Franz Joseph II vs Salote Tupou III

Franz Joseph II became Prince of Liechtenstein at age 32, succeeding his great-uncle Franz I. He inherited a small, impoverished principality facing pressure from Nazi Germany and the threat of absorption into the Greater German Reich.

Franz Joseph II kept Liechtenstein neutral throughout World War II, resisting pressure from Nazi Germany to join the Axis. He maintained diplomatic relations with both sides and protected the principality's sovereignty, though the country was economically dependent on Germany.

At the end of World War II, Franz Joseph II allowed approximately 500 Russian soldiers of the pro-German Russian Liberation Army to seek refuge in Liechtenstein. Despite Soviet demands for repatriation, he refused to extradite them, and most were eventually granted asylum in Argentina.

Franz Joseph II oversaw Liechtenstein's transformation from a poor agricultural state into a wealthy industrial and financial center. He attracted foreign investment, developed the manufacturing sector, and established low-tax policies that made the principality a tax haven.

Franz Joseph II signed the law granting women the right to vote in national elections, following a referendum that narrowly passed. Liechtenstein was one of the last European countries to introduce women's suffrage, a reform the prince had supported.

Salote Tupou III became Queen of Tonga on 5 April 1918, following the death of her father King George Tupou II. She was the first queen regnant of Tonga and reigned for 47 years.

Salote Tupou III oversaw the expansion of education and healthcare in Tonga. She established schools, improved public health infrastructure, and promoted literacy, significantly raising living standards in the kingdom.

During World War II, Salote Tupou III kept Tonga neutral while allowing Allied forces to use Tongan territory. She also contributed troops and resources to the Allied war effort, strengthening Tonga's relationship with Western powers.

Salote Tupou III attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London in 1953. Her open carriage ride in the rain, smiling and waving, won her widespread admiration and made her a beloved figure internationally.