States of the German Empire
The German Empire consisted originally of 27, and later (as of 1876) 26 constituent states, the largest of which was Prussia. These states, or Staaten (or Bundesstaaten, i.e. federal states, a name derived from the previous North German Confederation; they became known as Länder during the Weimar Republic) each had votes in the Bundesrat, which gave them representation at a federal level.
Several of these states had gained sovereignty following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. Others were created as sovereign states after the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Territories were not necessarily contiguous, such as Bavaria, or Oldenburg—many existed in several parts (enclaves and exclaves), as a result of historical acquisitions, or, in several cases, divisions of the ruling family trees.
Kingdoms
- Kingdom of Prussia (itself subdivided into provinces)
- Kingdom of Bavaria
- Kingdom of Saxony
- Kingdom of Württemberg
Grand Duchies
- Grand Duchy of Baden
- Grand Duchy of Hesse
- Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (Grand Duchy of Saxony from 1877)
- Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- Grand Duchy of Oldenburg
Duchies
- Duchy of Brunswick
- Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg
- Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen
- Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
- Duchy of Anhalt
- Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg (until 1876, then merged into Prussia)
Principalities
- Principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
- Principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
- Principality of Waldeck-Pyrmont
- Principality of Reuss-Greiz (Senior Line)
- Principality of Reuss-Gera (Junior Line)
- Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe
- Principality of Lippe
Free and Hanseatic Cities
Different from the above-mentioned monarchies these city-states were constitutionally organised as republics.
- Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck
- Free and Hanseatic City of Bremen
- Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
Imperial Territories
Different from all other aforementioned constituent states, this region, comprising territory ceded by France in 1871, was first administered by the central government, growing later into a republic of restricted autonomy only, with an elected state parliament of its own as of 1912.
See also
- Provinces of Prussia
- States of the German Confederation
- Administrative divisions of Weimar Germany
- Administrative divisions of Nazi Germany
- Administrative divisions of East Germany
- States of Germany
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