Liechtensteins

Liechtensteins is a term used for members of the Princely House of Liechtenstein, the ruling dynasty of the European microstate Liechtenstein, or for people bearing the Liechtenstein surname. The house traces its origins to Bohemian and Moravian nobility. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the family acquired the lordships of Vaduz and Schellenberg in present‑day Liechtenstein. In 1719, Emperor Charles VI elevated these lands to the Principality of Liechtenstein for the house, and the family has ruled the state ever since.

The head of the princely house is Prince Hans-Adam II (born 1945). Since 2004, his son, Alois, has acted as regent and head of state, while remaining the heir‑apparent is Hereditary Prince Joseph Wenzel. The principal seat of the dynasty’s activities is Vaduz Castle in Liechtenstein, and the family maintains extensive cultural and charitable programs. The Princely Collections Liechtenstein, one of Europe’s largest private art collections, and the Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna are among the family’s notable cultural holdings.

Economically, the Liechtensteins oversee diversified assets, including ownership of the LGT Group, a private banking and asset‑management firm. This financial foundation has helped support the state’s economy and the family’s philanthropic initiatives. The Liechtensteins have historically used their wealth to promote culture, education, and heritage within Liechtenstein and beyond.

In contemporary contexts, Liechtensteins are primarily associated with the Princely House and its cultural, philanthropic, and economic activities, as well as with the small but prosperous nation they govern. The term thus encapsulates both the dynasty and, at times, people bearing the surname.