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 Liechtenstein has been
continuously inhabited since the New Stone Age. The County of Vaduz was
created in 1342 with a treaty signed at Sargans Castle. In 1719 uniting
Schellenberg and Vaduz created the Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein.
In 1799, the French occupied Liechtenstein - since that time no foreign
soldiers have occupied the land. In 1806, Napoleon conferred sovereign
status on the country. In 1852, a customs treaty was signed with Austria,
which meant that the Austrian currency was used and revenue was gained
from customs duties. In 1868, the first bridges across the Rhine were
built as well as roads leading to the mountain villages of Triesenberg,
Schellenberg and Planken. In 1921, a Postal Treaty with Switzerland was
signed, and 2 years later the Customs Treaty with Switzerland was signed.
In the Second World War, Liechtenstein remained neutral as it had done in
the First and despite being completely without military defences it was
never occupied. In recent years the success of the local industry and
revenue from the many offshore companies registered there have made the
country very wealthy.
 During 1608 in
recognition of faithful services, Karl of Liechtenstein was raised to the
rank of a Prince. Johann Adam of Liechtenstein purchased the Lordship of
Schellenberg in 1699 and the County of Vaduz in 1712.
He required a principality to obtain a seat on the Council of Princes. The
actual date that the Principality of Liechtenstein was formed is the 23rd
January 1719; being the date that Emperor Karl IV decreed that the County
of Vaduz and the Lordship of Schellenberg becomes the immediate Imperial
Principality of Liechtenstein in
acknowledgement of services by Anton Florian of Liechtenstein.
The Constitution of 1921, which is still valid today, determines that the
Principality is a constitutional hereditary monarchy upon democratic
parliamentary basis.
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