Franz Josef II (August 16, 1906 - November 13, 1989) was the prince of Liechtenstein from 1938 until his death. During his reign women received voting rights for the first time, following a referendum on the topic (among men only) in 1984.
Franz Josef was an extremely popular monarch in Liechtenstein. He was the first ruling prince to live full-time in the principality. He was widely credited with keeping Liechtenstein out of World War II, and he also oversaw the economic development of Liechtenstein from a poor agricultural backwater into one of the richest countries (per capita) in the world.
On 7 March1943, at Vaduz, Fürst Franz Josef II Maria Aloys Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignatius Benedictus Gerhardus Majella married Gräfin Georgine Norberta Johanna Ferdinandine Aloisia Antonia Marie Raphaela von Wilczek. They had five children.
Franz Josef handed over most of his powers to his son, Hans-Adam, in 1984.
Prince FranzJosef was born at Frauenthal Castle in Styria on 16 August1906.
In 1929 Prince FranzJosef graduated from the University as a forestry engineer and then devoted his attention to the administration of the vast estates in Czechoslovakia, which became his responsibility after the death of Prince Johannes II.
Liechtenstein experienced a second grand event when the Prince married Countess Georgine of Wilczeck (daughter of count Ferdinand of Wilczeck and countess Nora Kinski, born in Graz on 24 October 1921, died in Vaduz on 24 October 1989) on 7 March1943.
HSH FranzJosefII, Prince of Liechtenstein, Franz Joseph Maria Aloys Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignaz Benediktus Gerhardus Majella, (August 16, 1906 - November 13, 1989) was the prince of Liechtenstein from 1938 until his death.
He was widely credited with keeping Liechtenstein out of World War II, and he also oversaw the economic development of Liechtenstein from a poor agricultural backwater into one of the richest countries (per capita) in the world.
FranzJosef handed over most of his powers to his son, Hans-Adam, in 1984.
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