Josef Wenzel, Prince of Liechtenstein

Josef Wenzel Karl, Prince of Liechtenstein (August 9, 1696, Prague - February 10, 1772, Vienna) was a Prince of Liechtenstein between 1748 and 1772.

Josef Wenzel was the eldest son of Prince Philip Erasmus of Liechtenstein (11 September 1664-13 January 1704) and Christina Theresa von Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort (12 October 1665-14 April 1730). He was a nephew of Anton Florian.

Josef was primarily a general and was a very successful campaigner. In 1745, he was made Generalissimo in Italy and won the next year the important Battle of Piacenza. In 1753 he was made General Chief Commander in Hungary. In one of the greatest achievements of his career, he reorganised the Habsburg artillery, partly out of his own pocket.

From 1735 to 1736, he was Imperial Envoy to Berlin and he was Ambassador to Paris between 1738 to 1741. In 1760, he escorted the future bride of Josef II to Vienna.

Josef managed to rule Liechtenstein three times. Firstly, in his own right, from 1712-1718. The second time, he ruled as heir to Josef Johann Adam between 1732-1745 and the third time as representative of the House of Liechtenstein from 1748-1772.

When he died without surviving issue, Liechtenstein went to his nephew Franz Josef I, Prince of Liechtenstein.

Marriage & Issue

Josef Wenzel married his cousin, Princess Anna Maria Antonie of Liechtenstein (1699-1753), daughter of Anton Florian, in 1718. They had five children, all of whom died in early childhood.

*Prince Philipp Anton (1719)
*Prince Philipp Anton (1720)
*Prince Philipp Ernst (1722-1723)
*Princess Maria Elisabeth (1724)
*Princess Marie Alexandra (1727)

External links

* [http://www.liechtenstein.li/en/eliechtenstein_main_sites/portal_fuerstentum_liechtenstein/fl-fueh-fuerstenhaus/fl-fueh-fuersten/fl-fueh-fuersten-josefwenzel.htm Liechtenstein web page biography]