| Prince ofLiechtenstein | |
|---|---|
| Fürst von und zu Liechtenstein (German) | |
 | |
| Incumbent | |
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| Hans-Adam II since 13 November 1989 | |
| Details | |
| Style | His Serene Highness |
| Heir apparent | Alois |
| First monarch | Karl I |
| Formation | 20 December 1608; 416 years ago (1608-12-20) |
| Residence | Vaduz Castle |
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Legislative |
Elections |
Themonarchy of Liechtenstein is theconstitutional form of government by which ahereditary sovereign reigns as thehead of state ofLiechtenstein. The current monarch is PrinceHans-Adam II.[1] TheHouse of Liechtenstein, after which the sovereign principality was named in 1719, hails fromLiechtenstein Castle inLower 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 strictagnatic primogeniture.
Through the centuries, the dynasty acquired vast swathes of land, predominantly inMoravia,Lower Austria,Silesia, andStyria, though in all cases, these territories were held infief under other more senior feudal lords, particularly under various lines of theHabsburg family, to whom several Liechtenstein princes served as close advisors.[citation needed]
Without any territory heldimmediately from theImperial crown, the Liechtenstein family, althoughnoble, did not qualify for a seat in theDiet of theHoly Roman Empire. By purchase in 1699 and 1712 from the counts ofWaldburg-Zeil-Hohenems of, respectively, the small lordship ofSchellenberg and the county ofVaduz, the Liechtensteins acquired immediate lands within the Holy Roman Empire which made them eligible for elevation to the Imperial Diet. Thereby, on 23 January 1719,Emperor Charles VI decreed Vaduz and Schellenberg were henceforth united and raised to the status of aFürstentum (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 anImperial Estate that the family of wealthy noble Austrian courtiers became a dynasty ofimperial 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 theirAlpine realm only in 1938, afterdissolution of both the Holy Roman Empire andAustria-Hungary.
The prince of Liechtenstein has broad powers, which include the appointment of judges, the dismissal of ministers or government,veto power, and the calling ofreferendums. The2003 referendum was a proposal put forth by Prince Hans-Adam II to revise parts of theConstitution, 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 tosecede 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 fromMario 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 theCouncil 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 a2012 referendum.[4] On 15 August 2004 Prince Hans-Adam II formally delegated most of his sovereign authority (regency) to his son and heir-apparent, theHereditary Prince Alois, as a way of transitioning to a new generation. Formally, Hans-Adam remainshead of state.[5]
The prince receives an untaxed salary of 250,000Swiss francs[6] (234,000euros or 252,000US dollars).
Succession to the Liechtensteiner throne followsagnatic primogeniture, as laid down by thehouse law since 1606.[7]
According to their house law,[8] the monarch bears the titles:
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Media related toLiechtenstein monarchy at Wikimedia Commons