Joseph Wenzel I, Prince of Liechtenstein - Vienna, Austria
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 48° 12.276 E 016° 21.640
33U E 601096 N 5339936
Joseph Wenzel I, was not only a military leader for the Austrian Empire, but he also served as Prince of Liechtenstein on three different occasions.
Waymark Code: WMK3X3
Location: Wien, Austria
Date Posted: 02/08/2014
Views: 16
This sculpture is part of the Maria Theresa Monument in Vienna.
The 1888 Monument has several figures of people important to the Empress' reign. The bronze larger than life statue of Joseph Wenzel I depicts him standing in a long coat, vest cumberbund, boots, medals and a sash. He holds his hat on his left side and a baton? with his right. He appears to be rather young but with a serious countenance. A cannon lies at behind him. The artist is Caspar von Zumbusch.
Below is etched just "LIECHTENSTEIN".
Wikipedia (
visit link) informs us:
"Joseph Wenzel I (Joseph Wenzel Karl; 9 August 1696 – 10 February 1772) was the Prince of Liechtenstein between 1712 and 1718, 1732 and 1745, and 1748 and 1772.
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 to 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 Josef Johann Adam 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."