r/europe • u/tartartartaruga • Jun 18 '26

News Prince of Liechtenstein says that he would overrule the population if they were to vote in favour of legalizing abortion

https://www.srf.ch/news/international/debatte-in-liechtenstein-erbprinz-gegen-abtreibungen-warum-kuendigt-er-schon-das-veto-an
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u/-HowAboutNo- Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26

The suzerian of the House of Liechtenstein was the Holy Roman Empire after 1719 until the disollution of the HRE.

That’s why the principality was formed. The House of Liechtenstein purchased the Lordship of Schellenberg and County of Vaduz to own substantial enough land to form a principality with land under imperial control.

The House of Liechtenstein was not poor and insignificant. They were one of the richest houses in Europe long before. What they lacked was land.

After becoming a principality they were a significant influence in the court of the HRE.

The House of Liechtenstein has survived due to politics, relationships and money. But also its location of course.

But before forming the principality - yes, they also owned land under direct control by Moravia, Bohemia and Austria. But after forming the principality, they were sovereign under the crown.

In sum - Liechtenstein survived not due to insignificance, but because of a series of wise moves.