The princes of Reuss are descended from the vogts of Weida.
Erkenbert I (1122) is proved by documentary evidence to have been their ancestor.
His successors acquire almost the whole Vogtland by feuds or marriage settlement, although in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries they lose the greater part of their possessions, most of which fall to the Electorate of Saxony.
In 1244, Henry IV enters a German monastery.
His sons divide his possessions, their seats being respectively at Weida (extinct in 1535), Gera (extinct in 1550), and Plauen.In 1306, the Plauen branch is subdivided into an elder line that dies out in 1572, and a younger line called Plauen at Greiz.
Henry, the founder of the Plauen line (d. about 1300), on account of his marriage with a granddaughter of King Daniel of Galicia receives the surname of "der Reusse" (Ruthenus), whence the name passes to the country.On account of the close relations of Reuss with the neighbouring Saxon states, Lutheranism speedily gains a foothold in Reuss.
The rulers join the Schmalkaldic League against the German emperor, and forfeit their possessions, but afterwards recover them.In 1564, the sons of Henry XIII of Reuss at Greiz divide the estates into* Reuss at Lower Greiz, descendants of Henry XIV the Elder* Reuss at Upper Greiz, descendants of Henry XV the Middle* Reuss at Gera, descendants of Henry XVI the Younger.While the Middle Reuss becomes extinct in 1616, the Older and Younger line are divided again several times until in 1778 Count Henry XI unites the possessions of Upper and Lower Greiz to the Principality of Reuss Elder Line.
In return, the remaining estates of Gera become the Principality of Reuss Younger Line in 1806.The two remaining Reuss principalities go on to join in turn the German Confederation (in 1815).
