Anton Florian, Prince of Liechtenstein

Anton Florian (28 May 1656 – 11 October 1721) was the Prince of Liechtenstein between 1718 and 1721.

Anton Florian
Prince of Liechtenstein
Reign12 March 1718 – 11 October 1721
PredecessorJoseph Wenzel I
SuccessorJoseph Johann Adam
Born(1656-05-28)28 May 1656
Wilfersdorf, Archduchy of Austria
Died11 October 1721(1721-10-11) (aged 65)
Vienna, Archduchy of Austria
Burial
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Brno
SpouseCountess Eleonore Barbara of Thun-Hohenstein
HouseLiechtenstein
FatherPrince Hartmann III of Liechtenstein
MotherCountess Sidonie Elisabeth of Salm-Reifferscheidt

Anton Florian was born in Wilfersdorf, in what is now Lower Austria. During the War of the Spanish Succession, he went to Spain, where he was the Chief Intendant and Prime Minister of the Archduke Karl, who became Emperor Charles VI after the sudden death of his brother in 1711. Florian returned to Vienna for Charles's coronation. He was the Obersthofmeister (Imperial Chief Intendant) and Chairman of the Secret Council until he died in 1721.

On 23 January 1719,[1] Charles VI created the new principality of Liechtenstein from the domains of Seigneury of Schellenberg and County of Vaduz, which were both held by the Liechtenstein family. This was done so that Anton Florian could be admitted to the Reichstag, which required that all members had land that was subordinate only to the Emperor himself (as opposed to land held in fief by higher nobles). Thus, Anton Florian became the first Prince of Liechtenstein. It is the only monarchy of the Holy Roman Empire that still exists.

Anton Florian was the 591st Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Austria. He died in Vienna in 1721.

Marriage and issue

Anton Florian married Countess Eleonore Barbara Catharina von Thun und Hohenstein (4 May 1661 – 10 February 1723) on 15 October 1679. They had 11 children, most of whom died in early childhood:

References
  1. Principality of Liechtenstein
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