Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein

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Johann II
Prince of Liechtenstein
Reign	November 12, 1858 - February 11, 1929
Born	October 5, 1840(1840-10-05)
Birthplace	Lednice, Moravia
Died	February 11, 1929 (aged 88)
Place of death	Valtice, Czechoslovakia
Predecessor	Alois II
Successor	Franz I
Consort	(none)
Issue	(none)
Royal House	House of Liechtenstein
Father	Alois II
Mother	Franziska Kinsky

Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein (5 October 1840 – 11 February 1929), also known as 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 longest in European royal history (Louis XIV of France reigned effectively from 1661 to 1715).

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^[1].

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.^[2]

Although considered a prominent patron of the arts and sciences during his long reign^[3], Johann II was also considered to be rather unsociable and did not participate in social events. He never married or had children^[4].

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

[edit] External links

• Liechtenstein Portal

[edit] Notes