Anton Florian (28 May 1656 – 11 October 1721) was the
Prince of Liechtenstein
The prince regnant of Liechtenstein (german: Fürst von und zu Liechtenstein) is the monarch and head of state of Liechtenstein.Principality of Liechtenstein Family - Die fürstliche Familie (in German) The Liechtenstein family, after which t ...
between 1718 and 1721.
Anton Florian was born in
Wilfersdorf, in what is now
Lower Austria
Lower Austria (german: Niederösterreich; Austro-Bavarian: ''Niedaöstareich'', ''Niedaestareich'') is one of the nine states of Austria, located in the northeastern corner of the country. Since 1986, the capital of Lower Austria has been Sankt P ...
. During the
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phil ...
, he went to
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
, 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
A brother is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-familia ...
in 1711. Florian returned to
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
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,
Principality of Liechtenstein
/ref> Charles VI created the new principality of Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein (), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: link=no, Fürstentum Liechtenstein), is a German-speaking microstate located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarch ...
from the domains of Seigneury of Schellenberg
Schellenberg is a municipality in the lowland area of Liechtenstein, on the banks of the Rhine. , it has a population of 1,107 and covers an area of
History Early history
The area was first settled by Celts, then by Rhaetians. Rome conquere ...
and County of Vaduz
Vaduz ( or , High Alemannic pronunciation: [])Hans Stricker, Toni Banzer, Herbert Hilbe: ''Liechtensteiner Namenbuch. Die Orts- und Flurnamen des Fürstentums Liechtenstein.'' Band 2: ''Die Namen der Gemeinden Triesenberg, Vaduz, Schaan.'' Hrsg. ...
, 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
The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars.
From the accession of Otto I in 962 ...
that still exists.
Anton Florian was the 591st Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
. He died in Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
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:
* Prince Franz Augustin (1680–1681)
* Princess Eleonore (1681–1682)
* Princess Antonia Maria Eleonore (12 January 1683 – 19 December 1715)
* Prince Karl Joseph Florian (b. and d. 1685)
* Prince Anton Ignaz Joseph (1689–1690)
* Joseph Johann Adam, Prince of Liechtenstein (27 May 1690 – 17 December 1732)
* Prince Innozenz Franz Anton (1693–1707)
* Princess Maria Karoline Anna (23 August 1694 – 16 April 1735)
* Prince Karl Joseph (1697–1704)
* Princess Anna Maria Antonie (1699–1753); married her cousin, Joseph Wenzel I, Prince of Liechtenstein
Josef Wenzel I (Josef Wenzel Lorenz; 9 August 1696 – 10 February 1772), often referred to as just Wenzel, was the Prince of Liechtenstein between 1712 and 1718, and 1748 and 1772, as well as regent of Liechtenstein between 1732 and 1745. He fir ...
* Princess Maria Eleonore (1703 – 18 July 1757); married Count Friedrich August von Harrach-Rohrau
Count Friedrich August von Harrach-Rohrau, (Vienna, 8 June 1696 – Vienna, 4 June 1749), was plenipotentiary minister of the Austrian Netherlands (1732–1741) and became Governor-General ''ad interim'' in 1741–1744.
He was also High Cha ...
References
External links
Princely House of Liechtenstein
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anton Florian, Prince of Liechtenstein
1656 births
1721 deaths
People from Mistelbach District
Princes of Liechtenstein
Knights of the Golden Fleece
18th-century Liechtenstein people
Obersthofmeister