The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954)(about) |
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Wednesday 27 July 1938
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TINY PRINCIPALY. A Prince of Liechtenstein Dies. VIENNA, July 26.-Prince Franz I, of Liechtenstein, the smallest sovereign principality in the world, wedged in be- tween Austria and Switzerland, died last night, In his 85th year. Prince Franz had no Children, and on March 31 last he renounced the throne in favour of his nephew, Prince Franz Joseph of Liechtenstein. who was born on August 16, 1906, the son of Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and Princess Eliza- beth, former Archduchess of Austria. FRANZ L was born at Schloss Liech tenstein on August 28, 1853. The family, which is Roman Catholic, had lived in Lower Austria and Moravia since the
Late Prince Franz L
Middle Ages. At the beginning of the 18th century through Prince Adam it acquired Schellenburg and Vaduz, which con stitute the Princi pality of Liechten stein. He was also i the founder of the family's famous collection of pic tures in Vienna, which has been steadily added to by a series of
princes with artistic leanings and is now the finest private gallery in the world. Franz L in February, 1929, succeeded his brother Johann IL, who had ruled for over 70 years. He was highly cul tured and keenly interested in art. For a time he was in the diplomatic service of the Dual Monarchy and from 1894 to 1898 was ambassador to Russia. He was an honorary member of the Academy of Sciences at Vienna, where he spent most of the year. In July, 1929, he was sec retly married at night in the parish church of Lains (near Vienna) to Elsa Baroness Guttmann, a member of a rich Austrian banking family. In August he made his formal entry into his capital Vaduz, with his bride, and was welcomed by the 11,000 inhabitants of his realm. Prince Franz declared that he intended to rule in the same kindly spirit as his late brother Johann, who when a big bank fraud involving members of the Government was discovered in August, 1928, dissolved Parliament, had a new one elected and then sent £10,000 to make good the deficit. He renounced the throne on March 31 last. Franz L was the only one of the 44 ruling German princes still left on his throne this year. The others were ousted after the Great War. There is no army in Liechtenstein and only five policemen, and a two-storey building serves at once for the House of Parliament, the Home Office, the seat of all the administrative officials and the State prison. The Diet consists of 15 members. Liechtenstein, which is 15 miles long and 5 broad, lies alongside the Rhine. After the war it broke away from Austria and is now under the Swiss postal and Customs regime. The Ger man Government in March last promised to respect its independence. Such of the cable news on this page as is so headed has appeared in "The Times" and is cabled to Australia by special permission. It should be under stood that the opinions are not those of '"The Times" unless expressly stated to be so.