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Principality of Reuss-Gera

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Principality of Reuss-Gera
Fürstentum Reuß-Gera (German)
1806–1918
Flag of Reuss-Gera
Flag
of Reuss-Gera
Coat of arms
Motto: Ich bau auf Gott
"I build on God"
Anthem: Heil unserm Fürsten, Heil!
"Hail to our Prince, Hail!"
Reuss Junior Line within the German Empire
Reuss Junior Line within the German Empire
Reuss Junior Line within Thuringia
Reuss Junior Line within Thuringia
CapitalGera
GovernmentPrincipality
Prince 
• 1806–1818
Heinrich XLII
• 1818–1854
Heinrich LXII
• 1854–1867
Heinrich LXVII
• 1867–1913
Heinrich XIV
• 1913–1918
Heinrich XXVII
Minister of State 
• 1825–1839
Gustav von Strauch
• 1918
Paul Ruckdeschel
History 
• Established
9 April 1806
• Disestablished
11 November 1918
Area
1905827 km2 (319 sq mi)
Population
• 1905
144,570
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Imperial County of Reuss
People's State of Reuss

The Principality of Reuss-Gera (German: Fürstentum Reuß-Gera), called the Principality of the Reuss Junior Line (German: Fürstentum Reuß jüngerer Linie) after 1848, was a sovereign state in modern Germany, ruled by members of the House of Reuss. It was one of the successor states of the Imperial County of Reuss. The Counts Reuss of Gera, of Schleiz, of Lobenstein, of Köstritz and of Ebersdorf, each became princes in 1806, and they and their reigning successors bore the title of Prince of Reuss-Gera. One may also refer to them using their branch names (for example: Prince Reuss of Köstriz).

Territory

The territories of four separate branches of the Junior Line amalgamated between 1824 and 1848. In 1905, the principality of the Reuss Junior Line had an area of 827 km2 (319 square miles) and a population of 145,000, with Gera as its capital.

In the aftermath of World War I, the territory of the Junior Line merged with that of the Elder Line in 1919 as the People's State of Reuss, which became part of the new state of Thuringia on 1 May 1920.

The princely house

The House of Reuss practises an unusual system of naming and numbering the male members of the family, every one of whom for centuries has borne the name "Heinrich". While most royal and noble houses give numbers only to the reigning head of the house, and that in the order of his reign, the Reuss Junior Line used a numbering sequence for all male family members which began and ended roughly as centuries began and ended.

In consequence of this naming system, certain heads of the Reuss Junior Line have had the highest numbers attached to their name of any European nobility. Note also that the male children within a single nuclear family need not bear sequential numbers, as all members of the larger family use a common numbering system. For example, the sons of Prince Heinrich LXVII Reuss of Schleiz, in order of their births, used the names Heinrich V, Heinrich VIII, Heinrich XI, Heinrich XIV, and Heinrich XVI.

A notable member of this family, Augusta Reuss of Ebersdorf (1757–1831), became the maternal grandmother of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

The designation of "Junior Line" fell into abeyance in 1930; the Elder Line had become extinct as its last male member, Heinrich XXIV, renounced his rights in 1918 and died unmarried in 1927.

Princes of Reuss-Gera (1806–1918)

  • Heinrich I, Lord of Reuss-Schleiz 1666-1673, Count of Reuss-Schleiz 1673-1692 (1639-1692)
    • Heinrich XI, Count of Reuss-Schleiz 1692-1726 (1669-1726)
      • Heinrich I, Count of Reuss-Schleiz 1726-1744 (1695-1744)
      • Heinrich XII, Count of Reuss-Schleiz 1744-1784 (1716-1784)
    • Heinrich XXIV, Count of Reuss-Schleiz-Köstritz 1692-1748 (1681-1748) (de), all surviving dynasts descend from him

Monarchy abolished in 1918.

Heads of the House of Reuss

  • Heinrich XXVII, 1918-1928 (1858-1928), became "Prince Reuss" 1927 on death of last Prince of the Elder Line
    • Heinrich XLV, Prince Reuss 1928-1945/1962 (1895-1945/1962), missing 1945, declared dead 1962, headship passed to 7th cousin once removed (see below)
  • Heinrich XXIV, Count of Reuss-Köstritz 1692-1748 (1681-1748), from above
    • Heinrich IX, Count of Reuss-Köstritz middle line 1748-1780 (1711-1780), second surviving son
      • Prince Heinrich XLIV of Reuss-Köstritz (1753-1832)
        • Prince Heinrich LXIII of Reuss-Köstritz (1786-1841)
          • Heinrich IV, 4th Prince Reuss zu Schleiz-Köstritz 1878-1894 (1821-1894)
            • Heinrich XXIV, 5th Prince Reuss zu Schleiz-Köstritz 1894-1910 (1855-1910)
              • Heinrich XXXIX, 6th Prince Reuss zu Schleiz-Köstritz 1910-1945 (1891-1946), renounced title
                • Heinrich IV, 7th Prince Reuss zu Schleiz-Köstritz 1945-1962, Prince Reuss 1962–2012 (1919-2012)
                  • Heinrich XIV, Prince Reuss 2012-present (born 1955)
                    • (1) Heinrich XXIX, Hereditary Prince Reuss (born 1997)
                    • (2) Prince Heinrich V Reuss (born 2012)
                • Prince Heinrich VII Reuss (1927-2002)
                  • (3) Prince Heinrich XIX Reuss (born 1974)
                  • (4) Prince Heinrich XXI Reuss (born 1976)
          • Prince Heinrich XII (1829-1866)
            • Prince Heinrich XXVIII (1859-1924, renounced his titles 1908)
              • Prince Heinrich XXXIV (1887-1956)
                • Prince Heinrich I (1910-1982)
                  • (5) Prince Heinrich VIII (born 1944)
                    • (6) Prince Heinrich XX (born 1975)
                    • (7) Prince Heinrich XXIII (born 1979)
                  • (8) Prince Heinrich IX (born 1947)
                    • (9) Prince Heinrich XXVI (born 1988)
                  • (10) Prince Heinrich X (born 1948)
                    • (11) Prince Heinrich XXIV (born 1984)
                • Prince Heinrich III (1919-1993)
                  • (12) Prince Heinrich XII (born 1950)
                    • (13) Prince Heinrich XXI (born 1976)
                      • (14) Prince Heinrich III (born ca. 2010)
                      • (15) Prince Heinrich IV (born 2011)
                    • (16) Prince Heinrich XXV (born 1984)
                  • (17) Prince Heinrich XVII (born 1968)
                    • (18) Prince Heinrich II (born 2004)
        • Prince Heinrich LXXIV (1798-1886), third surviving son, descendants survive as Count of Plauen Line
    • Heinrich XXIII, Count of Reuss-Schleiz-Köstritz junior line 1748-1787 (1722-1787), third surviving son, dynasts survive in 2015

[1]

Other notable figures

References

  1. ^ Online Gotha - Reuss

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