Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Franz Joseph II (Franz Josef Maria Alois Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignaz Benediktus Gerhardus Majella; 16 August 1906 – 13 November 1989) was the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein from 25 July 1938 until his death in November 1989.
| Franz Joseph II | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf Count of Rietberg | |||||
| Prince of Liechtenstein | |||||
| Reign | 25 July 1938 – 13 November 1989 | ||||
| Predecessor | Franz I | ||||
| Successor | Hans-Adam II | ||||
| Prime Ministers | See list | ||||
| Born | 16 August 1906 Schloss Frauenthal, Deutschlandsberg, Austria-Hungary | ||||
| Died | 13 November 1989 (aged 83) Grabs, St. Gallen, Switzerland | ||||
| Burial | St. Florian Cathedral, Vaduz | ||||
| Spouse |
Countess Georgina von Wilczek
(m. 1943; died 1989) | ||||
| Issue |
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| House | Liechtenstein | ||||
| Father | Prince Alois of Liechtenstein | ||||
| Mother | Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||
Franz Joseph was the son of Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria. He succeeded his childless grand-uncle, Prince Franz I, after his father renounced his right of succession in his favour in 1923.
Franz Joseph was an extremely popular sovereign in Liechtenstein. He 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.