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The '''Principality of Liechtenstein''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Liechtenstein.ogg|ˈ|l|ɪ|k|t|ən|s|t|aɪ|n}} {{respell|LIK|tən-styn}}; {{lang-de|Fürstentum Liechtenstein}}, {{IPA-de|ˈfʏʁstn̩tuːm ˈlɪçtn̩ʃtaɪn}}<ref>''Duden Aussprachewörterbuch'', s.v. "Liechtenstein[er]".</ref>) is a [[Landlocked country#Doubly_landlocked_country|doubly landlocked]] [[alpine states|alpine country]] in [[Central Europe]],<ref>http://www.springerlink.com/content/p4308k60457x3n41/</ref> bordered by [[
Liechtenstein is the smallest yet the richest (by measure of GDP per capita) [[German language|German]]-speaking country in the world and the only country to lie entirely within the [[
==History==
{{Main|History of Liechtenstein}}
At one time, the territory was part of the ancient [[Roman Empire|
The [[Princely Family of Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein dynasty]], from which the principality takes its name, comes from [[Castle Liechtenstein]] in Lower Austria, which the family possessed from at least 1140 until the 13th century, and from 1807 onward. Through the centuries, the dynasty acquired vast tracts of land, predominantly in [[Moravia]], [[Lower
[[File:Balzers FL-Burg Gutenberg.JPG|thumb|left|thumb|The castle of Gutenberg in [[Balzers]]]]
The family yearned for the added power a seat in the Imperial government would bring and therefore sought to acquire lands that would be ''unmittelbar'', or held without any feudal personage other than the [[
On 23 January 1719, after the lands had been purchased, [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor]], decreed that Vaduz and Schellenberg were united and elevated the newly formed territory to the dignity of ''Fürstentum'' (''[[principality]]'') with the name "Liechtenstein" in honour of "[his] true servant, [[Anton Florian of Liechtenstein]]". It was on this date that Liechtenstein became a sovereign member state of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. It is a testament to the pure political expediency of the purchases that the Princes of Liechtenstein did not set foot in their new principality for over 120 years.
[[File:Schlossvaduz.jpg|thumb|left|[[
As a result of the [[Napoleonic Wars]], by 1806 much of the Holy Roman Empire was under the effective control of French emperor [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon I]]. When the empire was dissolved, this had broad consequences for Liechtenstein: imperial, legal and political mechanisms broke down. The state ceased to owe obligations to any feudal lord beyond its borders.
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Modern publications generally attribute Liechtenstein's ''sovereignty'' to these events. Its prince ceased to owe obligations to any suzerain. From 25 July 1806 when the [[Confederation of the Rhine]] was founded, the Prince of Liechtenstein was a member, in fact a vassal of its hegemon, styled ''protector'', French Emperor Napoleon I, until the dissolution of the confederation on 19 October 1813.
Soon afterward, Liechtenstein joined the [[German
Then, in 1818, [[Johann I Josef, Prince of Liechtenstein|Johann I]] granted the territory a limited constitution. 1818 also saw the first visit of a member of the house of Liechtenstein, Prince Alois; however, the first visit by a sovereign prince would not occur until 1842.
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