Prince Josef Wenzel   1712 - 1718, 1732 - 1745 und 1748 - 1772

Josef Wenzel (born 1696, died 1772) dedicated himself mainly to the soldier profession. The climaxes of his military career were his promotion as field marshal and as generalissimo in Italy (1745), as well as General Chief Commander in Hungary (1753). The greatest military achievement was the reorganisation of the Austrian artillery system. He provided important parts of his private assets for the development of new cannons. His military career was interrupted several times by diplomatic activities. In 1735/36 he operated as imperial envoy in Berlin. From 1738 to 1741 he was ambassador in Paris. He was the qualified man for these missions, thanks to his voluble and magnificent appearance.

In 1760 he had the honour to "catch up" in Parma with the bride of the future emperor Josef II and to escort her to Vienna. Prince Josef Wenzel reigned the principality thrice: the first time between 1712 and 1718, as heir to Johann Adam I, the second time between 1732 and 1745, as custodian of Prince Johann Nepomuk Karl and the third time from 1748 to 1772 as regent of House Liechtenstein. The most important event for the Principality of Liechtenstein was the partial reintroduction of the so-called countryman constitution in 1733.