The Liechtenstein name comes from the family castle in Mödling, south of Vienna. The Liechtensteins are one of the oldest noble families in Austria and many members have served the monarchy as soldiers, statesmen and advisers. The creation of the imperial principality was in recognition of the family's service to the empire. It was not until 1938 that the family moved to the principality where they are still in residence.
Anton Florian was born in 1656. Prepared since childhood for a political career, he became an Imperial Treasurer in 1676. As a result of his talents and hard work, Anton received the Hungarian right of abode in1687. His political star continued to rise with his appointment to the Privy Council in 1689 and as the first lay person in the position of an extraordinaire emissary to the Papal Court in Rome. The Emperor appointed Aton Florian as ambassador to the Vatican in 1691.
In addition, Anton was young Archduke Karl VI's Chief Chamberlain and supervised his education. Later, during the Spanish War (1703 - 1711), he accompanied the now King Karl III to Spain as his Chief Treasurer and First Minster. While in Spain, Aton earned the tile of a Spanish grandee.
After returning to Vienna, Aton Florian was appointed Chairman of the Council of State while retaining the Chief Treasurer's job. This put him in a position to achieve the dream of his family of becoming Imperial Princes. Then Emperor Karl appointed him and his heirs to The Imperial Council of Princes but in name only as they did not own Princely Immediate properties. This Anton did by acquiring the Imperial counties of Vaduz and Schellenberg in a trade with his nephew Josef Wenzel. In 1719, the Emperor elevated the two counties to the Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein and Anton Florian von Liechtenstein became its first prince.
Prince Anton never visited his princely domain and left its governing in the hands of Commissioner Christopher Harprecht who cared little for the problems of the prince's subjects. Prince Anton himself believed that he rules by the grace of God and tried to deprive the people of their former rights and privileges by abolishing the old feudal system and replacing it with a new structure. The people did not agree with their prince and appealed to the Emperor who reinstated their rights and privileges in 1720. Prince Anton Florian von Liechtenstein passed away in 1721 leaving the small land in turmoil and under the autocratic rule of Prince- appointed commissioners.
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