Heinrich XXII, Prince Reuss of Greiz
Encyclopedia
Prince Heinrich XXII Reuss of Greiz (Greiz
, 28 March 1846 – Greiz
, 19 April 1902) was the reigning sovereign of Reuss
, a small principality of the German states, from 1859 to his death in 1902.
after the death of his father on 8 November 1859. As Heinrich was a mere thirteen years of age, his mother Caroline served as regent until his majority at the age of 21. As the daughter of an Austrian general and the wife of an Austrian officer, Caroline was vehemently anti-Prussian. As a result, during the Austro-Prussian War
, Reuss was occupied by Prussian troops, who remained until a payment of 100,000 thaler
s.
On 28 March 1867, Heinrich took the reins of government into his own hands. Upon taking full power, he gave his principality its first constitution. Like his parents, Heinrich remained anti-Prussian his entire life, repeatedly rejecting Prussian measures such as Kulturkampf
and the creation of civil marriage
s. Heinrich, as well as his subjects in Reuss, refused fully to accept that the Hohenzollern German Emperors had precedence over other royal houses; for instance, when asked about his relationship with the Emperor, Heinrich would simply respond that they "were allies for the common defense of the German Federation". Heinrich lost no opportunity to displease the Emperor, declining to permit the construction of any memorial to Emperor Wilhelm I, Wilhelm II's beloved grandfather. Heinrich also refused to tolerate any demonstrations of mourning, either official or in private when the deaths of emperors Wilhelm I and Frederick III
occurred, and forbade any celebration of the anniversaries of the German victories of 1870.
Prince Heinrich was very wealthy, as the greater part of the territory he ruled over was his private property. At the end of his rule, Reuss contained fewer than 70,000 people, and comprised an area of 122 square miles.
.
, a daughter of Adolf I, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe
. They had the following children:
, and the prince himself had served alongside Emperor Wilhelm in the regiment of the Hussars of the Guard, thus repairing relations between the houses of Hohenzollern and Reuss.
Greiz
Greiz is a town in Thuringia, and it is the capital of the district of Greiz. Greiz is situated in eastern Thuringia on the river Weiße Elster....
, 28 March 1846 – Greiz
Greiz
Greiz is a town in Thuringia, and it is the capital of the district of Greiz. Greiz is situated in eastern Thuringia on the river Weiße Elster....
, 19 April 1902) was the reigning sovereign of Reuss
Reuss Elder Line
The Principality of Reuss Elder Line was a state in Germany, ruled by members of the House of Reuss. The Counts Reuss of Greiz, Lower- and Upper Greiz , were elevated to princely status in 1778. Its members bore the title Prince Reuss, Elder Line, or Prince Reuss of Greiz...
, a small principality of the German states, from 1859 to his death in 1902.
Reign
Prince Heinrich succeeded as reigning Prince Reuss of GreizReuss Elder Line
The Principality of Reuss Elder Line was a state in Germany, ruled by members of the House of Reuss. The Counts Reuss of Greiz, Lower- and Upper Greiz , were elevated to princely status in 1778. Its members bore the title Prince Reuss, Elder Line, or Prince Reuss of Greiz...
after the death of his father on 8 November 1859. As Heinrich was a mere thirteen years of age, his mother Caroline served as regent until his majority at the age of 21. As the daughter of an Austrian general and the wife of an Austrian officer, Caroline was vehemently anti-Prussian. As a result, during the Austro-Prussian War
Austro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
, Reuss was occupied by Prussian troops, who remained until a payment of 100,000 thaler
Thaler
The Thaler was a silver coin used throughout Europe for almost four hundred years. Its name lives on in various currencies as the dollar or tolar. Etymologically, "Thaler" is an abbreviation of "Joachimsthaler", a coin type from the city of Joachimsthal in Bohemia, where some of the first such...
s.
On 28 March 1867, Heinrich took the reins of government into his own hands. Upon taking full power, he gave his principality its first constitution. Like his parents, Heinrich remained anti-Prussian his entire life, repeatedly rejecting Prussian measures such as Kulturkampf
Kulturkampf
The German term refers to German policies in relation to secularity and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Prime Minister of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck. The Kulturkampf did not extend to the other German states such as Bavaria...
and the creation of civil marriage
Civil marriage
Civil marriage is marriage performed by a government official and not a religious organization.-History:Every country maintaining a population registry of its residents keeps track of marital status, and most countries believe that it is their responsibility to register married couples. Most...
s. Heinrich, as well as his subjects in Reuss, refused fully to accept that the Hohenzollern German Emperors had precedence over other royal houses; for instance, when asked about his relationship with the Emperor, Heinrich would simply respond that they "were allies for the common defense of the German Federation". Heinrich lost no opportunity to displease the Emperor, declining to permit the construction of any memorial to Emperor Wilhelm I, Wilhelm II's beloved grandfather. Heinrich also refused to tolerate any demonstrations of mourning, either official or in private when the deaths of emperors Wilhelm I and Frederick III
Frederick III, German Emperor
Frederick III was German Emperor and King of Prussia for 99 days in 1888, the Year of the Three Emperors. Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl known informally as Fritz, was the only son of Emperor William I and was raised in his family's tradition of military service...
occurred, and forbade any celebration of the anniversaries of the German victories of 1870.
Prince Heinrich was very wealthy, as the greater part of the territory he ruled over was his private property. At the end of his rule, Reuss contained fewer than 70,000 people, and comprised an area of 122 square miles.
Frankfurt National Assembly
In the late 1840s, there were discussions at the Frankfurt National Assembly for the creation of a hereditary imperial royal family that would rule over a united Germany, along with a new parliament and constitution. There was much debate however on which particular royal dynasty would become Emperor, as many Germans refused to back the Hohenzollern claim. This led Prince John of Saxony for instance to remark that "If the nine Electors of the old German Empire were restored, the Prince of Reuss-Greiz would have a better chance of being Emperor than the King of Prussia".German ambassador
Prince Heinrich served as the German ambassador to Vienna under the reign of Wilhelm I, German Emperor and his chancellor Otto von BismarckOtto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
.
Marriage and issue
On 8 October 1872, he married Princess Ida of Schaumburg-LippePrincess Ida of Schaumburg-Lippe
Princess Ida Matilda Adelaide of Schaumburg-Lippe was the consort of Heinrich XXII, Prince Reuss of Greiz from 1872 until her death...
, a daughter of Adolf I, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe
Adolf I, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe
Adolf I, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe was a ruler of the Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe.-Biography:He was born in Bückeburg to Georg Wilhelm, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe and Princess Ida of Waldeck and Pyrmont ....
. They had the following children:
- Heinrich XXIV, Prince Reuss of GreizHeinrich XXIV, Prince Reuss of GreizHeinrich XXIV, Prince Reuss of Greiz was the last reigning Prince Reuss of Greiz from 1902 to 1918. Then he became Head of the House Reuss of Greiz which became extinct at his death in 1927.-Early life:...
(1878–1927) - Princess Emma (1881–1961) ∞ (1903) Graf Erich von Ehrenburg (1880–1930)
- Princess Marie (1882–1942) ∞ (1904) Freiherr Ferdinand von Gnagnoni (1878–1955)
- Princess CarolinePrincess Caroline Reuss of GreizPrincess Caroline Reuss of Greiz was the first wife of Wilhelm Ernst, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.-Early life:...
(1884–1905) ∞ (1903) Wilhelm Ernst, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1876–1923) - Princess Hermine (1887–1947) ∞ I. (1907) Prince Johann Georg of Schoenaich-Carolath (1873–1920); ∞ II. (1922) Ex-Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859–1941)
- Princess Ida (1891–1977) ∞ (1911) Fürst Christoph Martin III. zu Stolberg-Roßla (1888–1949)
Death and succession
Prince Heinrich died of heart trouble on 19 April 1902. His death meant his mentally and physically disabled only son Prince Heinrich became reigning prince of Reuss. As the prince was clearly unable to fulfill these duties, arrangements for a regency were made. A younger branch of the Reuss family was next-in-line to the title, but there was some concern that Heinrich might choose another for the regency, as he disliked them. In the end, Heinrich's distant cousin Prince Heinrich XXVII was chosen; his wife was a cousin of Empress Augusta ViktoriaAugusta Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein
Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein was the last German Empress and Queen of Prussia. Her full German name was Auguste Victoria Friederike Luise Feodora Jenny von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg.She was the eldest daughter of Frederick VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein and Princess...
, and the prince himself had served alongside Emperor Wilhelm in the regiment of the Hussars of the Guard, thus repairing relations between the houses of Hohenzollern and Reuss.
Titles and styles
- 28 March 1846 – 8 November 1859: His Serene Highness Prince Heinrich XXII Reuss of Greiz
- 8 November 1859 – 19 April 1902: His Serene Highness The Prince Reuss of Greiz