Joseph Wenzel I, Prince of Liechtenstein

Joseph Wenzel I
Prince of Liechtenstein

Portrait of Prince Joseph Wenzel I von Liechtenstein, by the French portraitist Hyacinthe Rigaud
Reign 1712–1718 / 1732–1745 /
1748–1772
Born (1696-08-09)9 August 1696
Prague
Died 10 February 1772(1772-02-10) (aged 75)
Vienna
Burial Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Brno
Spouse Princess Anna Maria Antonie of Liechtenstein
Full name
Josef Wenzel Lorenz [1]
House Liechtenstein
Father Prince Philip Erasmus of Liechtenstein
Mother Christina Theresa von Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort

Joseph Wenzel I (Josef Wenzel Lorenz; 9 August 1696 – 10 February 1772) was the Prince of Liechtenstein between 1712 and 1718, 1732 and 1745, and 1748 and 1772.

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

Joseph was primarily a general and was a very successful campaigner. In 1745, he was made Generalissimo in Italy and was victorious the following year at the 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, partially financed out of his own pocket.

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

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

He was the 698th Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Austria.

When he died in 1772 in Vienna, without surviving issue, Liechtenstein went to his nephew Franz Joseph I, Prince of Liechtenstein.

Marriage and issue

On 19 April 1718 Joseph 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:

Ancestry

References

External links

Joseph Wenzel I, Prince of Liechtenstein
Born: 9 August 1696 Died: 10 February 1772
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Hans-Adam I
Prince of Liechtenstein
17121718
Succeeded by
Anton Florian
Preceded by
Joseph Johann Adam
Prince of Liechtenstein
17321745
Succeeded by
Johann Nepomuk Karl
Preceded by
Johann Nepomuk Karl
Prince of Liechtenstein
17481772
Succeeded by
Franz Joseph I


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