In Lilliput, the locals tied up meddlesome giants; in Liechtenstein, the burghers do not need rope to keep heavyweights in check. They have Crown Prince Alois, their acting head of state, who is not shy in taking on larger states that think they "live in an era when might makes right".

After days of sniping from German politicians, enraged about a domestic tax-fraud scandal involving accounts in the Alpine tax haven, the 39-year-old prince on Tuesday accused Germany of running a "campaign" against little Liechtenstein.