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Reuss (Name of two former sovereign)

the name of two former sovereign principalities of Germany; between the kingdom of Saxony on the E., the Prussian an duchy duchy of that name on the N., and Bavaria on the S. From 1666 the possessions of the House of Reuss were divided between the Elder and the Younger lines.

The principality of Reuss-Greiz (the Elder line) was 122 square miles in extent, and had about 75,000 inhabitants. The chief town is Greiz. The principality of the Younger Line was Reuss- Schleiz-Gera. Area, 319 square miles; pop. about 150,000. Capital, Schleiz.

Of both portions the surface is hilly, being traversed by the Frankenwald (Thüringer Wald), whose summits reach upward of 2,000 feet in height. The chief rivers are the Saale and the White Elster, the valleys of which are well cultivated. More than a third of each state is covered with forests; cattle are fattened on the extensive meadows; and woolen, cotton and silk goods are woven.

The reigning prince of each state was a hereditary sovereign, and in each state always bore the name of Heinrich. He was the executive. Reuss-Greiz had a legislative assembly of 12 members, of whom nine were chosen by the people for six years; Reuss-Schleiz-Gera had an assembly of 16 members, of whom 12 were chosen for three years by the people. The two principalities became republics in 1918, and on Apr. 4, 1919, were merged into the People's State of Reuss. In December, 1919, the new state joined with six other smaller states to form the Federated State of Thüringia.