Elisabeth von Gutmann, Princess Elsa of Liechtenstein

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Elisabeth von Gutmann, Princess Elsa of Liechtenstein; Credit – Wikipedia

Elisabeth von Gutmann, also known as Elsa, was born on January 6, 1875, in Vienna, Austria, the daughter of Wilhelm Isaak Wolf, Ritter of Gutmann (Ritter means Knight) and his second wife Ida Wodianer. Elsa’s father was a Jewish businessman, the founder of the largest coal company in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. In 1878, he was created a Knight (Ritter) of the Order of the Iron Crown, a hereditary knighthood. He also served as president of the Vienna Israelite Community.

Elsa had three half-siblings from her father’s first marriage to Leonore Latzko:

  • Berthold von Gutman (1856-1932)
  • Max von Gutmann (1857-1930)
  • Rosa von Gutman (1862-1930)

Elsa had three siblings from her father’s second marriage to Ida Wodianer, daughter of the printer and publisher Philipp Wodianer:

  • Marianne von Gutman (1871-?), married Sir Francis Abraham Montefiore, 1st Baronet of Worth Park
  • Moritz von Gutman (1872-1934)
  • Rudolf von Gutman (1880-1966), married Marianne Ferstel

Elsa was raised in the Jewish religion but in January 1899, she converted to Roman Catholicism in preparation for her marriage to the Hungarian Baron Géza Erős of Bethlenfalva on February 1, 1899. The couple had no children and the baron died on August 7, 1908.

Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1914, Elsa met Prince Franz of Liechtenstein, the only brother of the Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein, Johann II, at a gala for the Relief Fund for Soldiers. The couple wanted to marry in 1919 but Johann II refused to give his consent to the marriage. Elsa and Franz secretly married Elsa in 1919, and that same year, Pope Benedict XV received the couple at the Vatican.

Johann II died on February 11, 1929, and as he was unmarried with no children, his brother succeeded to the throne as Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein. Now that Franz was the Sovereign Prince, he could officially marry Elsa. On July 22, 1929, Elsa became Princess of Liechtenstein when she married Franz at the parish church in the Lainz district of Vienna. Elsa and Franz had no children.

Princess Elsa; Credit – https://www.fuerstenhaus.li/en

Even though they spent time in the princely residences in Austria, Elsa and Franz were the first princely couple to spend a substantial amount of time in Liechtenstein. The couple visited Liechtenstein shortly after they married and regularly visited Liechtenstein until 1935 when Franz’s health would no longer allow visits. Elsa and Franz would visit schools and help sick children and mothers in need. When polio spread throughout Liechtenstein in the 1930s, Elsa quickly obtained the needed medication from the United States. The couple created the Franz and Elsa Foundation for Liechtenstein Children in 1930, which helped impoverished Liechtenstein children receive an education. The foundation is still in existence today.

Franz I’s great-nephew Franz Josef took on various official roles on behalf of his elderly great-uncle. On March 30, 1938, Franz I named Franz Josef regent. Although he cited old age as his reason for the regency, it is widely believed that it was because he had no desire to be ruling if Nazi Germany invaded Liechtenstein. Franz died on July 25, 1938, and was succeeded by his grandnephew, Franz Josef II.

Following Franz’s death, Elsa lived for a short time in Semmering Pass, Austria until Austria was annexed to Nazi Germany.  She then went into exile in Switzerland, where she lived in Vitznau on Lake Lucerne. During World War II, Elsa helped Jewish applicants for residency in Liechtenstein. She also actively participated in fundraising for the Swiss Red Cross. She exchanged letters with Prince Franz Josef II until her death and was invited to his wedding to Countess Georgina Wilczek but declined the invitation. Elsa never visited Liechtenstein again.

Princess Elsa of Liechtenstein died in Vitznau, Switzerland on September 28, 1947, at the age of 72. As the Czechs had seized the property in Vranov where her husband had been buried, it was impossible for Elsa to be buried with Franz. She was originally buried in the Chapel of Our Lady at Dux in Schaan, Liechtenstein. Her remains were moved to Vaduz Cathedral in Liechtenstein when the Princely Crypt there was completed.

Inside the Princely Crypt at Vaduz Cathedral; Credit – Wikipedia

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Principality of Liechtenstein Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Works Cited

  • De.wikipedia.org. (2018). Elsa von Gutmann. [online] Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsa_von_Gutmann [Accessed 25 Sep. 2018].
  • En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Elisabeth von Gutmann. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_von_Gutmann [Accessed 25 Sep. 2018].
  • En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_I,_Prince_of_Liechtenstein [Accessed 25 Sep. 2018].
  • En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Wilhelm Isak, Ritter von Gutmann. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Isak,_Ritter_von_Gutmann [Accessed 25 Sep. 2018].
  • Fuerstenhaus.li. (2018). Biographies of the Princes and Princesses. [online] Available at: https://www.fuerstenhaus.li/en/history/biographies-of-the-princes-and-princesses [Accessed 25 Sep. 2018].
  • Horcicka, V. (2015). Elsa, the Princess von and zu Liechtenstein. [ebook] DVACÁTÉ STOLETÍ. Available at: http://Elsa, the Princess von and zu Liechtenstein [Accessed 25 Sep. 2018].