Wenzel I Karl, Prince of Liechtenstein (August 9, 1696 – February 10, 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 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 won the next year the important 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, partly 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 heir to 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 at Vienna, without surviving issue, Liechtenstein went to his nephew Franz Joseph I, Prince of Liechtenstein.
Joseph Wenzel married his cousin, Princess Anna Maria Antonie of Liechtenstein (1699–1753), daughter of Anton Florian, in 1718. They had five children, all of whom died in early childhood:
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Joseph Wenzel I, Prince of Liechtenstein
Born: 9 August 1696 Died: 10 February 1772 |
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| Preceded by Hans-Adam I |
Prince of Liechtenstein 1712–1718 |
Succeeded by Anton Florian |
| Preceded by Joseph Johann Adam |
Prince of Liechtenstein 1732–1745 |
Succeeded by Johann Nepomuk Karl |
| Preceded by Johann Nepomuk Karl |
Prince of Liechtenstein 1748–1772 |
Succeeded by Franz Joseph I |