1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: Ridiculous History is a production of iHeartRadio. Welcome back to 2 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: the show Ridiculous Historians. If you were hearing this, congratulations 3 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: you have survived yet another eclipse. We're kind of talking 4 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: about about nations that get eclipse, nations that don't get 5 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: as much attention as maybe they deserve. 6 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 2: Well, because there's a small that just get eclipsed by 7 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 2: their bigger brethren, you know, like literally figuratively, they get 8 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 2: all the attention. Those big guys just suck all the 9 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 2: air out of the room, by the way, you know. 10 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 2: And Viva Viva Las Vegas stories I am Ben. 11 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: We're joined as always with our super producer, mister Max Williams. 12 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: And you know what I was thinking about this, you guys, 13 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 1: some of the bigger countries they have entire not just episodes, 14 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: but podcast series about them, like China, the History of 15 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 1: the US Russia. But what about what about the you know, 16 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: the micro boys, what about what about what about the 17 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 1: micro nations? No, what about Lichtenstein, Well. 18 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 2: Liechtenstein, Lichtenstein, Lichtenstein. You know, what do we do with it? 19 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 2: What you will? Whatever feels right to you. You know, 20 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 2: I mentioned Viva Las Vegas because a I am coming 21 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 2: to you from Las Vegas. I'm on vacation, and b 22 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,399 Speaker 2: it made me think of was it Monaco that we did? 23 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 2: That was sort of another kind of micronation, right, and that. 24 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 3: Was like a aura and an ara, you know both, 25 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 3: But several of them kind of found their niche in 26 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 3: like weird little micro tourism surrounded by gambling. 27 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: Not the case necessarily with Lichtenstein, but I just made 28 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: me think of that am on your mind, gambling is 29 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 2: on my mind. I'm on a hot streak there, I 30 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 2: gotta get those hot dice. But no, according to the 31 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 2: Embassy of the Principality of Liechtenstein, the territory occupied by 32 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:18,119 Speaker 2: the Principality of Lichtenstein has been continually inhabited by settled 33 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 2: farming communities since the later Stone Age. 34 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, and we all remember the earlier Stone Age, you know. 35 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:27,799 Speaker 1: I like the earlier work. 36 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 2: But that's about before they got the like prehistoric animals 37 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 2: to act as you know, garbage disposals and taxi cabs. 38 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 4: To get that joke that you wrote until you said 39 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 4: out loud, I've read that three times before this recording, 40 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 4: and I'm like, I don't get it. I didn't put 41 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 4: the later part in Stone Age. I like the earlier work. 42 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: Right, because the later Stone Age I earned that symbol, 43 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 1: thank you guys. So four thousand to eight hundred BCE, 44 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: that's the Later Stone Age, right, So people have been 45 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: living there for quite some time. 46 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 2: But by fifteen BCE, oh, those Romans just rolling around 47 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 2: taking everything that they see, you know. Yeah, they incorporated 48 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:17,239 Speaker 2: into something called the Province of Racia. And after the 49 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 2: Roman Empire, you know, did that thing that it did, 50 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 2: were it kind of collapsed in the fifth century. Ratia 51 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 2: was then incorporated into Charlemagne's Frankish Empire, and then from 52 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: the tenth century forward was part of the Holy Roman Empire. 53 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 2: Henceforth these redundants. But I had to say henceforth, I 54 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 2: liked a Charlemagne thing to say that was tight. Yeah, 55 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 2: I liked it. And so here's the thing. 56 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: This area doesn't have a h it doesn't have a 57 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: ton of natural resources. You know, there was something at 58 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: the time, there was something called imperial imbediacy, which was 59 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: like your little badge to be in charge of a 60 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: given domain. Yeah, and the County of Vaduz gets this 61 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: sovereign ability right to be suzerains essentially, and this idea 62 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 1: that they have sovereignty and the right to independence begins 63 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 1: so far back in time, you know, like thirteen ninety six, 64 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 1: late fourteenth century. There's two counties. There's Vaduz and Schellenberg, right, 65 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: and these are the origin points of modern day Liechtenstein. 66 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: And they they went back and forth. They weren't always united. 67 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: Between fourteen sixteen and sixteen thirteen there was all this 68 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 1: call it aristocratic horse trading, and it wasn't until the 69 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: counts of and I love this name, the Henymns got 70 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: together and brought Vaduz in Schellenberg into a unified front. 71 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 2: I'm just so glad we're dealing with some cow It's 72 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 2: here for the record, because Vaduz just sounds like the 73 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 2: most goth place ever. Shellenberg a little less so. But 74 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 2: I'm just really glad we're dealing some counts. Also, the 75 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 2: Indians sounds like that should be a house out of 76 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 2: the Dune series. Just put them out there as well. 77 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: Reminds me a little bit of like Eloheen. But that's 78 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: just that's just our American accents, I think. 79 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 2: But also true. 80 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: So they bring this these two counties together, and at 81 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: first that sounds super dope. However, during the rule of 82 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: the Counts of Inion, you got to say it like that, 83 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: like you've got a small coffee. 84 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 2: You're coughing in a library, and it was like you 85 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 2: you're a Vaduzian prince, and you coughed gently into your 86 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 2: hanky and a little bit of blood comes out. 87 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 4: I always go through these docks beforehand and like pronounce 88 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 4: out some of the words of it look a little 89 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 4: more complicated, and be like, oh, you know, go get 90 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 4: a like pronunciation guide. And when I found in M's 91 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 4: or however we're saying it, I was like, oh, they're 92 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 4: gonna have fun with this one nice called here. 93 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: We are having fun with it. It's got a good mouthfeel. 94 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: I like you, it's got a good mouthfeel. I'll tell 95 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 1: you who, uh tubercular. Who there it is who didn't 96 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: enjoy this? The innocent people living in Vaduz and Schellenberg. 97 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: Because under the rule of these counts of Hunem, the 98 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:25,840 Speaker 1: public had just a. 99 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 2: Really crappy time. There were all these plagues over and over. 100 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: There were witch hunts, and this came in the chaos 101 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: of the Thirty Years War. The public wants someone to blame, 102 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: so they pick on disadvantaged, isolated people in society, and 103 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 1: they end up killing like around one hundred and eighty 104 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: people for being witches and that at the same time, 105 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: the rulers of the land are getting super in debt. 106 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 1: They're super broke, and they have to have a fire sale, 107 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: so they sell these two counties two wait for folks, 108 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: the House of Lichtenstein. 109 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 2: Wait a minute, or is a count just someone who 110 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 2: presides over a county? Oh, you know, you might be right. 111 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 2: I don't know, man, that's pretty If true, then galaxy, 112 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 2: I love it. 113 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: The armchair etymologist to me is like vibing with you 114 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: and saying right on. 115 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 2: Brother, can either confirm nor deny, but would love for 116 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 2: that to be true. So you know, yeah, one hundred 117 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 2: and eighty people, you know, taken to the torch, as 118 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: they say, perhaps there are other methods, probably likely equally barbaric, 119 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 2: for being practitioners of the black arts. At this point, 120 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 2: we are at the historical moment, the cross roads of history, 121 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 2: wherein the place kind of changes names. 122 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:51,119 Speaker 1: One piece at a time. Just like the Johnny Cash song, 123 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: Vadus gets sold to the House of Liechtenstein in sixteen 124 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: ninety nine and then not too long. After less than 125 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: two decades later, Schellenberg gets auctioned off as well. And 126 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: if we understand reforming of this very tiny, very pleasant 127 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: European nation, we have to dive into the name. The 128 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: name is weird, right, A lot of Americans, I will 129 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 1: pose it probably confuse Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. 130 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 2: I certainly did that myself briefly. But who are these 131 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 2: Liechtensteins And what was their deal? 132 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:34,599 Speaker 1: Yeah? What's their whole thing with these Steins anyway? So yeah, 133 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 1: they have Okay, so they're a clan. They're like an 134 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:42,680 Speaker 1: aristocratic ruling clan. And think of them as a group 135 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 1: of princes who are related by blood and sometimes, when 136 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: it works out, they're related by geopolitical ambitions. So for 137 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: a long, a long time, these guys were advisors to 138 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: the Habsburg dynasty since like the twelve hundreds, the thirteenth century. Okay, 139 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: as we know, it became more and more difficult to 140 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: be an advisor to the Habsburgs as the incest accelerated. 141 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,439 Speaker 2: As it tends to do. So the House of Lichtenstein. 142 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: Oh, hell Max also gave the saddest nod I know, 143 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 1: we've all seen. 144 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 2: The pictures it is s for sure. The House of 145 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:31,559 Speaker 2: Liechtenstein held lands in Moravia, Bohemia, which is, you know 146 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 2: where the Bohemians came from, all those Hebcats and Lower Austria. 147 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: All of these lands, however, were they were sort of 148 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:43,839 Speaker 2: like vassal lords almost because they were subject to the 149 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 2: whims of more senior feudal lores. And although the folks 150 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 2: in charge of Lichtenstein had been you know, kind of 151 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:55,199 Speaker 2: raised up, you know, ranked up to prince in sixteen 152 00:09:55,240 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 2: oh eight, the princes they didn't really have nearly as 153 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 2: much power as one might think a prince should have. 154 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 2: They had to work pretty hard to gain what's called 155 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 2: which were lands that were subjects to no other feudal 156 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 2: rulers except for, of course, the head of the Holy 157 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,079 Speaker 2: Roman Empire itself, the Holy Roman Emperor. 158 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: Right like the idea being in basic terms, we don't 159 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:29,559 Speaker 1: pay taxes or send soldiers to anyone but the Emperor. 160 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: We direct as Corporate America would say, we are the 161 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 1: direct We directly report to the Emperor. 162 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 2: As does feel a little dunish in general, like in 163 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,559 Speaker 2: terms of the structure of it. You know, we got 164 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 2: the houses that are given by the grace of the emperor, 165 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,679 Speaker 2: control of various resources and various lands. But at the 166 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 2: end of the day, I mean, maybe this is just 167 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 2: history and you know, royalty and all of that, but 168 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 2: I don't know. For something, for some reason, I'm feeling 169 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 2: a little Dune vibes from this. 170 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's because Frank Herbert reads a life read a 171 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: lot of like Middle European history, I imagine. But so okay. 172 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: So here they are on the come up, the princes 173 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: of Liechtenstein and or Lichtenstein, however you prefer. So they 174 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: have to make nice with this guy named Charlie. You 175 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 1: might know him as Charles the sixth. At the time 176 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: he was, in addition to other things, he was a 177 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: Holy Roman emperor. So here's what happens. They make nice 178 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 1: with this guy Chuck, and they say, hey, Chuck, do 179 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: you know we control these two things that we bought 180 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 1: in sixteen ninety nine and seventeen twelve. Can you just 181 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: make this right because we only report to you, dude, 182 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: We're loyal to you. And Chuck agrees. In seventeen nineteen, 183 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: he says were uniting Vaduz and Schellenberg, were making a 184 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: Facebook official or something to that effect, and he said, 185 00:11:54,720 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: Now this is an imperial principality or Reich firstintem. 186 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 2: Well done, yeah, nied, no notes ten out of ten 187 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 2: I learned it from you. So okay. 188 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: So this is big because this means that this new 189 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 1: upstart country, this house that has become a nation, can 190 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,959 Speaker 1: be a sovereign member of the Holy Roman Empire. They 191 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: get a seat at basically the Parliament or the Congress 192 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: of the time. The imperial diet I'm sorry, the imperial 193 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 1: diet is the imperial diet. 194 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 4: It's basically makes me think of the diet that that 195 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 4: what is it? Swedish Emperor eight and then slightly died afterwards. 196 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, for me, an imperial diet largely consists of giant 197 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 2: shanks of meat with the greases dripping onto their bare chests. 198 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 2: You like a turkey leg, long, cartoonishly large turkey leg. 199 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:54,839 Speaker 2: It's funny. You can also use it as a weapon 200 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 2: if someone comes at you at the renfair and you 201 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:02,559 Speaker 2: never know, you never know. So this this is. 202 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: Weird and it's tough to understand. You know here in 203 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four as Americans, but the people in charge 204 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 1: of countries at this time it was people at land holdings. 205 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 1: It was not uncommon for them to have never visited 206 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: the place. So the princes of Liechtenstein are Liechtenstein. They 207 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: controlled this area, but they never visited until like eighteen 208 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,079 Speaker 1: forty two they decided to show up. 209 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 2: That's very common, I think you said, throughout history governing 210 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 2: from afar, and it usually involves a little bit of 211 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 2: a disconnect, you know, when with the people who actually 212 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 2: live there. 213 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: Right, how are you going to govern a people you 214 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: don't speak their language, et cetera, et cetera. Tail as 215 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 1: unfortunately old as time. We're we're getting a lot of 216 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: this again from the Embassy of Liechtenstein. Like the Prince 217 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: of Pala of Liechtenstein's the official name. So the embassy 218 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: points out that there are quite a few historical figures 219 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: who pop in for some at times unpleasant cameos. I'm 220 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: thinking of Napoleon bun real up and comer. 221 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 2: That guy. Oh yeah, there was a period where you 222 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 2: didn't want to see him strolling strident into your town. 223 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 1: He was great in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. He 224 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: was not as short as people say, but he kind 225 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: of did some dick moves. 226 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 2: That's right. At this point, the entire Holy Roman Empire 227 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 2: was under his tiny iron fist. And when Napoleon dissolved 228 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 2: the Holy Roman Empire and turned it into the Rine Confederation, 229 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 2: Liechtenstein actually kind of got released from his previous contract. 230 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 2: I guess let's call it this previous allegiance to the 231 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 2: former emperor, and it was given its own sovereignty through 232 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 2: the inclusion in the Confederation in eighteen oh six. An 233 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 2: how we're starting to feel, little star Treking, aren't waybacks? 234 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 2: Maybe that's a federation, I don't know, carry on, maybe not. 235 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: Well, here's what we need to realize about this. This 236 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: was a huge opportunity for the people of Liechtenstein because 237 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: Napoleon was saving them from some regional rivals who wanted 238 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: to take over those lands, most notably Bavaria. And so 239 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: having Napoleon protect you and vibe with you is great 240 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: so long as Napoleon is still in play. As history proves, 241 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: Napoleon gets defeated once by a swarm of rabbits and 242 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: then you know, later by humans. And when he is defeated, 243 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: when he is sent to exile. The Rhyme Confederation dissolves 244 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: in eighteen thirteen and so Liechtenstein goes to the Congress 245 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: of Vienna and they say, hey, we want a seat 246 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: at the table. So they become one of the thirty 247 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: nine new member states of something called the German Confederation, 248 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: which means they get to save their sovereignty. And they 249 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: even you know, they mess around. They get a little 250 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: constitution in eighteen eighteen. Nice, very cool, I mean very cool. 251 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 2: It's a little constitution. 252 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: It's like a limited cost It's like it's like constitution 253 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 1: diet zero. 254 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 2: I thought you meant it was like physically quite small 255 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 2: to match the small stature of this micronation. But now 256 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 2: I just didn't have that many pages. They weren't necessarily 257 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 2: it was mostly emoji's. Yeah, fair, So it didn't include 258 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 2: things like, oh, I don't know, basic rights. However, it 259 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 2: did include some you know, groundwork for controlling taxation requirements, 260 00:16:53,760 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 2: things like that, some vague suggestions in language the public 261 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 2: well being, you know, quote unquote. And under this confederation, 262 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 2: Liechtenstein would be able to maintain a small military force. 263 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 2: And during the Austro Prussian War, where Austria got together 264 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:22,160 Speaker 2: with the German Confederation to fight against Prussia, this conflict, 265 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 2: of course ended with the defeat of Austria and the 266 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 2: disillusion of the very German Confederation that we're talking about. 267 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 2: So this once again, right once, it's like a you know, 268 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 2: getting acquired by another company. You know, if you're like 269 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 2: a small little startup and you can get in pad 270 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:41,959 Speaker 2: We've been there, right, It's a thing. It's a weird feeling, 271 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 2: but doesn't always go poorly. Sometimes things end up going 272 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 2: for the better for your particular situation, and that seems 273 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,120 Speaker 2: to be the case here. Linchdenstein was once against released 274 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 2: from its military obligations and gave Parliament the opportunity to 275 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 2: refuse to fund any more military endeavors. So in eighteen 276 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 2: sixty eight, Prince Johann the Second agreed to Parliament's requests 277 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:13,640 Speaker 2: and actually disbanded the eighty man army eighty minutes. That's 278 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 2: barely an army. We'll get to the size of the 279 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 2: of the country in a bit. But yeah, that's than 280 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 2: everything but that. But I don't think eighty people does 281 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 2: an army make? 282 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,680 Speaker 4: Is that less than the Swiss Guard in the Vatican. 283 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 2: I think it might be. 284 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 4: A cree phones backs and he dropped in the knowledge 285 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 4: it's just for you, so good. 286 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 2: There we go. It is you are correct, Let's be 287 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 2: a Swiss Guard man. They're like serious. Those guys are 288 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 2: like ninjas. 289 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 1: You can tell by the hats. Yeah, they're all about 290 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: the business and the pantaloons as well. Kidding, don't come 291 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 1: for me, Swiss Guard anyway, I really need to get 292 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 1: through customs in Italy. And funny story about the Nation 293 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: of Liegtensteins. Their army did one of the coolest things. 294 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: In eighteen sixty six, they had their last deployment as 295 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:19,959 Speaker 1: the army of the country. They had an amazing track record. 296 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:23,880 Speaker 1: They didn't lose any battles, they had no casualties. They 297 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: actually didn't fight at all. They left with those eighty 298 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: people that we just mentioned, and when they came home, 299 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: according to the legend, they brought a buddy with them. 300 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 1: They just met a guy who was a cool vibe 301 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 1: and they brought him home and they were like this Larry, 302 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:39,440 Speaker 1: he's dope. 303 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 2: Anyway. 304 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 1: So yeah, they do disband the army, and this is 305 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: cool because again, even though we're talking about a relatively 306 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: small number of people, it's enormous to the public to 307 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 1: not be beholden to fight in foreign wars. Liechtenstein is 308 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: also landlocked, you know what I mean. They don't control 309 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: any important ports or like ocean access points at this time, 310 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: so they're in a good spot. 311 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 2: You know. It's funny though, because it does seem like 312 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 2: a lot of the prominence are of these migronations, or 313 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 2: at least the interest in them comes from having some 314 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 2: sort of military strategic position, and that's not seemed to 315 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 2: be the case here. So you might be asking Max 316 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 2: noel Ben, this is all well and good. We like 317 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 2: geopolitics as much as the next guy, but what's it 318 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:28,600 Speaker 2: actually like in Liechtenshil. What do they do? Why should 319 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 2: I care? 320 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, and look, we can get into the weeds in 321 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: the history of this country, as you can with any 322 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: European country if we're being honest. They are neutral during 323 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: World War One, but they still they still have a 324 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 1: tough time because they suffer from the sanctions levied against 325 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: Austria Hungary because they're part of it. They get a 326 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: new constitution, they strive, they're always trying. Like you said, no, 327 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 1: I love the phrase vassal state. They're always trying to 328 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: build a relationship with the larger partner, and so they 329 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: get to please right, Yeah, SEMPI noticed me. And that's 330 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:09,879 Speaker 1: what they say to Switzerland. The Swiss fronk is the 331 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: official currency today. I look, they chose correctly when they 332 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 1: got with Switzerland, and not to uh, not to spout 333 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: too much scuttle butt and stereotype about the nation of Switzerland, 334 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 1: but they are known for their banking and UH and 335 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 1: their neutrality. And Liechtenstein was right on that they are 336 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: super active in their international financial sector, which is again 337 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 1: a euphemistic way to talk about tax dodging and money laundering. 338 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 2: I knew I'd heard of them somewhere there. It is, Yeah, 339 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 2: but there's there's there's more to it than just that. 340 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 2: Of course, after World War Two, linchdtin Student's economy grew 341 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 2: a lot around some very specialty kind of industrial UH firms. 342 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 2: So at you know, we basically up to this point 343 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 2: it had largely been kind of this very poor, agrarian 344 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 2: sort of vassal state. But at this point, after World 345 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,440 Speaker 2: War Two, which happened for other countries as well as 346 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 2: we know, they started to modernize and kind of like 347 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:15,959 Speaker 2: you know, leap into what would be seen as more 348 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 2: of the modern era of the micronation. They didn't have 349 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 2: that many people actually living there, so their economy kind 350 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 2: of ballooned to a level that wasn't being serviced enough 351 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 2: by the people who actually lived there, so they had 352 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:32,119 Speaker 2: to outsource workers. 353 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, they did, and that's something that kind of continues today. 354 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: As we'll see the native population of this country is 355 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 1: about two thirds of the people living there native born. 356 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 1: So that's like the quick and dirty origin story and 357 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 1: leads us to the modern day. If you visit today, 358 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:58,440 Speaker 1: and you very much should. The three of us would 359 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 1: love to go. What we'll see is that it's in 360 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 1: the Central Alps, probably like the two thirds of it 361 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,399 Speaker 1: on the eastern side if you're looking at a map, 362 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 1: is a bunch of rugged foothills, and there are these 363 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:18,440 Speaker 1: beautiful forests, these beautiful alpine and flowers. You know, its 364 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 1: snows and rains and winter. It's kind of it's still 365 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 1: kind of ski cloudy. Yeah. Yeah, they've got a pretty 366 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 1: much they've got a modest but growing ski industry. 367 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 2: And those rugged foothills. Man that you mentioned so rugged 368 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:36,400 Speaker 2: belong to a mountain system known as the rete Kon 369 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 2: I believe that's how you pronounce it, which is of 370 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 2: course part of the Central Alps. You've got some pretty 371 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:45,680 Speaker 2: high peaks, including Grouse Spits, which goes as high as 372 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 2: eighty five hundred and twenty seven feet or two thousand, 373 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:52,439 Speaker 2: five hundred and ninety nine meters, and much of the 374 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:57,639 Speaker 2: area is quite quite, quite quite above sea level, around 375 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 2: six thousand feet up. The lower slopes of the mountain 376 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 2: encompass a lot of these beautiful evergreen forests, kind of 377 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 2: think of, you know, German black forest type situations. The 378 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 2: hills are alive, they are with the sound of tourists. Yeah, 379 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 2: there it is. I mean, yeah, it's a cool vibe. 380 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 3: You know. 381 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 1: It is still a monarchy. It's a constitutional monarchy, which 382 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 1: is not uncommon in this part of the world. But 383 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 1: unlike unlike many other European countries, this country is interesting 384 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:40,160 Speaker 1: because it has no natural resources that are worth anything. 385 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:42,439 Speaker 1: So like, they have a bunch of forests like we 386 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:46,919 Speaker 1: were describing, but their forests are very heavily protected, so 387 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: they have to import wood where they're want to build 388 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 1: stuff with wood. There's no heavy industry. There are very 389 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:59,199 Speaker 1: few like they're like I would say the idea of 390 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 1: agriculture in this country is somewhat endangered. Tourism is by 391 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: far the official engine of the economy of Lichtenstein. 392 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 2: So we all we did. We did mention briefly, they 393 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:16,719 Speaker 2: had a period of kind of specialized manufacturing or industrial 394 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:20,399 Speaker 2: processes that required them to start outsourcing some workers. That 395 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:23,199 Speaker 2: was largely around the war efforts at the time we 396 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 2: mentioned World War Two, and then after that is when 397 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 2: they started to kind of modernize, and by modernize we 398 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 2: really are talking about them moving into their role as 399 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 2: kind of an iron bank of sorts situation, you know, 400 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 2: where they were able to do some dirty deals and 401 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:44,199 Speaker 2: hide some money for some very powerful people, and that 402 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:47,679 Speaker 2: kind of allowed them to continue to exist. And what 403 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:53,200 Speaker 2: that really means is that because of the relatively stable 404 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:59,200 Speaker 2: political situation in Liechtenstein, they were able to and also 405 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 2: their amy, they were able to operate under something that 406 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 2: we're calling here in the outline absolute bank secrecy. Yeah. 407 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's the idea is for a while, you could 408 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:19,679 Speaker 1: be an anonymous foreign account holder and you would be 409 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 1: you would be buttoned up legally, and that's the reason why, 410 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:27,360 Speaker 1: especially leading up to the late nineteen hundreds, this country 411 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 1: became a center of money laundering to the point where 412 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 1: they eventually changed the law and they said okay, look, 413 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 1: you can't just be you know, Ben Bullen or Johnny 414 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 1: Blue Jeans or some other made up name and open 415 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: a bank account here. And the EU was cracking down 416 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:47,399 Speaker 1: on it. The US was super mad about it. So 417 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: the country has been working for some time now to 418 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: stop being regarded as a tax haven with mixed results, right. 419 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, it does become a bit of 420 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 2: a reputational kind of thing, right, or maybe we don't 421 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:06,720 Speaker 2: wanted to shake that, but you know, you're kind you're 422 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:08,399 Speaker 2: kind of known for what you're known for. It's not 423 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:12,120 Speaker 2: really up to you at a certain they kind Yeah, 424 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 2: it's true. And as we mentioned a little bit earlier, 425 00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:19,120 Speaker 2: what are known as ethnic Liechtensteiners make up around two 426 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 2: thirds of the population. They are descended from the Alemanni tribe. 427 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:27,159 Speaker 2: They came into the region after around five hundred CE. 428 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,560 Speaker 2: The official language of the nation is Germany, but most 429 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:34,360 Speaker 2: of the population also still speaks a dialect of Alamanni, 430 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 2: containing local kind of colloquial variations and pronunciations and vocabularies. 431 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 2: Another ethnic group, called the Vostlers, are descendants of immigrants 432 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:50,560 Speaker 2: from the Swiss canton of the Valais, which settled in 433 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 2: Treisenberg at the very end of the thirteenth century, and 434 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:58,199 Speaker 2: they continue to speak a very distinctive forum of the language. Finally, 435 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 2: around four fifths of the population our Christian, with about 436 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:06,120 Speaker 2: three fourths identifying as Roman Catholic. Again a shout out 437 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:10,920 Speaker 2: to the Embassy of Liechtenstein for all of these handy bits. 438 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 2: The principality thereof yes, excuse me, yes, thank you. It 439 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 2: will get super mad. 440 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: They might send eighty people out to get us, and 441 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: then they would come back with eighty three people because they. 442 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 2: See, I want to go how do I become? Can 443 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:27,959 Speaker 2: I immigrate to Liechtenstein? Seems like a real fancy place. 444 00:28:28,359 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 2: It helps if you're. 445 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 1: Swiss or very wealthy, like offensively wealthy dan so well 446 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 1: on the way to be Swiss. 447 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 2: Definitely. 448 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're probably wondering about the size, folks. In terms 449 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 1: of the great micro nation scale, which we have just 450 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:49,920 Speaker 1: made up as an official thing, Liechtenstein is like sixty 451 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: two square miles all told, which for us in the 452 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: US puts it about. A good comparison would be Washington, DC. 453 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: It's about the same eyes as that city, but that's 454 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: still you know, that's pretty big. Compared to things like 455 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 1: Monaco or Vatican City or San Marino. But then you know, 456 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 1: there are other there are other micronations that are much larger, 457 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 1: like Andorra is one hundred and eighty one square miles, 458 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:20,560 Speaker 1: and that's still massive. That's three times the size of 459 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 1: this country. 460 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 2: I don't know. 461 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:28,200 Speaker 1: And Luxembourg is six is still pretty big. It's nine 462 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:31,400 Speaker 1: hundred and ninety eight square miles. So this all, this 463 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: just all means that Liechtenstein is the sixth smallest country 464 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 1: in the planet. 465 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. It's essentially nestled into a valley, you know, that's 466 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 2: the entirety of its land, kind of tucked between Switzerland 467 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:46,680 Speaker 2: and Austria. 468 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it had some struggles, although we're making it 469 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 1: sound like a really cool place, which it is. If 470 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: you were a woman living in the country, you were 471 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: not allowed to vote until nineteen eighty four. 472 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, definitely probably some smissues there with their their 473 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:08,160 Speaker 2: catching up to modern times. There's a really I think 474 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 2: this is a great way to sum up the paradox 475 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 2: I suppose that is Liechtenstein. William Cook, writing for The Spectator, 476 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:19,040 Speaker 2: put it thusly, one of the smallest countries in Europe, 477 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:20,880 Speaker 2: is only twenty four kilometers from end to end and 478 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 2: barely twelve kilometers across, squeezed into half a valley between 479 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:28,400 Speaker 2: Austria and Switzerland. Its monarchy is Austrian and its currency 480 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 2: is Swiss. Like you said, it only grand women the 481 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 2: rights to vote in nineteen eighty four, and it's national 482 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:37,080 Speaker 2: football stadium, the Ryan Park Stadio, and holds just six 483 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:43,120 Speaker 2: one and twenty seven spectators, less than the Takay Unites It. Torque, 484 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:46,720 Speaker 2: by the way, is a little seaside community in the 485 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:53,160 Speaker 2: United Kingdom where Faulty Towers the wonderful John Cleese brickcom 486 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:55,320 Speaker 2: takes place. And if you've seen the show, you know 487 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:58,239 Speaker 2: it is meant to be one of the sleepiest and 488 00:30:58,320 --> 00:31:02,719 Speaker 2: tiniest little seaside in all the land. Let's call it this. 489 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:08,360 Speaker 1: Let's title this episode uh licktenstin the Delaware of Europe 490 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:13,040 Speaker 1: because it has more registered companies than people even today, 491 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 1: there's twenty twenty four it's it has a railway, but 492 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: it has the train station uh nor public airports. Yeah, 493 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: but they are the biggest manufacturer of false teeth in 494 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 1: the world. 495 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 2: That's not true, is it? 496 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 1: That's what William Cook tells us in the spectator. 497 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:36,000 Speaker 2: You serious, false teeth, that's their industry. 498 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:40,160 Speaker 5: That's that manufacturing you're asking about. Yeah, no, serious, the 499 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 5: world's biggest fault. I'm sorry, that's mind blowing. And I 500 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:46,320 Speaker 5: feel like we buried the lead there. I we should 501 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:48,000 Speaker 5: have started with that one. We buried a lot of 502 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 5: leads in this episode. 503 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, just like they buried a lot of a lot 504 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:56,960 Speaker 1: of dirty money. All right, Well it's said as it's said, 505 00:31:57,080 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 1: and it is true. 506 00:31:58,200 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 2: Uh Nola. 507 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:01,200 Speaker 1: I love that you point out this country does not 508 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 1: have any public airports of its. 509 00:32:03,720 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 2: Own, certainly private ones, though, the implication being because of 510 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:09,200 Speaker 2: all the mega rich there. 511 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: Think about the implication, folks. So there's also there's also 512 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 1: a fantastic opportunity here for us to talk a little 513 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 1: bit about Wiki travel. Now, don't ever use Wikipedia for research, 514 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 1: but Wiki travel if you're if you find yourself abroad 515 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:28,680 Speaker 1: or heading to an unfamiliar country, Wiki travel is a 516 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 1: pretty cool primer on some very interesting things. Be aware 517 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:35,280 Speaker 1: that a lot of it is written by locals, so 518 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:40,400 Speaker 1: treat the treat the notes about safety and restaurants and 519 00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 1: hotels with a little bit of skepticism. 520 00:32:43,320 --> 00:32:45,960 Speaker 2: Absolutely. I think one thing that's interesting that to be 521 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 2: wrap this up about micronation in general, and it's certainly 522 00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:53,320 Speaker 2: true of Liechtenstein considering its you know, dealings with perhaps 523 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:57,240 Speaker 2: ill gotten funds and hiding thereof and probably some private 524 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:01,920 Speaker 2: airports if anyone needed to like disappear. They are you know, sovereign, 525 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 2: that's the whole thing. But they're so tiny that they're 526 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,320 Speaker 2: not really on the radar for a lot of bigger 527 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:10,240 Speaker 2: picture kind of issues. So it's a great place to 528 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:13,760 Speaker 2: go if you're someone that needs to like disappear or 529 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 2: seek refuge and not be extradited. Because certainly a lot 530 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:21,480 Speaker 2: of these micronations have relationships with larger, you know, more 531 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:25,040 Speaker 2: militarily advanced nations, but a lot of times it's like 532 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:27,680 Speaker 2: sort of like, ah, you made it to Lichtenstein, kind 533 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:30,480 Speaker 2: of like a you know, you kind of got to pass, right, 534 00:33:30,560 --> 00:33:32,880 Speaker 2: like tagging base. That's right, exactly. 535 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, And this this may be the case for a while. 536 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:37,160 Speaker 2: Now. 537 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:40,800 Speaker 1: If you are a ridiculous historian of dare I say 538 00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:44,320 Speaker 1: a certain set of interests, this all sounds great. You 539 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:47,040 Speaker 1: might be saying, how can I move to this fancy 540 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:54,120 Speaker 1: central European paradise for paradise for fiduciary Shenanigans. Well, the 541 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 1: answer is it's kind of difficult to live there as 542 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 1: it's difficult to become a citizen if you're not already 543 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:06,680 Speaker 1: a Swiss or be wealthy because Liechtenstein is not a 544 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:10,160 Speaker 1: member of the European Union, so the government does not 545 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:14,239 Speaker 1: have the same EU obligations like if you know, if 546 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:16,680 Speaker 1: you grow up or if you're a resident of an 547 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:21,160 Speaker 1: EU nation, you can move to another European country, but 548 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:24,480 Speaker 1: you can't do that here. They don't have to let 549 00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:26,879 Speaker 1: you in. It's kind of tough to get in there. 550 00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:30,239 Speaker 1: Heads that's why the majority of people just visit or 551 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:34,480 Speaker 1: you know, start a company with a po address for sure. 552 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:38,000 Speaker 2: And I was wondering why there's something about this place 553 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:40,799 Speaker 2: that sort of rang familiar to me. And I maybe 554 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:43,680 Speaker 2: even mentioned that I was once a smaller gentleman boy 555 00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 2: because I grew up in Germany, because my mother was 556 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:50,560 Speaker 2: an opera singer and sang a lot all over Europe. 557 00:34:50,680 --> 00:34:55,600 Speaker 2: And Liechtenstein is known for its love of the operatic arts, 558 00:34:56,080 --> 00:34:58,160 Speaker 2: and they have quite a few for such a small 559 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:01,920 Speaker 2: place opera company, and they also have a festival called 560 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:07,759 Speaker 2: the Operettas in Vadus Baltzar's that is visited the world over. 561 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:10,359 Speaker 2: And you know, as we know, opera is one of 562 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:14,839 Speaker 2: the most kind of niche, bougie and expensive pastimes and 563 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:17,640 Speaker 2: art for us. So it did tracks that I would 564 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:20,000 Speaker 2: have heard of Lichtenstein. I don't know if my mom 565 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:21,640 Speaker 2: ever participated in the of these, but I would not 566 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:22,680 Speaker 2: be surprised if she did. 567 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:26,440 Speaker 1: And we hope that if you are hearing this, you 568 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 1: will have adventures in this country or other micro nations. 569 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:33,719 Speaker 1: We're going to call it a day. Join us when 570 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:38,520 Speaker 1: we finally explain later on the what what exactly meant 571 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 1: by this? The pleasure of gravity devices and so on. 572 00:35:43,560 --> 00:35:45,560 Speaker 1: We've got a we've got a cooler history of roller 573 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:47,000 Speaker 1: coasters on the way, big big. 574 00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:50,239 Speaker 2: Thanks any devices. I literally just clocked that. Man, I'm 575 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 2: really excited about that episode. I think we're all we're 576 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:55,960 Speaker 2: all a bit of coaster heads here in the Ridiculous 577 00:35:56,080 --> 00:35:58,919 Speaker 2: History group, and I look forward to it. I really 578 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:01,200 Speaker 2: want to go to Universe Studios again. They have this 579 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:04,080 Speaker 2: one coaster called the Hulk where it just shoots you 580 00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:06,120 Speaker 2: out of a tube. Well you don't even realize it's 581 00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:08,759 Speaker 2: gonna happen. It's not the slow climb. It's just a 582 00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:10,960 Speaker 2: quick climb, and then I launched when you don't even 583 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 2: know it's coming. Love a good. 584 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:14,680 Speaker 4: Coach, your top thrill Dregster. It is supposed to open 585 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:15,640 Speaker 4: later this year. 586 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:18,000 Speaker 2: It's six Flags the Point. 587 00:36:18,360 --> 00:36:21,080 Speaker 1: Big big thanks to the super producer, mister Max Williams. 588 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:24,640 Speaker 1: Big big thanks to our research associate, also Max Williams 589 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:27,719 Speaker 1: and Alex Williams, who composed this amazing track. 590 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:30,120 Speaker 2: Oh it's such a bum Chris Fhrascio and it's here 591 00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:34,640 Speaker 2: Spirit Eves, Jeff Coates, AJ Bahamas Jacobs, the Quiz, Sir 592 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:37,080 Speaker 2: Jonathan Stricklen. We're gonna get this too, to duke it 593 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:39,520 Speaker 2: out one of these days. But Aj will be back soon. 594 00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:43,160 Speaker 2: We've been teasing Jonathan's eminent return. Uh and we will 595 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:46,000 Speaker 2: tease on my friend. Oh hang on, we'll get on. 596 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:48,799 Speaker 2: I'm getting a call from the principality. All right, we'll 597 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:50,480 Speaker 2: be here. We'll see you next time. 598 00:36:50,520 --> 00:36:50,800 Speaker 1: Books. 599 00:36:57,760 --> 00:37:00,120 Speaker 2: For more podcasts from My Heart Radio, visit the iHeart 600 00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 2: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 601 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:03,760 Speaker 2: favorite shows.