The New International Encyclopædia/Reuss

REUSS, rois. Two sovereign principalities of Germany, situated between the Prussian Province of Saxony, the Kingdom of Saxony, Bavaria, and some of the Saxon duchies, and separated from each other by the outlying district of Neustadt of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar (Map: Germany, D 3). They are: Reuss Elder Line, or Reuss-Greiz, and Reuss Younger Line, or Reuss-Schleiz. Reuss-Greiz covers an area of 122 square miles and is largely mountainous. Its principal products are woolens and knit goods. The Constitution of 1867 provides for a legislative assembly of 12 members, of whom three are nominated by the Prince, two by the nobility, three elected by the towns, and four by the rural districts. The capital is Greiz. The principality is represented by one member in the Bundesrat and sends one deputy to the Reichstag. Population, in 1900, 68,287, almost entirely Protestants.

Reuss-Schleiz consists of a number of detached parcels of territory with a total area of 319 square miles. It is a mountainous country with deposits of marble and salt. The chief manufactures are woolen and cotton goods, machinery, musical instruments, and leather. The legislative body consists of 16 members, of whom three are elected by those paying the highest taxes, and 12 by the rest of the qualified voters, the head of the House of Reuss-Köstritz being an hereditary member. The executive and in part the legislative powers are vested in the Prince, who is assisted by a cabinet of three members. The principality sends one member to the Bundesrat and one deputy to the Reichstag. The population in 1900 was 138,993, almost entirely Protestant. The capital is Gera. Consult: Mauke, Heimatskunde des Fürstentums Reuss (Halle, 1877); Gaul, Beiträge zur Landeskunde des Fürstentums Reuss (Greiz, 1900).