Liechtenstein

Area: 61.78 mi²Population: 36,925 Government: Liechtenstein has a constitutional monarch as Head of State, and an elected parliament which enacts law. It is also a direct democracy, where voters can propose and enact constitutional amendments and legislation independent of the legislature

After being ruled by various different noble families (Counts of Werdenberg, Sulz, Brandis, Hohenems), Schellenberg and Vaduz were purchased by Prince Johann Adam in 1699 and 1712 respectively. In 1721 they were merged and raised to the status of an Imperial Principality, before becoming a sovereign state in 1806. The 19th century was marked by great poverty that resulted in many people leaving the country, mostly for the USA.

Fürstentum Liechtenstein

Geschichte

Sehenswürdigkeiten

"Für Gott, Fürst und Vaterland"

Liechtenstein developed slowly and remained underdeveloped for many years. The revolution in 1848 did not lead to an immediate change in the situation. It was not until the customs treaty with Austria in 1852 that economic conditions began to improve, with the 1862 constitution bringing about political change by placing for the first time restrictions on the Prince's power to rule.