Minor German States

The nature of Feudalism, as it emerged throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, changed to one degree or another depending on which culture played host. In some realms, the sovereign developed into a towering magnet for all the political processes in the state, leaving local lords to become increasingly dependent on the central government. Other realms saw local lords and sovereigns engage in a protracted struggle for power, sometimes spanning centuries, causing a central government to evolve that left a place for a strong and active nobility. In Germany, the combination of succession laws favouring partititioning titles and lands equally among all descendents of a grantee, together with a particularly turbulent and irascible nobility, guarenteed the emergence of hundreds of small states. Each had a considerable degree of autonomy, each had its own peculiar traditions, each was liable to be united with its neighbours or further subdivided, depending upon genealogical accident. Here is a small sampling of some of these minor states...

ANHALT-DESSAU An ancient family with lands in Ostmark (Brandenburg-Prussia), Imperial Princes from the early 13th century. This list follows the fortunes of Anhalt-Dessau, usually the elder branch (Anhalt-Zerbst was the senior branch 1544-1603). Dessau became a Duchy in 1807, and by 1863 was the only surviving branch of the House in existence.

AREMBERG A small Rhenish territory, just across the Rhine from Koblenz. A Principality from 1576, and a Duchy from 1645, it was raised to fully sovereign status 1806-1810, under Napoleon.

BERG In far western Germany, near Aachen. A County from 1093. A Duchy from 1380. Made a Grand Duchy for the benefit of Napoleon's brother-in-law, and then brother, at the beginning of the 19th century.

BRUNSWICK-WOLFENBUTTEL An old and important division of the Brunswick (Braunschweig) lands in northwestern Germany, by the 18th century it was a small and relatively insignificant state, completely overshadowed by Hannover.

CLEVES On the Lower Rhine, just inside Germany at the Dutch border. A County from 1100, a Duchy from 1417.

FREE IMPERIAL CITIES Scattered throughout the Holy Roman Empire were a number of cities which held full autonomy from all save the Emperor himself. In most instances these republics held very small territories, but they are very great significance in the development of German culture and history. Here is a selection of such states...

FRIEDBERG (in der Wetterau) In Hesse. A Town and Citadel governed by an association of local Barons and Knights whose administrative chief was an elective Burggrave. Most of its lands absorbed by Hesse-Darmstadt in 1806, the balance taken in 1818.

HOHENZOLLERN-HECHINGEN Although this family is inextricably associated with Brandenburg, Prussia, and Imperial Germany of the 19th century, its roots are in Swabia. Here is the elder line of the senior branch of the dynasty, Princes of the Empire from 1623, rulers of a narrow territory within Wurttemberg.

HOHENZOLLERN-SIGMARINGEN As mentioned above, this family, long associated with Brandenburg, Prussia, and Imperial Germany of the 19th century, has its roots in Swabia. Here is the younger line of the senior branch of the dynasty, Princes of the Empire from 1623, rulers of a narrow territory within Wurttemberg. This branch of the family is the source of the Princes (1866-1881) and Kings (1881-1947) of Romania.

ISENBURG East of Frankfurt am Main, with territory along the river. Counts from 1442, the senior branch of the family were granted status as Princes in 1744. Compliance to French interests gave that branch sovereign Principality status in 1806. The Principality was mediatized in 1815. The list follows the fortunes of Isenburg-Birstein and its relicts, senior branch 1439-1511, and again from 1601.

JEVER A chip of Frisian territory, a Barony occupying the western headland of the Weser estuary. It is something of an oddity in that a chance inheritance to Anhalt-Zerbst brought about its endowerment to Russia through Catherine the Great.

JULICH In far western Germany, near Aachen. A County from 1143, a Margraviate from 1336, a Duchy from 1356.

LEYEN A small territory in the Rhineland, between Speyer and Worms. Lords of Abendorf, they became Barons of the Empire in 1653, and Counts of the Empire in 1711. For acquiescence to French interests, they were granted a Sovereign Principality during Napoleonic times.

LIPPE-DETMOLD In Westphalia. A County from 1529, the district was elevated to a Principality in 1720, which was, however, not confirmed until 1789.

MARCK A Rhenish district near the Dutch frontier. A County from 1208. A Duchy from 1417.

MECKLENBURG-STRELITZ The younger surviving branch of the Mecklenburg domains, possessors of a small territory at the southeast corner of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and like their more significant cousins, Grand Dukes in their lands from 1815.

NASSAU-ORANGE This represents one line (usually the elder) of the Junior branch of the Nassau dynasts. The city of Orange is a market town in southeast France. An independent County during the Middle Ages, it was inherited by the Nassavians listed below, but was seized by France in 1660, and formally ceded to it in 1714. Thus, the title was for much of its later duration nominal only. Nevertheless, the House of Nassau-Orange has had a large impact on Europe and the world, so it is only right to record them here.

REUSS-(Ober-)GREIZ In Thuringia, Counts from 1673, Princes from 1778. This is the elder surviving line. The Family of Reuss is noted for always naming every male child "Heinrich", using a variety of ennumeration systems to differentiate one from another; a practice adhered to since the 12th century.

REUSS-SCHLIEZ In Thuringia, Counts from 1673, Princes from 1806. This represents the younger surviving line. As mentioned above, the family of Reuss has named every male child "Heinrich", for the past 800 years or more.

SAXE-ALTENBURG In Thuringia, another of the Saxon duchies associated with the elder (Ernestine) branch of the Wettins.

SAXE-COBURG In Thuringia. The Ducal Branch delineated here is the progenitor of the Royal Houses of Belgium, Great Britain, Portugal, and Bulgaria.

SAXE-HILDBURGHAUSEN In Thuringia, another of the Saxon duchies associated with the elder (Ernestine) branch of the Wettins.

SAXE-MEININGEN In Thuringia. Called Saxe-Meiningen und Hildburghausen after 1826. George II will be known to historians of the theatre as an important figure in the development of modern stage production.

SAXE-WEIMAR In Thuringia. A Duchy from 1554, a Grand Duchy from 1815. From 1672, the senior surviving branch of the House of Wettin.

SCHAUMBURG-LIPPE In Westphalia. Another Lippe possession (see above, Lippe-Detmold), it pursued a separate identity after 1613, and was granted Princely status in 1807.

SCHWARZBURG-RUDOLSTADT In Thuringia. An old family of local Counts, this branch (the younger surviving branch of the House) was elevated to Princely status in 1710.

SCHWARZBURG-SONDERHAUSEN In Thuringia. An old family of local Counts, this branch (the elder surviving branch of the House) was elevated to Princely status in 1697.

WALDECK-PYRMONT In Hesse. A County from 1349, a Principality from 1712.

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