Principality of Reuss-Gera

The Principality of Reuss-Gera, called the Principality of the Reuss Junior Line after 1848, was a sovereign state in modern Germany, ruled by members of the House of Reuss. It was one of the successor states of the Imperial County of Reuss. The Counts Reuss, with their respective capitals and Residenzen at Gera, Schleiz, Lobenstein, Köstritz and Ebersdorf were all elevated to the title of prince in 1806, and their successor branch heads shared that title, while their cadets were also each titled prince. Thus all males of the family were properly "Prince Heinrich Reuss, J.L.", without use of a nobiliary particle, although for convenience their branch names remained in colloquial use.