Editing Liechtenstein (section)

=== Principality ===
[[File:Herzogshut Liechtenstein (1).JPG|thumb|left|[[Ducal hat of Liechtenstein]]]]
On 23 January 1719,<ref name="creation">{{Cite web |title=History, creation of Liechtenstein |url=https://www.liechtenstein.li/en/country-and-people/history/creation-of-liechtenstein/ |access-date=1 April 2017 |website=liechtenstein.li |publisher=Liechtenstein Marketing |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310053248/https://www.liechtenstein.li/en/country-and-people/history/creation-of-liechtenstein/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> after the lands had been purchased, [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor]], decreed that Vaduz and Schellenberg were united and elevated the newly formed territory to the dignity of {{lang|de|Reichsfürstentum}} ([[Prince of the Holy Roman Empire|imperial principality]]) with the name "Liechtenstein" in honour of "[his] true servant, [[Anton Florian, Prince of Liechtenstein|Anton Florian of Liechtenstein]]". On this date, Liechtenstein became a [[Landeshoheit|mostly-sovereign]] [[Imperial immediacy|immediate]] member state of the [[Holy Roman Empire]].<ref name="creation" />

By the early 19th century, as a result of the [[Napoleonic Wars]] in Europe, the Holy Roman Empire came under the effective control of France, following the crushing defeat at [[Battle of Austerlitz|Austerlitz]] by [[Napoleon]] in 1805. In 1806, Emperor [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis II]] abdicated and [[dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire|dissolved the Holy Roman Empire]], ending more than 960 years of feudal government. Napoleon reorganized much of the Empire into the [[Confederation of the Rhine]]. This political restructuring had broad consequences for Liechtenstein: the historical imperial, legal, and political institutions had been dissolved. The state ceased to owe an obligation to any feudal lord beyond its borders.<ref name="creation" />

Modern publications generally attribute Liechtenstein's sovereignty to these events. Its prince ceased to owe an obligation to any [[Suzerainty|suzerain]]. From 25 July 1806, when the [[Confederation of the Rhine]] was founded, the Prince of Liechtenstein was a member, in fact a vassal, of its [[hegemon]], styled ''protector'', the French Emperor Napoleon I, until the dissolution of the confederation on 19 October 1813.

Soon afterward, Liechtenstein joined the [[German Confederation]] (20 June 1815{{spaced ndash}}23 August 1866), which was presided over by the [[Emperor of Austria]].

In 1818, [[Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein|Prince Johann I]] granted the territory a limited constitution. In that same year [[Aloys II, Prince of Liechtenstein|Prince Aloys]] became the first member of the House of Liechtenstein to set foot in the principality that bore their name. The next visit would not occur until 1842.

Developments during the 19th century included:
* 1842: the first factory for making ceramics was opened.
* 1861: the Savings and Loans Bank was founded along with the first cotton-weaving mill.
* 1866: the German Confederation was dissolved.
* 1868: the Liechtenstein Army was disbanded for financial reasons.
* 1872: a [[Feldkirch–Buchs railway|railway line]] between Switzerland and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was constructed through Liechtenstein.
* 1886: two bridges over the Rhine to Switzerland were built.

In 1884, [[Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein|Johann II]] appointed [[Carl von In der Maur]], an Austrian aristocrat, to serve as the [[Prime Minister of Liechtenstein|Governor of Liechtenstein]].