Editing History of Liechtenstein (section)

=== Constitution and latter century ===
Like most of Europe at the time, Liechtenstein was subject to the [[German revolutions of 1848–1849]] which caused increased opposition against the absolute monarchy of [[Aloys II, Prince of Liechtenstein|Aloys II]]. The aim of the revolution was to improve the economic and political situation of ordinary citizens in Liechtenstein, primarily fuelled by the worsening economy in the country in the years prior.<ref name=":5223">{{Cite book |last=Rheinberger |first=Rudolf |url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000000453_89/46/ |title=Liechtensteiner Ärzte des 19. Jahrhunderts |date=1991 |publisher=[[Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein]] |volume=89 |location=Vaduz |pages=54–55}}</ref> On 22 March 1848, the people's committee appointed a three-person committee to lead the Liechtenstein revolutionary movement, which included [[Peter Kaiser (historian)|Peter Kaiser]], [[Karl Schädler]] and [[Ludwig Grass]]. Together, they managed to maintain order in Liechtenstein and formed a constitutional council.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Quaderer |first=Rupert |date=31 December 2011 |title=Revolution 1848 |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Revolution_1848 |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref> Liechtenstein was a member of the [[National Assembly in Frankfurt]] until April 1849.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Rheinberger |first=Rudolf |date=31 December 2011 |title=Schädler, Karl (1804–1872) |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Schädler,_Karl_(1804–1872) |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref>

Following the revolution, a constitutional council was elected on 27 July 1848 in response to popular demand from the revolutionaries, of which Schädler was elected as its president. The primary task of the council was the creation the draft for a new Liechtenstein constitution, of which the work was done primarily by him and [[Michael Menzinger]].<ref name=":02" /> As a concession towards the revolution, the district office was disbanded and replaced by a [[District Council (Liechtenstein)|District Council]] that was formed on 7 March 1849 with 24 elected representatives and acted as the first democratic representation in Liechtenstein, with Schädler was elected as District Administrator.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Frommelt |first=Fabian |date=31 December 2011 |title=Landrat |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Landrat |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref> In addition, the title of Landvogt was changed to governor ({{lang|de|Landesverweser}}) with Menzinger continuing in the role.<ref name=":17" />

After the failure of the German revolutions, Aloys II once again instated absolute power over Liechtenstein on 20 July 1852 and disbanded the district council.<ref name=":6" /> However, calls for a new constitution once again appeared early in the reign of [[Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein|Johann II]] and the constitutional council was reformed again led by Karl Schädler, once again tasked with drafting a new constitution, of which, similarly to 1848, he did most of the work.<ref name=":02" /> The draft was reviewed by an unknown German legal expert and formed the basis of the [[1862 Constitution of Liechtenstein]], which was ratified on 26 September.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Wille |first=Herbert |date=31 December 2011 |title=Verfassung |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Verfassung |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref><ref name=":44">{{Cite book |last=Beattie |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mBnZwAEACAAJ |title=Liechtenstein: A Modern History |date=4 September 2004 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-1-85043-459-7 |language=en}}</ref> It was heavily inspired by the constitution of [[Vorarlberg]] and largely addressed the demands of the revolutionaries in Liechtenstein.<ref name=":02" /> This constitution established civil liberties in the country and formed the [[Landtag of Liechtenstein]] for the first time.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":44" />
[[File:Liechtenstein veterans association 1896.jpg|thumb|The Liechtenstein veterans association in 1896, showing the remaining soldiers of the army that was disestablished in 1868.]]
During the [[Austro-Prussian War]] of 1866, Prince Johann II placed his soldiers at the disposal of the Confederation but only to “defend the German territory of Tyrol”.<ref name=":9" /> However, the Landtag had not been consulted regarding the deployment and the war was unpopular among the population, as such it faced resistance from the Landtag.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":52242">{{Cite book |last=Rheinberger |first=Rudolf |url=https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000000453_89/46/ |title=Liechtensteiner Ärzte des 19. Jahrhunderts |publisher=[[Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein]] |year=1991 |volume=89 |location=Vaduz |pages=75}}</ref> As a result, Johann II promised a loan to the country and refused to have his men fight against other Germans.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Quaderer |first=Rupert |author-link=Rupert Quaderer |date=31 December 2011 |title=Preussisch-Österreichischer Krieg |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Preussisch-Österreichischer_Krieg |access-date=22 February 2024 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref> The Liechtenstein contingent took up position on the [[Stilfser Joch]] under the command of [[Peter Rheinberger]] in the south of Liechtenstein to defend the Liechtenstein/Austrian border against attacks by the Italians under Garibaldi. A reserve of 20 men remained in Liechtenstein at Vaduz Castle. When the war ended on 22 July, the army of Liechtenstein marched home to a ceremonial welcome in Vaduz. Popular legend claims that 80 men went to war, but 81 came back. It is disputed who the additional person was: An Austrian [[liaison officer]] may have joined up with the contingent on the way back, but it has also been claimed that the man was an Italian farmer.<ref name=":9">{{cite journal |last1=Ospelt |first1=Joseph |date=1924 |title=Der 1866er Feldzug fürstlich leichtensteinischen Bundeskontingentes |journal=Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein |volume=24 |url=https://eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/toc/000056281/1/ |access-date=20 December 2023}}</ref>

The German Confederation dissolved in 1866. In combination with its unpopularity among the population and the rising cost to maintain it, Liechtenstein disbanded its army of 80 men on 12 February 1868 and declared its permanent [[Neutrality (international relations)|neutrality]], neither joining the new [[German Empire]] in 1871, nor the [[Austrian Empire]].<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":5" /> In 1893, former soldiers of the Liechtenstein army founded a veterans association, which had 141 members in 1896. Its last surviving member, [[Andreas Kieber]], died in 1939, aged 94 years old.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last1=Frommelt |first1=Fabian |last2=Rupert |first2=Quaderer |author-link2=Rupert Quaderer |date=31 December 2011 |title=Militär |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Militär |access-date=23 February 2024 |website=[[Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein]] |language=de}}</ref> This neutrality was respected during both World Wars, and ultimately would allow the country to avoid the fate of the other German monarchies.