Reuss (German: Reuß) was the name of several historical states located in present-day Thuringia, Germany. Its rulers, the Reuss family, named every male born within it Heinrich (Henry) for centuries. The head of each branch of the family bore the title Fürst (Prince). The Free State of Thuringia (German Freistaat Thüringen) lies in central Germany and is among the smaller of the countrys sixteen Bundesländer (federal states), with an area of 16,200 sq. ... For Fürst, the German title of nobility that is best translated as Prince, see below. ...

History of the various states

Several different principalities of the House of Reuss which had previously existed had by the time of the formation of the German Confederation become part of the two remaining lines (the Elder and the Younger Lines). Before then, they had been part first of the Holy Roman Empire, and then the Confederation of the Rhine. The German Confederation (German: Deutscher Bund) was a loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to organize the surviving states of the Holy Roman Empire, which had been abolished in 1806. ... This page is about the Germanic empire. ... The Confederation of the Rhine (Rheinbund, Confédération du Rhin) lasted from 1806 to 1813 and was formed from 16 minor German states by Napoleon after he defeated Francis II and Alexander I in the Battle of the Three Emperors at Austerlitz. ...

The two remaining Reuss principalities went on to join in turn the German Confederation (in 1815), the North German Confederation (in 1867), and then the German Empire (in 1871). In the aftermath of World War I, they were unified in 1919 as the Republic of Reuss, which was incorporated into the new state of Thuringia in 1920. The German Confederation (German: Deutscher Bund) was a loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to organize the surviving states of the Holy Roman Empire, which had been abolished in 1806. ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The North German Confederation (German Norddeutscher Bund), a transitional grouping which existed (1867 - 1871) between the dissolution of the German Confederation and the founding of the German Empire, cemented Prussian control over the 22 states of Northern Germany and emanated that same control (via the Zollverein) into southern Germany. ... 1867 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The term German Empire commonly refers to Germany, from its consolidation as a unified nation-state on January 18, 1871, until the abdication of Kaiser (Emperor) Wilhelm II on November 9, 1918. ... 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machineguns, and poison gas. ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Free State of Thuringia (German Freistaat Thüringen) lies in central Germany and is among the smaller of the countrys sixteen Bundesländer (federal states), with an area of 16,200 sq. ... 1920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ...

The Elder Line

The Elder Line, the Grafen Reuss zu Greiz, Untergreiz, und Obergreiz, were elevated to princely status in 1778. Its members bore the title Prince Reuss, Elder Line, or Prince Reuss of Greiz. The members of this line were numbered sequentially, the last series beginning with Heinrich I (born 1693) and ending with Heinrich XXIV (1878-1927). The Prinicipality of Reuss Elder Line had an area of 317 km² and a population of 71,000 (1905). Its capital was Greiz. 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Events January 11 - Eruption of Mt. ... 1878 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1905 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Greiz is a town in Thuringia, the capital of the district Greiz. ...

List of the Princes Reuss, Elder Line (1778-1918)

• Heinrich XI 1778-1800
• Heinrich XIII 1800-1817
• Heinrich XIX 1817-1836
• Heinrich XX 1836-1859
• Heinrich XXII 1859-1902
• Heinrich XXIV 1902-1918 (d.1927)

The Younger Line

The Younger Line, the Grafen Reuss zu Gera, zu Schleiz, zu Lobenstein, zu Köstriz und zu Ebersdorf, became princes in 1806, and its members bore the title Prince Reuss, Younger Line, though they are also referred to by their branch names (e.g. Prince Reuss of Koestritz). This line used a numbering sequence which began and ended roughly as centuries began and ended. A consequence of this naming system is that the male children within a single nuclear family are not numbered sequentially: The sons of Heinrich LXVII Reuss zu Schleiz were, in order, Heinrich V, Heinrich VIII, Heinrich XI, Heinrich XIV, and Heinrich XVI. The designation jüngere Linie ("younger line") was dropped in 1930; the "elder line" had become extinct as its last member, Heinrich XXIV, renounced his rights in 1918 and died unmarried in 1927. The Principality of Reuss Younger Line had an area of 827 km² and a population of 145,000 (1905). Its capital was Gera. Map of Germany showing Gera Gera is a city in the east of Thuringia, Germany. ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1905 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Map of Germany showing Gera Gera is a city in the east of Thuringia, Germany. ...

List of the Princes Reuss, Younger Line (1806-1918)

• Heinrich XLII 1806-1818
• Heinrich LXII 1818-1854
• Heinrich LXVII 1854-1867
• Heinrich XIV 1867-1913
• Heinrich XXVII 1913-1918 (d.1928)