The Principality of Reuss-Greiz (german: Fürstentum Reuß-Greiz), called the Principality of the Reuss Elder Line (german: Fürstentum Reuß älterer Linie) after 1848, was a
sovereign state in modern Germany, ruled by members of the
House of Reuss. The Counts Reuss of Greiz, Lower-Greiz and Upper-Greiz (german: Reuß zu Greiz, Untergreiz und Obergreiz) were elevated to
princely status in 1778 and thereafter bore the title of ''Prince Reuss, Elder Line'', or ''Prince Reuss of Greiz''.
Similarly to the more numerous
Reuss Junior Line, the male members of this house were all named "Heinrich", in honour of Emperor
Heinrich VI, who had benefited the family. They were numbered sequentially by birth, rather than by reign, with the last series beginning with Heinrich I (born 1693) and ending with Heinrich XXIV (1878–1927).
The territory had an area of 317 km
2 and over 72,000 inhabitants in 1910.
RG preserved the
Frankfurt Parliament flag, which later became the
Flag of Germany.
Territory
In 1919, in the aftermath of
World War I, the territory of the Elder Line was merged with that of the
Junior Line as the
People's State of Reuss, which was incorporated into the new state of
Thuringia in 1920. The Elder Line died out in 1927 with the death of the childless
Heinrich XXIV, after which its claims were passed to the Junior Line.
File:Blick zum "Oberen Schloß" vom "Weißen Kreuz".jpg, The Upper Castle at Greiz
File:Unteres Schloss Greiz.JPG, The Lower Castle at Greiz
Princes of Reuss-Greiz (1778–1918)
Princes post-monarchy
Heinrich XXIV, 6th Prince 1918–1927 (1878–1927)
''To
Reuss Junior Line on the death of Prince Heinrich XXIV''
Notable figures
*
Princess Hermine Reuss of Greiz, second wife of former
German Emperor Wilhelm II
, house = Hohenzollern
, father = Frederick III, German Emperor
, mother = Victoria, Princess Royal
, religion = Lutheranism (Prussian United)
, signature = Wilhelm II, German Emperor Signature-.svg
Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor ...
*
Princess Caroline Reuss of Greiz, wife of
Wilhelm Ernst, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
*
Prince Heinrich XV of Reuss-Plauen,
Generalfeldmarschall of the
Holy Roman Empire
See also
*
Flag of Germany, whose modern colors match those of the Reuss-Greiz principality
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reuss-Greiz, Principality of
States and territories disestablished in 1918
States and territories established in 1778
States of the Confederation of the Rhine
Reuss
States of the German Confederation
States of the German Empire
Upper Saxon Circle
Former states and territories of Thuringia
* Elder
1778 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire
1918 disestablishments in Germany
States of the North German Confederation