Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein

Infobox_Monarch | name =Johann II
title =Prince of Liechtenstein


caption =
reign =November 12, 1858 - February 11, 1929
coronation =
predecessor =Alois II
successor =Franz I
consort =(none)
issue =(none)
royal house =House of Liechtenstein
father =Alois II
mother =Franziska Kinsky
date of birth =birth date|1840|10|5|mf=y
place of birth =Lednice, Moravia
date of death =death date and age|1929|2|11|1840|10|5|mf=y
place of death =Valtice, Czechoslovakia
buried =|

Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein (5 October 1840 – 11 February 1929), aka Johann II der Gute or Johann II the Good, was Prince of Liechtenstein between 1858 and 1929. His reign of 70 years, 3 months is the second longest in European royal history after that of Louis XIV of France.

Johann II was the son of Alois II of Liechtenstein and Countess Franziska Kinsky. He ascended to the throne shortly after his 18th birthday, and as such his reign is the longest precisely documented tenure of any monarch since antiquity in which a regent was never employed [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Liechtenstein.htm Worldstatesmen.org - Liechtenstein] Accessed 16 December 2007] .

In 1862 and again in 1921, Johann II issued constitutions granting considerable political rights to common Liechtensteiners, the latter making the principality a constitutional monarchy. Johann II somewhat cooled relations with Liechtenstein's traditional ally, Austria-Hungary and its successor states, to forge closer relations with Switzerland, particularly after World War I. Late in Johann's reign, in 1924 the Swiss franc became Liechtenstein's official currency. [http://www.welcome.li/liechtenstein.html Welcome.li Yellow Pages of Liechtenstein] Accessed 16 December 2007]

Although considered a prominent patron of the arts and sciences during his long reign [http://www.liechtenstein.li/en/eliechtenstein_main_sites/portal_fuerstentum_liechtenstein/fl-fueh-fuerstenhaus/fl-fueh-fuersten/fl-fueh-fuersten-johann2.htm Portal of the Principality of Liechtenstein - Princely House - Prince Johann II] Accessed 16 December 2007] , Johann II was also considered to be rather unsociable and did not participate in social events. He never married or had children [http://www.fuerstenhaus.li/en/fuerstenhaus/fuersten/fuerst_johann_2.html Prince Johann II] Accessed 16 December 2007] .

Upon his death in 1929, Johann II was succeeded by his brother Franz I.

External links

* [http://www.liechtenstein.li/en/eliechtenstein_main_sites/portal_fuerstentum_liechtenstein/fl-fueh-fuerstenhaus/fl-fueh-fuersten/fl-fueh-fuersten-johann2.htm Liechtenstein Portal]

Notes