Hans-Adam I, Prince of Liechtenstein

Who was Hans-Adam I, Prince of Liechtenstein?

Hans-Adam I, Prince of Liechtenstein was the son of Karl Eusebius, Prince of Liechtenstein and Johanna Beatrix, Princess von Dietrichstein zu Nikolsburg.

On 18 January 1699 he acquired the seigneury of Schellenberg, and on 22 February 1712 the county of Vaduz. These two domains would later form the present principality of Liechtenstein. He was also Duke of Opava and Krnov.

Johann did not take up an office at the Imperial court but did case-by-case work, especially as a financial expert. He was known informally as Hans Adam the Rich. Besides managing his property, he took a great interest in art. He bought works by Rubens and van Dyck for his collections and was one of the most generous patrons of his time.

Johann created two memorials to himself, a palace in Bankgasse in Vienna and a summer palace in Rossau. He was the 575th Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Austria.