HISTORY
The Austrian Liechtenstein family
acquired the fiefs of Vaduz and Schellenberg in 1699 and 1713
respectively, and they became an independent principality under
the Holy Roman Empire in 1719 under the name Liechtenstein. The
French under Napoleon occupied the country for a few years, but
Liechtenstein regained its independence in 1815 within the new
German Confederation. In 1868, after the Confederation dissolved,
Liechtenstein disbanded its army of 80 men and declared its permanent
neutrality, which was respected during both World Wars.
In
1919 Liechtenstein entrusted its external relations to neutral
Switzerland. After WWII, Liechtenstein became increasingly important
as a financial center, and the country became more prosperous.
In 1989, Prince Hans Adam II succeeded his father to the throne,
and in 1996, Russia returned the Liechtenstein family's archives,
ending a long-running dispute between the two countries. In 1978,
Liechtenstein became member of the Council of Europe, and then
joined the United Nations in 1990, the European Free Trade Association
(EFTA) in 1991, and both the European Economic Area (EEA) and
World Trade Organization in 1995.
