Principality of Reuss-Greiz

The Principality of Reuss-Greiz (German: Fürstentum Reuß-Greiz), officially called the Principality of the Reuss Elder Line (German: Fürstentum Reuß älterer Linie) after 1848, was a state in the German Empire, 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.

Principality of Reuss-Greiz (1778–1848) Fürstentum Reuß-Greiz Principality of the Reuss Elder Line (1848–1918) Fürstentum Reuß älterer Linie
1778–1918
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Ich bau auf Gott  (German for 'I rely on God')
Anthem: Gott, erhalt in deiner Gnaden unsern Fürsten, deinen Knecht "God, preserve in your grace our prince, your servant"
Reuss-Greiz within the German Empire
Reuss-Greiz within Thuringia
Capital	Greiz
Government	Principality
Prince
• 1778–1800	Heinrich XI
• 1800–1817	Heinrich XIII
• 1817–1836	Heinrich XIX
• 1836–1859	Heinrich XX
• 1859–1902	Heinrich XXII
• 1902–1918	Heinrich XXIV
Minister of State
• 1782–1833	Franz von Grün (first)
• 1901–1918	Ernst von Meding (last)
History
• Established	12 May 1778
• Disestablished	11 November 1918
Preceded by Succeeded by Imperial County of Reuss People's State of Reuss
Today part of	Germany

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 km² and over 72,000 inhabitants in 1910.

Reuss-Greiz 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.

• 
  The Upper Castle at Greiz
• 
  The Lower Castle at Greiz

Princes of Reuss-Greiz (1778–1918)

For the rulers of Reuss-Greiz, see Imperial County of Reuss § Rulers of Reuss.

Notable figures

• Princess Hermine Reuss of Greiz, second wife of former German Emperor Wilhelm II
• 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