentum
(principality) under the name "Liechtenstein" for "[his] true servant, Anton Florian of Liechtenstein".
Although the family continued to own larger territories in various parts of central and eastern Europe, it
was in right of Liechtenstein's status as an Imperial Estate that the family of wealthy noble Austrian
courtiers became a dynasty of imperial princes, continuing to dwell in the imperial capital of Vienna or on
their larger estates elsewhere, not taking up permanent residence in their principality for more than 300
years, moving into their Alpine realm only in 1938, after dissolution of both the Holy Roman Empire and
Austria-Hungary.
Powers
The prince of Liechtenstein has broad powers, which include the appointment of judges, the dismissal of
ministers or government, veto power, and the calling of referendums. The 2003 referendum was a
proposal put forth by Prince Hans-Adam II to revise parts of the Constitution, on the one hand expanding
the monarch's power with the authority to veto legislation, while on the other hand securing for the
citizenry the option to abolish the monarchy by vote at any time without being subject to princely veto.[2]
The right of the parishes that make up the principality to secede was simultaneously recognised.
Prince Hans-Adam II had warned that he and his family would move to Austria if the referendum were
rejected. Despite opposition from Mario Frick, a former Liechtenstein prime minister, the referendum
was approved by the electorate in 2003. Opponents accused Hans-Adam of engaging in emotional
blackmail to achieve his goal and constitutional experts from the Council of Europe branded the event as
a retrograde move.[3] A proposal to revoke the prince's new veto powers was rejected by 76% of voters in
a 2012 referendum.[4] On 15 August 2004 Prince Hans-Adam II formally delegated most of his sovereign
authority (regency) to his son and heir-apparent, the Hereditary Prince Alois, as a way of transitioning to
a new generation. Formally, Hans-Adam remains head of state.[5]
Compensation
The prince receives an untaxed salary of 250,000 Swiss francs[6] (234,000 euros or 252,000 US dollars).
Succession
Succession to the Liechtensteiner throne follows agnatic primogeniture, as laid down by the house law
since 1606.[7]
Titles
According to their house law,[8] the monarch bears the titles:
Reigning Prince of Liechtenstein, Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Count of Rietberg,
Sovereign of the House of Liechtenstein.
Princely standard
Current personal Personal standard of Former Princely
standard of the the Prince of Standard as it
Prince of Liechtenstein from appeared in 1912.
Liechtenstein, 1957 until 1982.
adopted in 1982.
See also
Ducal hat of Liechtenstein
List of monarchs of Liechtenstein
References
1. "Fürstliche Familie" ([Link]
li/de/fuerstenhaus/fuerstliche_familie/). Archived from the original ([Link]
i/de/fuerstenhaus/fuerstliche_familie/) on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
2. Liechtenstein prince wins powers ([Link] BBC
News Online, 16 March 2003. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
3. The Age 18 March 2003 ([Link]
ml). [Link] (18 March 2003).
4. "Liechtenstein votes to keep prince's veto" ([Link]
vote-prince-idUSBRE86008W20120701). Reuters. 1 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
5. Country profile: Liechtenstein – Leaders ([Link]
[Link]#leaders) BBC News, 6 December 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
6. "Richest royals: what Europe's royal families get from their taxpayers - Business Insider" (htt
p://[Link]/richest-royals-what-europes-royal-families-get-from-their-taxpa
yers-2017-7?r=UK&IR=T). Business Insider.
7. "The House Law" ([Link] Princely House of
Liechtenstein. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
8. Liechtenstein House Laws ([Link]
[Link]) Archived ([Link]
n/fuerstenhaus/geschichte/[Link]) 15 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
[Link].
External links
Media related to Liechtenstein monarchy at Wikimedia Commons
The Princely House of Liechtenstein ([Link] (official site)
Retrieved from "[Link]
