Prince Franz Josef of Liechtenstein (Franz Josef Wenceslaus Georg Maria; 19 November 1962 – 28 February 1991), popularly known as Prince Wenzel, was a member of Liechtenstein princely family. He was the youngest son of

Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein Franz Joseph II (Franz Josef Maria Alois Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignaz Benediktus Gerhardus Majella; 16 August 1906 – 13 November 1989) was the reigning Monarchy of Liechtenstein, Prince of Liechtenstein from 25 July 1938 u ...

and his wife, Countess Georgina von Wilczek, and thus younger brother of

Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein Hans-Adam II (Johannes Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marco d'Aviano Pius; born 14 February 1945) is the Prince of Liechtenstein, reigning since 1989. He is the son of Prince Franz Joseph II and his wife, Countess Georgina von Wilczek. He a ...

Biography

He was born on 19 November 1962, as the youngest son of the former reigning Prince

Franz Joseph II Franz Joseph II (Franz Josef Maria Alois Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignaz Benediktus Gerhardus Majella; 16 August 1906 – 13 November 1989) was the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein from 25 July 1938 until his death in November ...

and the youngest brother of the current reigning Prince Hans-Adam II. His mother was Countess Georgina of Wilczek. He was known, familiarly, as "Wenzel". In 1982, he entered the

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS or RMA Sandhurst), commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is one of several military academy, military academies of the United Kingdom and is the British Army's initial Commissioned officer, officer train ...

, and a year later was a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

in the

Grenadier Guards The Grenadier Guards (GREN GDS) is the most senior infantry regiment of the British Army, being at the top of the Infantry Order of Precedence. It can trace its lineage back to 1656 when Lord Wentworth's Regiment was raised in Bruges to protect ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. He then studied

medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...

at the

University of Fribourg The University of Fribourg (; ) is a public university located in Fribourg, Switzerland. The roots of the university can be traced back to 1580, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg ...

and the

University of Zürich The University of Zurich (UZH, ) is a public university, public research university in Zurich, Switzerland. It is the largest university in Switzerland, with its 28,000 enrolled students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of the ...

. He worked as an assistant doctor at the Rorschach Hospital. Despite being from the wealthy

House of Liechtenstein The House of Liechtenstein (), from which the principality takes its name, is the family which reigns by hereditary right over the principality of Liechtenstein. Only Dynasty#Dynast, dynastic members of the family are eligible to inherit the thro ...

, it has been reported that he rejected many of the luxuries presented by the family and instead opted to live a more modest lifestyle. Prince Wenzel died unexpectedly on 28 February 1991 in the guesthouse of

Vaduz Castle Vaduz Castle (German language, German: ''Schloss Vaduz'') is the palace and official residence of the Monarchy of Liechtenstein, Prince of Liechtenstein. The castle gave its name to the town of Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, which it overlo ...

. His exact cause of death is unknown.

Honours

* : Recipient of the 70th Birthday Medal of Prince Franz Joseph II.Military Collection
coleccionesmilitares.com.

Ancestry

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Franz Josef of Liechtenstein, Prince 1962 births 1991 deaths Liechtenstein princes Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst University of Fribourg alumni Liechtenstein Roman Catholics Sons of princes regnant Grenadier Guards officers