Joseph Wenzel I

Joseph Wenzel I (Josef Wenzel Lorenz; 9 August 1696 – 10 February 1772) was the Prince of Liechtenstein between 1712 and 1718, 1732 and 1745, and 1748 and 1772.

Joseph Wenzel I
Portrait by Hyacinthe Rigaud
Prince of Liechtenstein
Reign	1712–1718 / 1732–1745 / 1748–1772
Predecessor	Hans-Adam I
Successor	Franz Joseph I, Prince of Liechtenstein
Born	(1696-08-09)9 August 1696 Prague
Died	10 February 1772(1772-02-10) (aged 75) Vienna
Burial	Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Brno
Spouse	Princess Anna Maria Antonie of Liechtenstein
Full name Josef Wenzel Lorenz [1]
House	Liechtenstein
Father	Prince Philip Erasmus of Liechtenstein
Mother	Christina Theresa von Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort

Born at Prague, Joseph Wenzel was the eldest son of Prince Philip Erasmus of Liechtenstein (11 September 1664 – 13 January 1704) and Countess Christina Theresa von Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort (12 October 1665 – 14 April 1730). He was a nephew of Anton Florian.

Joseph was primarily a general and was a very successful campaigner. In 1745, he was made Generalissimo in Italy and was victorious the following year at the Battle of Piacenza. In 1753 he was made General Chief Commander in Hungary. In one of the greatest achievements of his career, he reorganised the Habsburg artillery, partially financed out of his own pocket.

From 1735 to 1736, he was Imperial Envoy to Berlin and he was Ambassador to Paris between 1738 and 1741. In 1760, he escorted the future bride of Josef II to Vienna.

Joseph managed to rule Liechtenstein three times. Firstly, in his own right, from 1712–1718. The second time, he ruled as the guardian of Johann Nepomuk Karl between 1732–1745 and the third time as representative of the House of Liechtenstein from 1748–1772.

He was the 698th Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Austria.

When he died in 1772 in Vienna, without surviving issue, Liechtenstein went to his nephew Franz Joseph I, Prince of Liechtenstein.