Liechtenstein: Europe’s Last Absolute Monarchy
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- Опубликовано: 7 июн 2024
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Credits:
Host - Simon Whistler
Author - Morris M.
Producer - Jennifer Da Silva
Executive Producer - Shell Harris
Business inquiries to admin@toptenz.net
Sources:
Interesting overview, lots of good facts: www.1843magazine.com/travel/l...
Very detailed online resource (in German only, but available here via Google Translate): translate.google.com/translat...
Britannica: www.britannica.com/place/Liec...
BBC: www.bbc.com/news/world-europe...
Liechtenstein’s official website, including history: www.liechtenstein.li/en/count...
Some pre-history: www.liechtensteinusa.org/page/...
War of the First Coalition: www.thoughtco.com/french-revo...
Confederation of the Rhine: www.napoleon.org/en/history-o...
1809 uprising: translate.googleusercontent.c...
1831 Riots: translate.googleusercontent.c...
WWI: translate.googleusercontent.c...
Rotterdam murders: translate.googleusercontent.c...
WWII: translate.googleusercontent.c...
Liechtenstein Czech dispute: www.dw.com/en/liechtenstein-p...
Money laundering: www.theguardian.com/business/...
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Could you do one about the GLORIOUS grand duchy of Luxembourg?
@@luxembourgishempire2826 et go home yes
Hey their close to Austria huh??? Do a lot of kangaroos cross over??? Why dont Aboriginal people go thete and get away from all the poisonous animals???
They have one of the highest quality of life in world.
Austria did not get "dragged" into WWI. Austria started WWI.
Imagine if Lichtenstein actually took the Tsar up on his offer of Alaska. That would be the weirdest country in the world, just one little valley and also all of Alaska
Like Denmark and Greenland?
Closest real world analog I could think of.
EireHammer denmark is more than just a valley
EireHammer but Denmark is still connected to Faroe and Greenland by sea, while Liechtenstein is absolutely landlocked.
I'm sure they would have slapped 10% on it then sold it over to America haha
The Tsar was the original border gore artist
Some of the funniest stories of modern history is the couple times Switzerland accidentally invaded Lichtenstein and then promptly apologized for the invasion.
It happened a few times right? During military maneuvers, I was told...
If I recall. The area in question has the most convoluted border than any human is able to understand. In turn, the soldiers in question. Made a wrong turn, accidently crossed the border with in a military vehicle, and yet returned a few moments later. All because this border issue.
@@flavio_spqr I believe there have been 3 accidental land invasions and 2 accidental bombardments lol no one has ever been injured or killed but the Swiss did start a forest fire which they helped put out and compensated Lichtenstein for.
@@Qardo The three times I read about were soldiers doing exercises and getting lost. If you goggle Switzerland and Lichtenstein there's a wiki page on their relations.
the respond from LI was: no problem, those things happen....
“Europe’s Last Absolute Monarchy.”
The Pope: “Am I a joke to you?”
Eh... an intrinsic feature of monarchies is the ability of the leader to pass on land(s) and title(s) down through his bloodline to a successor within his family. Or if the bloodline fails, the ability to pass those lands and titles to a close relative. The Papacy falls outside of that definition. But you are close in a sense; the party is the last surviving bishopric state, a state lead by a bishop. The Bishop of Rome. Back in the medieval period bishops were known to lead their own independent states. Cologne was one such example, but there were others. But the rise of kings and the rise of nation-states gradually resulted in the bishopric states being annexed and lost. With exception to the Vatican.
More of a theocracy. Plus, the title of Pope is an elected title.
@@koderamerikaner5147 The Pope being elected doesn’t change the fact he still has absolute power inside the Vatican.
Also, theocratic monarchies are thing, you know. They’re not mutually exclusive.
@@perun6318 It's still a theocracy. That's the whole point of the Vatican. The Pope is the religious leader.
@@koderamerikaner5147 …so what? There were plenty of monarchies were the monarch was also the religious leader. That didn’t make them any less of a monarchy.
Austria: "resistance is futile! You will be assimilated". Liechtenstein: "Hold my beer". Austria: "They have beer!"
LOL This was easily one of my favourite comments ever.
Hahaha
That's a cute story that the whole of Liechtenstein army went off to war and all came back plus one more because they made a friend.
The 1 more was an Italian Hiker
That's how wars should be fought, the army that makes the most friends wins.
🤣😂🤣
It’s good to make friends 😎
I know I told my mom and she was like "HUH??!"
I have relatives who came to the US from Liechtenstein. I recall when we were kids my younger sister wrote a letter to Prince Franz Josef II and got a response which included a book about Liechtensteiners who emigrated to the United States. Though it was in German we did find the names of some relatives. :) I've visited twice. Boring yes, but quite beautiful.
That's an amazing story! I've heard a lot of great things about Franz Joseph II.
That sounds cool. I bet being a Liechentenstein Royal is sweet as shit. Rich enough to go anywhere and do anything but humble and not as uppity as other Royal Families cough*britain*cough
My boyfriend was born in Vaduz Liechtenstein and spent his early childhood there. He always describes it as a peaceful place that he'll love to visit again. The funniest thing about this is that every time he tells people where he's from they all give him the blank stare, we live in Europe and no one has a clue what Liechtenstein is and where it is. Whenever he has to show documents, he's asked to clarify where he's from and he always recites this "Liechtenstein, a small independent principality next to Switzerland. That's what FL stands for on my documents". It has become a bit of an inside joke.
Why FL though?
@@nekomochi486 FL -> Fürstentum Liechtenstein -> Principality (of) Liechtenstein.
Wow he’s quite lucky, I’m born in Austria, it’s more common to be born German, but I know plenty of Swizz, none of them really born there and being from Liechtenstein is even more rare (especially because I really love the country and it’s even more of a rarity to be born there or even be a citizen).
I recently had the pleasure of spending some time in Lichtenstein, and it was incredible! I met a local business owner named Adrian and he was one of the friendliest people I've ever met in my travels. The country is also spectacularly beautiful, nestled in the Alps with the Rhine running along its border. It is a small country, but it packs quite a punch when it comes to tourism.
Pretty sure you met THE local business owner named Adrian.
Tourist: I thought you were going to drive through Lichtenstein?
Bus Driver: I did, you blinked.😕
Here, have one less known fun fact: One of the local bus lines in Liechtenstein actually extends into both Austria and Switzerland. It will be over an hour across, though (and cost you almost $9).
That's pretty much what happened to me. I was trying to get to the centre of Vaduz and asked someone for directions. He told me just a little further down. I drove another 5 minutes or so, got to a McDonald's and asked someone there where their downtown was. Apparently, I drove straight past without realizing it. The place is a glorified village.
@@ThisHandleWasTheOnly1Available I visited the country and Vaduz in 1988 and it was a very tiny place. I remember that there was a goat on a rooftop. And they had a nice public loo that resembled a space ship.
@@ThisHandleWasTheOnly1Available has a nice castle though
Never been there but I’ve been to Monaco. Kind of weird-when you’re getting a good view of it, you can look from one side of the principality to the other, literally. The only way they have a “growing” is building out into the Sea, which of course they’ve done, some.
Have to add the obligatory "Liechtenstein and Haiti used to have the same flags, and didn't know it until the Olympics!" comment 😂
@Simon Justicier why Does Haiti have a miletary
@Simon Justicier Thanks for the morality lecture, now let the rest of us go in with actually living...
@@chozer1 it’s how they got rid of France
@@index.00874 So why are you reading the comments?
Ironic since one is one of the best places to live and the other among the worst
Liechtenstein is like a real life mythical kingdom. Even it’s name sounds mythical.
that's what i thought! it's like a kingdom from fairy tales, the last of such places to exist in the modern world
1:40 - Chapter 1 - The secret country
5:25 - Chapter 2 - A changing world
9:05 - Mid roll ads
10:40 - Chapter 3 - Napoleon ashes
13:55 - Chapter 4 - Broken dreams
17:10 - Chapter 5 - In the shadow of empire
20:40 - Chapter 6 - The modern state
I'm from Liechtenstein and even so it is a monarchy, we have also a direct democracy like switzerland. So the people can vote about law changes, if there are enough signatures(1000 🤣) or can implement that a law should be changed. (For changes in the constitution it is 1500). And we have also the possibility to get rid of our prince, if we have enough votes, but in the moment most people are happy with him and with our special government form so it won't happen soon.
thanks for the interesting videos and this was a nice refresher about our history
How are you going to get 1000 signatures in such a tiny country? 😏😉
Whats the spoken lango?
@@jessmith7324 German
I just wanted to say "Hello" to a friendly Liechensteiner….? Is that correct, or am I completely off? I'm a United Statesien….lol.... yeah, more commonly called, "American."
@@arnaudvanderlinden4459 actually, it's somewhat a mixture of swiss and austrian dialect which is quite different to standard german. most germans cannot understand it except from people from the southern Bundesländer such as Bavaria.
The capital is so strange. We went there on vacation on a weekend. No one was around. It was a ghost town because people commute in to work and so few people live there.
An introvert's paradise
Would live there if I could pick up a Girl friend if she waa a royal and then got married. Ha. My mistake. Might never ever that happen. That is like 1 in a gazillion chance of that ever happening.
@36 Freeze Like I said. It wouldn't happen under ordinary circumstances. Thanks.
Yea same Ghost town
@36 Freeze when your comment is probably the only reason the guy you told to shut up didn't stop posting.
“WELCOME TO THE OLDEST MONARCHY SERVER IN EUROPE”
2 builders 2 dentures
@@thekingoflordagames3517 yes
Why do I still hear his voice lol
Oh my god 😭🤣
I live maybe 45 minutes from Liechtenstein in a small swiss state capital of about 90k people but im pretty sure that's more people than Liechstenstein has in their entire country. Its very beautiful, rural looking. Pretty much what you would expect from a country lying between Austria and Switzerland. Its so small you can visit 3 countries (liechtenstein, switzerland, austria) within like 2 hours by car.
And in the USA, you can drive for two days and stay in the same state.
Europe's Last Absolute Monarchy?
Tell that to my household.
Keep quiet, pesant!
😉
Lol
Keeep Quiet My Peasant
🤣
Laughs in Megan and hairy
The World: "Let's make history!"
Liechtenstein: "Let's see what happens."
"So yeah, uh, let's just this by ear. What could go wrong?"
Funny thing is the US pretty much had the same attitude during Isolationism.
Owain Shebbeare The US should go back to that
@@WTF-vv8ic
The MIC doesn't want USA isolationism
Imagine if Lichtenstein actually got Alaska, and how rich they would be now off the oil money.
No it was probably just where the deal between the usa and russia took place
that probably would have been the most improbable of improbabilities in this world: Liechtenstein owning Alaska!......The cosmos has a sick sense of humor.
Yea. At the time of sale Alaska was seen as a wasteland only known for some gold, furs, and snow. Even the US didn't really want it and it was declared a folly. Later they found even more gold and both rich oil and natural gas worth many billions.
Traveled widely throughout Europe. On the way from Swiss to Bavaria, I pulled off autobahn into tiny Liechtenstein which is the size of a small town or neighborhood. I liked the valley, and it looked like about 30,000 people lived there. It reminded me of Innsbruck in that it seemed to often get alpine clouds.
Microstates are truly fascinating. You have to respect the sheer level of adaptability and diplomacy to survive when being so disadvantaged centered amongst competitive larger nations. Especially considering the wealth they accumulated in such a tiny concentration, they were always an easy target but through the aforementioned qualities they persevered.
*Diplomacy is the velvet glove that cloaks the fist of power.*
Robin Hobb
Force is the final arbiter.
I agree, impressive through a windfall or two and some crafty diplomacy for thier state to exist to this day. Reminds me of Switzerland in WW2.
Ehhh something has to be iffy about this country. GDP of 5,3 billion on a population of
@@NLTops Smart, very very smart people who knows their best interests and were able to regain a status as independent nation during the worst times in the european history with population less than a full division.
@@venge1894 "Force is the final arbiter"- the very existence of those guys is kind of contradictory to this statement isnt. By the way Switzerland as military objectives to say the Vermacht was a true giant compare to Leichtenstein. Tangling with Switzerland would make even the invasion of France impossible or at least would give ample time to the french to mobilize and repeat WWI.
@@HgHg-yp6ft A country with barely any natural resources the size of a postage stamp having the highest GDP per capita has nothing to do with "people knowing their best interests". It's all about connections and dirty ways to make money.
Today, Lichtenstein's economy is heavily reliant on the power tools manufacturer Hilti, which was founded there and is the largest company in their country.
Always thought hilti is swiss
Hey, hilti makes good shit.
Hilti is some of the best gear on earth
Largest by what? not by number of employees in Liechtenstein, not by tax contributions. Also, no.... Liechtenstein is pretty much solely reliant on its stable financial situation. If this country would be in debt, it wouldn’t exist anymore. (plus, the banking industry wouldn’t exist anymore). Who’s gonna give a microstate like Liechtenstein money in the hopes that one day they’ll get it back?
@@theq5762: Well, it would be less of a loss than giving it to, I don't know, say, the state of New York.
It’s Amazing how you can make something so interesting out of a tiny speck in our history.
Thanks for taking us along !!
Great job on the video👍🏻
When you're so small, that one of the biggest strategy games forgets that you even exist
Hoi4
They had a good TV series though - "Game of Throne."
Some mods add it. But it ends up being like 10 times its actual size.
Sir Ulrich, one of Europe's bravest and most chivalrous knight to have ever lived, hailed from Lichtenstein.
Aaah. A man who changed his stars.
@@barbarakrusen7777 You have been weighed.
@@duelingsora You have been measured.
@@cameronjohnston7389 Faith in humanity restored. 🖖
Wow lol didn’t know that one I guess you always learn something new about your country
Everyone "Size matters"
Europe "Hold my Liechenstein"
Thank you. Your efforts and content bring me joy and peace.
He's blonde, he's cute, he wears an amour suit
Lichtenstein, Lichtenstein, Leichtenstein.
He's hot, he's strong, his winning streak is long
Lichtenstein, Lichtenstein, Leichtenstein.
He's smart, he's funny, he makes a lot of money
Lichtenstein, Lichtenstein, Leichtenstein.
He's quick, he's mad, he comes from Gelderland
Lichtenstein, Lichtenstein, Leichtenstein.
He's hot, he's pissed, he'll see you in the lists
Lichtenstein, Lichtenstein, Leichtenstein.
PERFECTION
Totally underrated movie. And totally underrated performance from Alan Tudyk
Great movie!
I will never not sing that song whenever I see it.
Sir Ulric Von Leichtenstein!
RIP Heath Ledger
Lichtenstein is an adorably beautiful spot. I love venturing there from my home country Germany every now and then.
Do You live near it? In Baden or Bavaria or in one of the far away northern states. Im in the Netherlands would like to visit Leichenstein but the distance discourages me.
HP Fan Visited from the US, would highly recommend, it’s a quaint little place
HP Fan same here xD
@@ShadyAli17 I visited from South Africa. The people are extremely friendly and generous. It is like a friendly version of Switzerland.
@The Snowman You go there for quite a Va-doozy?
I never knew until today that it was my lifelong dream to live in Liechtenstein.
Amen to That!!! 🤠👍
Love how funny and well versed you are when talking about your subject matter
When the second in line to the throne becomes Prince of Liechtenstein he will also likely be the "rightful" King of the UK going by the Jacobite succession where he is curently third in line
So no claim at all 😂
The Staurts have no claim to the UK because Parliament basically made it THE LAW that the Hannover/Saxe-Coburg-Gotha line (The Windsors) are the legal rulers of the UK.
Besides, we have enough annoying pretenders in the USA 🇺🇸 anyway! For example, my ancestors used to rule a backwards German Kingdom in the North of Germany 🇩🇪 that's gone! I have some cousins to thank for decades of misrule. Better here in the USA, not looking back.
@@christianfreedom-seeker934 Welcome to the club of german ex-royalty....
Let's be honest, who does a better job - UK's democratically elected politicans or Liechtensteins absolute monarch?
A video on 'Mont Saint Michel' would be really interesting. It's a very impressive French Monastery/Castle/Town/Island that looks like something out of fantasy. It would make a great thumbnail as well and it has some great history.
Ohh, that's a good one to do.
Oooh I went there it’s so cool there.
Simon has made so many vids on so many channels over the years that I believe I’ve already seen him mention Mont Michel in atleast 5 of them lol
Thanks for a interesting history lesson. I've been to Liechtenstein. I had heard of it as a stamp collector so was delighted to actually go there. I hope they are open to the changes that are coming
I actually went to Malvern College (same school as Prince Joseph Wenzel and Georg of Liechtenstein and they were actually very nice people). They had fantastic national pride for such a small country 😅
I actually met a prince and princess from lichtenstein, they seemed pretty down to earth
Love this channel so much!
Great video. Thanks!
My family and I stayed overnight in Vaduz while driving through the Alps last spring. While it was perfectly clean and friendly and picturesque (and really, REALLY expensive), I can count on one hand the number of actual people we saw out in public. No offense is intended, but it just felt - well - a little creepy.
Yep tourism is their primary industry
Maybe it was an day for the national football club?
“I’m going to create a beautiful country that will be known for its...Dentures!”
I'll create a small nation called the Independent State of Bob
all hail Bob
Bob is king
Bob is great
all hail Bob
Praise Bob
---
@@darthXreven Republic of Dave
@@Legitpenguins99 pretty much what I was referencing lolz
lol Dentures = Lickin' stones.
@@humboldthammer ifr yer teefers are stones you gots problemz sun.....
ugh, sorry, never doing that again...
Was blessed to visit this beautiful country during the 80's on my month long "hike" through Europe w/friend. Absolutely loved the people and the country side. So refreshing to hear more history of this amazing place. Today, I could live there for sure, no doubt!
This was fascinating. Enjoyed every second of it.
18:50 I'm sure the Russians and Liechtenstein were kicking themselves in 1896 when the Yukon Gold Rush started, and were kicking themselves again when the North Slope oil fields went online in the 1960s.
Liechtenstein maybe, but Russia has half of the world's resources of just about everything.
@@krashd I would rather say the opposite. Seeing US-Russian relations during the cold war. They must have regreted that.
Now about Liechtenstein if they had accepted, it would have made of them a much more attractive nation to submit before WW II. A bit like San Marino, their "smallness" and "unremarkableness" have preserved their independance.
At the time, everyone thought that Alaska was a frozen wasteland with no natural resources apart from furs. I also heard the Russians saw what had happened to Mexico and though they'd better sell it to the Americans before they came up, invaded and took it anyway. Liechtenstein would have probably come to the same decision.
Did Simon just say "brown nosing like pigs looking for butt truffles"?? Lmao
With a straight face too.
I was about to ask the same question.....
Gonna remember that line next time my manager is having kittens over a visit from Corporate...😎
Describes the Republican't party with their noses up Donny Boy's ass perfectly.
His jokes are quite witty. He made about 20 of them in this video alone.
I've been there. It was years ago but it left a wonderful impression. Friendly people, quiet streets.
Could you imagine that you are in school, then all of a sudden the teacher stop dead subject to advertise a web service then proceeds to give each student a coupon for said services?
At first this sounded funny in my head. But reading it makes it seem like a great idea. Lol
I spent the night in Liechtenstein once. At a smokey hotel near the train station on my way into Austria. I also lived in Alaska for 22 years. The idea of an Liechtensteiner Alaska is fascinating. They might have acquired a lot of land, but not that many people.
Kind of Like Denmark and Greenland in the People to land sense.
simon is the perfect presenter. he's also often hilarious.
Brilliant video, thank you.
Fascinating! Many thanks.
My hometown is larger than Lichtenstein and nobody’s ever heard of it.
Duval?
Liechtenstein
Not even the residents?
Ely
Pablo Beach minnesota. I have family up there and I go up to the boundary waters often
Another drinking game for this video: Take a shot every time he says "Lichtenstein". By the end, you'll be giggling at how many times it sounds like he's saying something got "licked & shined".
You realize you are contributing to the delinquency of delinquents, right?
You mean alcohol poisoning ? As someone working with drug users, this is more stupid, than that boy who overdosed himself and his friends with nutmeg. LSD would be safer or bromazepam 1mg pills.
It's spelled Liechtenstein.
Fabulous video!!! Love listening to you!!!! Thank you!!!!!
Liechtenstein: I came to sue you again!
Czechia: ... Who the hell are you?
It is not exactly true for Liechtenstein to Be called Europes last monarchy. Vaticancity is also an absolute monarchy (by election, but also absolute)
Probably more accurate to say Europe’s last hereditary absolute monarchy
It's technically a theocracy, since the "monarch" is the Pope.
MercBandit I See your point, but it is also possible to define a theocracy with the lable dictature, monarchy, democracy, autocracy, etc. f.e. the Evangelical Lutheran churches of Germany have as their mightiest body a parliament and can be defined as democracy, while the Catholic Church is a monarchy
The Pope also holds the title King of the Vatican
@@mercbandit monarchy and theocracy are not mutually exclusive. You could have a theoceacy (government dedicated to a religion) ruled as a monarchy, an oligarchy, a republic, etc.
You misunderstood how the feudal thing works so you made a mistake when you said the house didn’t own any land “outright.” What actually happened is this: their possessions were fiefs under other lords who were then under the emperor. To get a seat at the table they needed to be a direct vassal of the emperor. The emperors vassals got a seat at the table. So they needed land that came with the correct vassal-hood.
In any case, those land titles owed fealty to a higher lord. All their other lands had at least one lord between them and the emperor. So there was no difference in how “outright” they owned the land, just whose fealty came with it.
I think that is exactly what he meant by outright and how I understood it.
Great show!
I absolutely love your channel. History, science, lore... Its all so brilliant
Fun fact! The term "factoid" was coined in 1973 by American writer Norman Mailer to mean a piece of information that becomes accepted as a fact even though it is not actually true, or an invented fact believed to be true because it appears in print. Since its creation in 1973, the term has evolved, now often being used to describe a brief or trivial item of news or information.
Bruh my teacher would get heated when ppl used factoid wrong, she may get u watch out
I love when the 81 Soldiers story is brought up
incredible video!!! you deserve way more subs
Very interesting. Thank you.
It's a good day, or night....when you get a notification about a new video from you lot! 😁🙌🏻
Luxembourg next then? 😉
Except Liechtenstein is not Europe's last absolute monarchy, because: 1. It's not an absolute monarchy, it's a constitutional monarchy 2. Vatican is an (elective) absolute monarchy and the actual last absolute monarchy in Europe.
Epic video bro👍
Thank you Simon for this excellent video of one of my favorite countries.
I'm adding Lichtenstein to my vacation list.
Also, please do a video on the Grand Guignol theater.
Put swizzerland or austria up there too. Im from Liechtenstein and if you visit the whole county it would need about 1-2days its not that interesting. Insider tip: if you like walking or castle ruins i would recomend you the ruins of Schellenber. „Schellenberger Burgruine“
I requested this 🙂
For such a small country it has a massive history
I enjoy this channel so much! This narrator could do a full length documentary about anything and I'd stop everything to watch all of it.
Fantastic summary
Nice video! Only Monaco left to cover among Europes city states. Quite alot of quirky history in the mediterranian principality.
I have also heard their national anthem is "We Will Rock You" by Queen.
Rocking sounds even more inappropriate than stoning.
Seems accurate considering Wembley’s 86 Queen concert is *DOUBLE* the size of the population
Yep, I can confirm. They've got a decent national dance too.
The script on this is great!!!
I love this channel, and biographics
Malbun, Liechtenstein is one of my favorite places in Europe!
0:46 Bold of you to assume that Great Britain didn't copy the Prussian "Heil Dir Im Siegerkranz" which became the Imperial German Anthem after it's unification.
No they just copied france's god bless the king which was created wayyy before.
You all just are copycats
@@evryatis2853 I thought Handel wrote the melody that became both God Save the King and Deutchland Uber Alles?
Absolutely fascinating! Thank you for the short but spectacular history lesson. Bravo 👏 bravo👏
Oh thank you. You kept your hands on your lap. What a wonderful story, told and enjoyed.
I'm almost never this early. I love your videos! Please make one about Akhenaten!
Go look on the biographics channel. I'm fairly certain it's been done
Im from Liechtenstein and i have to say, this video was a great refreshing of out history. I also learned a few new things that they didnt teache us in school. Personally i find the thing with Pablo Escobar pretty funny and have to tell all my friends about it😂.
nice vid, am from liechtenstein and really enjoyed it!
Funny and brilliant. Thanks!
sending 80 soldiers to war and 81 returned /// brilliant
I really, really wish this video had existed back in 1998, would have gotten me an A on a History project of random European countries when I got shafted with Liechtenstien. "uh, they make chocolate and are really small" I made an 82.
Good episode.
Fascinating!
I've been through Lichtenstein as part of a trip sponsored by Bowling Green State University in Ohio. I was part of a high school choir as one of 150 singers chosen from all over Ohio, called The Ohio Ambassadors of Music. There was also a 150 person high school band. We were also very fortunate in that we were the last European Ambassadors from the US; we went to Europe during the summer of 2001, and then 9/11 happened, so they changed course and now only travel in the USA. Anyway, it was 20 days, and although we made many stops for attractions, our destinations for performances were, in order, London and Windsor, in GB (loved GB), Paris, France (did NOT love France, and they did NOT love us back. In fact, we were SPIT ON by some Parisian as we were lining up to perform and my roommate spent a half-day in a Paris jail for punching him in the face. Everything was dropped and she was let go after they found out that he spat on us and that she was a minor from the USA), Champery, Montreux, and Zermatt, Switzerland (LOVED every minute of it. The village we were staying at, in Champery, even through us a surprise party at their community canter for OUR Independence Day. How cool is that!?), Vaduz, Liechtenstein (will elaborate more), Seefield and Innsbruck, Austria (again, absolutely LOVED it), Venice, Italy (and I was so looking forward to this but it was a HUGE letdown. It was filthy, HOT and HUMID, lots of scammers who had some horrible consequences if you fell for their scam and refused to pay up, and way, way too "touristy", and that's a shame), and finally, Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Berlin, Germany (and I loved it here too, and that fortified town of Rothenburg will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart. Truly, the only difficult part of being in Germany was the day we took a trip and a tour of Buchenwald, which made me physically ill as the guide described in great detail what took place there and where. Please forgive us, we were only a bunch of kids, and a few had to bow out of the tour altogether. It really is one thing to learn about it in a classroom setting, and another to be there, in person, having someone point out a site and tell you am estimate of how many bodies are buried just right there, next to you. We knew we would be taking this trip from the beginning, weather permitting, but there was no amount of preparation we could have taken to make ourselves ready to see the sites and hear the horrors of the camps. Forgive us all. Those of us who took the tour, put everything we had into it to stay on the tour.)
So, if you've made it this far, THANKS! Because this entire trip changed my worldview from that of a "stereotypical American" growing up in the rust belt to someone who not only knows, but is also vehemently active in pointing out that the United States is NOT the center of the entire world, and NO, we are not "the best" at everything like our government and our so-called "real patriots" like to shove up everybody's behinds every chance they can get. But Lichtenstein. Nobody explained to us ahead of time what to expect in Lichtenstein. One of the first questions we were asked by by one of the citizens there was, "What do you FEEL about being here, in this small country? What kind of government do you expect we have looking at us while you're HERE?" That inquiry seemed so strange when it was asked of us. Our chaperones kept silent. Even though we were well aware that from Switzerland to Austria, passing through Lichtenstein was like driving through a small town where if you blink, you miss it, but yet we had an actual destination there for two performances. Why? And let me tell you what, when that man told us they were an absolute, not constitutional, monarchy, many jaws hit the floor. But for me and my roommate? We weren't all too surprised. The buildings, the roads, the walkways, even outdoor handrails and guardrails, were seeped in tradition and a special kind of richness that we didn't see anywhere else on our trip, not even at Buckingham Palace or anywhere in Paris. We only saw it again when we got to Rothenburg, the fortified, walled town with entrances and roads too narrow for any kind of vehicle except the smallest of them to travel, old cobblestone walkways and sidestreets, that rich architecture carefully taken care of over the years on rows and rows of buildings and homes. We saw all of that in Lichtenstein, but what Rothenburg did not have were intricate wrought iron handrails with gold somehow infused into them, cobblestones that seemed as if they'd just been laid, not worn by years and years of being walked on, homes and buildings that looked like something out centuries long past, but just walking inside would bring you back to reality, the homes of restaurants and shops, even an internet cafe. Lots of people nowadays hear "absolute monarchy" and instantly think of a society completely lacking a middle class; you're either a socialite, royalty, or a peasant, and the difference was glaringly obvious. They think of Marie Antoinette, "Then let them eat cake!", and the brutal wars against the monarchies by the citizens in France and Russia. But in modern day Lichtenstein, if you didn't know in advance, one would hardly ever guess it's monarchy is absolute. It has never been the circle that fits into the square, and I doubt it will ever be.
Thank you for your comment! As someone whos born in Liechtenstein, I really appreciate someone sharing their experiences about the country. A lot of people have a wrong image in their mind and do not understand the true nature of Liechtenstein. Hope you were treated well here!
Congrats on getting to leave ohio if only for a short while.
@@OneTyler2Many lol Thanks. Honestly though, going to Europe completely changed my views on the USA. So even if it was just for a little while, it left a very big impression on me and in particular, I learned quickly just how screwed up our government really is.
@@berryberrykixx I would say insufferably active is a better description.lmao
Sorry i missed that can you repeat?
The funny thing is, that the 80+1 soldier story is more or less true... at it's basis. There were only 80 soldiers send off and they really returned with an extra soldier. But not an Italian but an Austrian officer who most likely returned back to Austria a few months later
Thank you !!
great video
"This tiny valley wanted to fart around pretending to be Switzerland, did it? Let them!".....
I am happy that this unique country is being shown!! Für Gott, Fürst und Vaterland!🇱🇮 -From a very interested American🇺🇸
On my bucket list to visit!
"Lichtenstein: Europe's last absolute monarch"
Vatican city: Am I a joke to you?
That "pigs looking for butt truffles" joke is by far Simon's best ever.
Interesting thanks🙏
Been there on vacation was always fascinated by the small countries loved it
I’m slightly disappointed you didn’t mention Princess Angela, who lived a goddamn hallmark movie in real life.
And she's 14 years older than her Prince!
@alison webster She's a billionaire. Her husband runs the family bank, LGT Group.