European Heraldry

House of Reuss

Lords of Reuss 1106-1206
Egbert I, (d.1122), Ancestor of the House of Reuss.

Reuss divided 1206:
Lords of Reuss- 1206-1532 ex.
Lords of Reuss-Gera 1206-1425 ex.
Lords of Reuss-Gera 1425-1479 ex.
Lords of Reuss-Lobenstein 1425-1547 ex.
Lords of Reuss-Plauen 1206-1303
Lords of Reuss-Plauen 1303-1569 ex.
Lords of Reuss-Greiz 1303

Reuss-Greiz divided 1564:
Lords of Reuss of Unter-Greiz 1564-1673
Counts of Reuss of Unter-Greiz 1673-1678
Counts of Reuss of Greiz 1678-1778
Princes of Reuss of Senior Line(Greiz) 1778-1927 ex.
Lords of Reuss of Ober-Greiz 1564-1616 ex.
Lords of Reuss- 1564-1647

Reuss-Gera divided 1647:
Lords of Reuss-Gera 1647-1673
Counts of Reuss- 1673-1802 ex.
Lords of Reuss-Schleiz 1647-1673
Counts of Reuss-Schleiz 1673-1692
Lords of Reuss-Lobenstein 1647-1673
Counts of Reuss-Lobenstein 1673–1678

Reuss-Schleiz divided 1692:
Counts of Reuss-Schleiz 1692-1802
Counts of Reuss-Schleiz-Gera 1802-1806
Princes of Reuss-Schleiz-Gera 1806-1848
Princes of Reuss Junior Line 1848-present
Counts of Reuss-Schleiz-Köstriz 1692-1817
Princes of Reuss-Schleiz-Köstriz 1817-present

Reuss-Lobenstein divided 1678:
Counts of Reuss-Lobenstein 1673–1790
Princes of Reuss-Lobenstein 1790–1824 ex.
Counts of Reuss-Ebersdorf 1678–1806
Princes of Reuss-Ebersdorf 1806–24
Princes of Reuss-Lobenstein-Ebersdorf 1824–48 ex.

All of the male members of the House of Reuss are named Heinrich/ Henry plus a number. The first male child born in each century is named Heinrich/Henry I, the second Heinrich/Henry II and so on until the beginning of the new century when the numbering begins anew. This odd regulation was formulated as a Family Law in 1688, but the tradition of the uniformity of name was in practice as early as 1200. It was seen as a way of honouring the Emperor Henry VI who raised Henry the Rich (+1209) to the office of provost of the Cloister in Quedlinburg.

• Heinrich Reuß von Plauen ‘the Elder’,(c.1370–1429), 27th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, from 1410-1413.
• Heinrich Reuß von Plauen ‘the Younger’ (d. 1470), 32nd Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, from 1467-70.
• Heinrich XIV, Prince Reuss of Junior Line(Schleiz) reigned 1867-1913 founded the Princely Honour Cross (Fürstlich Reussisches Ehrenkreuz) on May 24, 1869. When his son Fürst Heinrich XXVII was made regent of the Reuss Elder Line in 1902, the Honour Cross was extended to that state as well. Thus, from 1902 to 1913, Heinrich XIV awarded the Honour Cross as Fürst of the Reuss Younger Line while his son awarded it as regent in the name of Heinrich XXIV of the Reuss Elder Line. In 1913, with Heinrich XIV's death, Heinrich XXVII awarded it for both houses (although in the case of the Reuss Elder Line, still in the name of Heinrich XXIV).