A History of Liechtenstein
Often dismissed as a historical curiosity-a tiny, landlocked nation famous for its quirky facts-the Principality of Liechtenstein possesses one of Europe's most remarkable and improbable stories of survival. This book unveils the extraordinary journey of a country whose borders have remained unchanged since 1434, a state that exists today as the last sovereign remnant of the once-mighty Holy Roman Empire. It charts the incredible transformation of a collection of poor, agricultural mountain villages into a highly industrialized, technologically advanced global financial center with one of the highest standards of living in the world. This is the story of how a nation navigated the collapse of empires, the cataclysms of two world wars, and the ideological chasms of the Cold War with its independence not only intact but flourishing.
The narrative begins long before the principality had a name, tracing its history from Stone Age settlements and Roman rule through the Middle Ages, when the two distinct territories of Vaduz and Schellenberg were formed. The story pivots at the turn of the 18th century with the arrival of the House of Liechtenstein, an immensely wealthy Austrian noble family. Lacking a territory that reported directly to the Holy Roman Emperor-a crucial prerequisite for gaining a seat in the Imperial Diet-they purchased the indebted lordships of Schellenberg in 1699 and Vaduz in 1712. This was a political transaction, not a conquest, and on January 23, 1719, the Principality of Liechtenstein was born, a state created by purchase to satisfy the ambitions of a dynasty that would, for the next 200 years, rule from its palaces in Vienna.
This history delves into the critical moments that forged the modern state. Discover how Liechtenstein shrewdly navigated the Napoleonic Wars to gain full sovereignty in 1806, abolished its army in 1868 to declare permanent neutrality, and survived the economic devastation following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I. The book details the nation's most important strategic decision: its pivotal reorientation away from Austria and towards a customs and monetary union with Switzerland in the early 1920s. This partnership provided the stability that was essential for its survival during the Great Depression and its perilous navigation of World War II, a period that saw the first reigning prince, Franz Joseph II, take up permanent residence in Vaduz Castle.
From the ashes of post-war Europe, Liechtenstein engineered an economic miracle. This book explores the rise of its two great economic pillars: a powerhouse of specialized, high-tech industry led by global champions like Hilti, and a sophisticated center for financial services. It covers the profound social and political developments of the late 20th century, including the long struggle for women's suffrage, and the nation's confident step onto the world stage by joining the United Nations and the European Economic Area. It culminates in the modern era, examining the controversial and assertive reign of Prince Hans-Adam II and the unique 21st-century constitution that grants the monarch significant powers while also affirming the people's right to abolish the monarchy altogether. This is the definitive story of how one of the world's smallest countries became one of its most successful.
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