Reuss Elder Line

Infobox Former Country
native_name = Fürstentum Reuß ältere Linie
conventional_long_name = Principality of Reuss Elder Line
common_name = Reuss Elder Line
continent = Europe
region =
country = Germany
government_type = Principality
year_start = 1778
year_end = 1918
event_start =
date_start =
event_end = Merged with younger line
date_end =
event_post = Thuringia founded
date_post = 1919
p1 = Reuss (state)
s1 = Republic of Reuss
flag_s1 = Flagge Fürstentum Reuß ältere Linie.svg

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image_map_caption = Reuss Elder Line within Thuringia
capital = Greiz
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The Principality of Reuss Elder Line ( _de. Fürstentum Reuß ältere Linie) was a state in Germany, ruled by members of the House of Reuss. The Counts Reuss of Greiz, Lower- and Upper Greiz ( _de. Reuß zu Greiz, Untergreiz und Obergreiz), were elevated to princely status in 1778. Its members bore the title "Prince Reuss, Elder Line", or "Prince Reuss of Greiz". Similarly to the more numerous Reuss Younger Line, the male members of this house were all named "Heinrich" and were numbered sequentially by birth, rather than by reign, the last series beginning with Heinrich I (born 1693) and ending with Heinrich XXIV (1878-1927).

The Prinicipality of Reuss Elder Line had an area of 317 km² and a population of 71,000 (1905). Its capital was Greiz.

In the aftermath of World War I, the territory of the Elder Line was merged with the Junior Line in 1919 as the Republic of Reuss, which was incorporated into the new state of Thuringia in 1919. The Reuss Elder Line died with the death of the childless Heinrich XXIV in 1927, after which its claims were passed to the younger line.

Princes Reuss, Elder Line (1778-1918)

*Heinrich XI 1778-1800
*Heinrich XIII 1800-1817
*Heinrich XIX 1817-1836
*Heinrich XX 1836-1859
*Heinrich XXII 1859-1902
*Heinrich XXIV 1902-1918

Princes post monarchy

*Heinrich XXIV 1918-1927"To Reuss Junior Line on the death of Prince Heinrich XXIV"