The Princely House

The Liechtenstein Family is one of the oldest noble families. With Hugo of Liechtenstein, a bearer of this name is first mentioned in 1136.

He called himself after the Liechtenstein Castle, situated to the south of Vienna. The early Liechtenstein owned estates in the surroundings of Stammburg and on the North-Eastern border of Lower Austria. The uninterrupted Liechtenstein line of descent began with Heinrich I of Liechtenstein (died 1265/66), who obtained the Lordship of Nikolsburg in South Moravia as free property.

The acquisition was of great political significance, since the family acquired as a result a substantial possession within the territory of the Wenzel crown.