Editing History of Liechtenstein (section)

==Early modern era==
The area that was to become Liechtenstein was invaded by both [[Austrian Empire|Austrian]] and [[Sweden|Swedish]] troops during the [[Thirty Years' War]] of 1618–1648.<ref name=":10" />  During the 17th century the country was afflicted by a [[Plague (disease)|plague]] and also by the [[Liechtenstein witch trials]], in which more than 100 people were persecuted and executed.

Prince [[Johann Adam Andreas of Liechtenstein]] bought the domain of [[Schellenberg]] in 1699 and the county of [[Vaduz]] in 1712. This Prince of Liechtenstein had wide landholdings in Austria, Bohemia and Moravia, but none of his lands were [[Imperial immediacy|held directly from the Emperor]]. Thus, the prince was barred from entry to the Council of Princes and the prestige and influence that would entail.

By acquiring the Lordships of Schellenberg and Vaduz, modest areas of mountain villages each of which was directly subordinate to the Emperor because there no longer being a [[Duke of Swabia]], the Prince of Liechtenstein achieved his goal. The territory took the name of the family which now ruled it. On 23 January 1719, [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor]], decreed that the counties of Vaduz and Schellenberg be promoted to a principality with the name Liechtenstein for his servant [[Anton Florian of Liechtenstein]] whereby he and his successors became [[Princes of the Holy Roman Empire]]. 

The prince never visited his principality, and the first visit of a sovereign prince to Liechtenstein did not occur until 1842.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Büchel |first1=Donat |last2=Geiger |first2=Peter |author-link2=Peter Geiger |last3=Mayr |first3=Ulrike |last4=Merz |first4=Anna |last5=Niederstätter |first5=Alois |last6=Quaderer |first6=Rupert |author-link6=Rupert Quaderer |date=31 December 2011 |title=Liechtenstein (Land) |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Liechtenstein_(Land)?marker=Liechtenstein |access-date=29 September 2024 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref> Instead, they were represented by the local district office based in Vaduz, consisting of a number of officials, which was regulated by civil service law. It served as the only form of administration in the country until its disbandment in 1848, and was primarily responsible for controlling the country's tax office and reporting significant developments to the prince, who resided in Vienna. Until the end of the 17th century, officials were primarily recruited from neighbouring [[Vorarlberg]], and were paid directly by the prince.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vogt |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Vogt (historian) |date=31 December 2011 |title=Oberamt |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Oberamt |access-date=29 September 2024 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref>