County of Vaduz

The County of Vaduz (German: Grafschaft Vaduz) was a historic state of the Holy Roman Empire, now located in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Its capital was the town of Vaduz.[1]

County of Vaduz

Grafschaft Vaduz
1342 – 1719
Flag
Coat of arms
Map of Liechtenstein highlighting the current
electoral district of Oberland (red),
coextensive with the County of Vaduz
StatusCounty
CapitalVaduz
47.141°N 9.521°E / 47.141; 9.521
Common languagesGerman
GovernmentCounty
Historical eraMiddle Ages
 Subdivision of the County of Werdenberg
1342
 Established
1342
 Acquired by Liechtenstein dynasty
1719
Area
125.2 km2 (48.3 sq mi)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Werdenberg (Holy Roman Empire)
Liechtenstein
Today part of Liechtenstein

Geography

Located south of the Lordship of Schellenberg, its area corresponds to the current electoral district of Oberland (German: Wahlkreis Oberland). The territory included the current municipalities of Balzers, Planken, Schaan, Triesen, Triesenberg and Vaduz.

History

The county was created in 1342, after the subdivision of the County of Werdenberg. In 1396 it was granted the imperial immediacy German: Reichsunmittelbarkeit. After the line of succession of the Counts of Vaduz expired in 1416, the territory was bought in a feud from the Barons of Brandis, which maintained their sovereignty until 1507, when the county passed to the Counts of Sulz, who acquired the northern and bordering Lordship of Schellenberg.

In 1613 both territories, while remaining distinct, were sold to the counts of Hohenems. Ferdinand Karl von Hohenems (1650–1686), for undue appropriation and excessive witch-hunt, was deprived of his dominions in 1684, who returned to the Holy Roman Empire who reassigned them to his brother, the Count Jakob Hannibal (1653–1730). To pay cousin's debts, Hannibal was forced to sell the Lordship (in 1699), and the County (in 1712), to Hans-Adam I, Prince of Liechtenstein.[2][3] With these territories, in 1719 the prince gained from the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI the right to found a single state, the present Principality of Liechtenstein.[4]

See also

References

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