Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein

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Franz I
Prince of Liechtenstein
Reign	February 11, 1929 - July 25, 1938
Born	August 28, 1853(1853-08-28)
Birthplace	Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Died	July 25, 1938 (aged 84)
Place of death	Valtice, Czechoslovakia
Predecessor	Johann II
Successor	Franz Josef II
Consort	Elisabeth von Gutmann
Issue	(none)
Royal House	House of Liechtenstein
Father	Alois II
Mother	Franziska Kinsky

Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein (28 August 1853 - 25 July 1938) was the Prince of Liechtenstein between 1929 and 1938. He was the son of Alois II of Liechtenstein and his wife Countess Franziska Kinsky. Franz succeeded his older brother Johann II, as Prince of Liechtenstein in 1929.

Franz I served as the Austro-Hungarian ambassador at the Court of Tsar Nicholas II in St. Petersburg between 1894 and 1899. As Prince of Liechtenstein, he continued the economic reforms initiated by his brother.

Like his brother Johann II, Franz I had no children. His 1st cousin once removed Prince Aloys was named heir apparent, but Aloys removed himself from the line of succession in favor of his son, Franz Josef, in 1921.

Franz I married Elisabeth von Gutmann, a Jewish woman from Vienna, on July 22, 1929.

In March 1938 the elderly Franz I named Franz Josef the country's regent. Although he cited old age as his reason for abdicating, it is widely believed that it was because he had no desire to be on the throne if Germany invaded his small principality. Franz I died on July 25, 1938, and was formally succeeded by Franz Josef, who became Prince Franz Josef II.

Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein House of Liechtenstein Born: 28 August 1853 Died: 25 July 1938
Regnal titles
Preceded by Johann II	Prince of Liechtenstein 1929 – 1938	Succeeded by Franz Josef II