Constituent States[]
The German Empire consisted of 31 constituent states, of which Prussia was the largest. Each state held votes in the Bundesrat, although Prussia mainly dominated the legislature with its 17 votes.
Kingdoms[]
The component Kingdoms of the German Empire are the most influential members in the state. They raise the strongest armies to fight the wars, and incorporate the armies of smaller, nearby states. There were six kingdoms within the German Empire at its maximum: Prussia, Bavaria, Bohemia, Saxony, Württemberg and Denmark.
Flag | State | Capital | Admission | Coat of Arms | Location |
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Prussia (Königreich Preußen) |
Berlin | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Bohemia (Königreich Böhmen) |
Prague | August 25, 1952 | ![]() |
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Bavaria (Königreich Bayern) |
Munich | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Saxony (Königreich Sachsen) |
Dresden | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Württemberg (Königreich Württemberg) |
Stuttgart | January 18, 1871 | ![]() | ||
Denmark (Königreich Dänemark) |
Copenhagen | August 25, 1952 | ![]() |
Archduchies[]
The Archduchy of Austria was the only "Archduchy" in the German Empire. This is simply because the term is one devised by the Habsburgs, in order to elevate themselves above the members of the Holy Roman Empire. Nevertheless, after Austria's incorporation into the Empire, the title was allowed to remain, and Austria was treated similarly to the member kingdoms.
Flag | State | Capital | Admission | Coat of Arms | Location |
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Austria (Erzherzogtum Österreich) |
Vienna | August 25, 1952 | ![]() |
Grand Duchies[]
The Grand Duchies held less power than the Kingdoms or Austria, but nevertheless held sizable votes in the Reichstag, and retained their independent armies, but were the lowest states to do so.
Flag | State | Capital | Admission | Coat of Arms | Location |
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Baden (Großherzogtum Baden) |
Karlsruhe | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Hesse (Großherzogtum Hessen) |
Darmstadt | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Luxembourg (Großherzogtum Luxemburg) |
Luxembourg | April 23, 1922 | ![]() | ||
Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Großherzogtum Mecklenburg-Schwerin) |
Schwerin | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Großherzogtum Mecklenburg-Strelitz) |
Strelitz | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Oldenburg (Großherzogtum Oldenburg) |
Oldenburg | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (Großherzogtum Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach) |
Weimar | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Duchies[]
The Duchies were considerably weak in terms of military and political power, and in times of war lumped their armies into that of a neighboring kingdom or grand duchy.
Flag | State | Capital | Admission | Coat of Arms | Location |
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Anhalt (Herzogtum Anhalt) |
Anhalt | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Brunswick (Herzogtum Braunschweig) |
Braunschweig | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Saxe-Altenburg (Herzogtum Sachsen-Altenburg) |
Altenburg | January 18, 1871 | ![]() | ||
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Herzogtum Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha) |
Coburg and Gotha | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Saxe-Meiningen (Herzogtum Sachsen-Meiningen) |
Meiningen | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Principalities[]
The Principalities held mostly nominal power in the German Empire, their militaries were often incorporated into nearby duchies, which were then, in turn, incorporated into a nearby greater state. Only over their own internal affairs did they have power.
Flag | State | Capital | Admission | Coat of Arms | Location |
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Lippe (Fürstentum Lippe) |
Detmold | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Reuss-Gera (Fürstentum Reuss-Gera) |
Gera | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Reuss-Greiz (Fürstentum Reuss-Greiz) |
Greiz | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Schaumburg-Lippe (Fürstentum Schaumburg-Lippe) |
Bükeburg | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (Fürstentum Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt) |
Rudolstadt | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (Fürstentum Schwarzburg-Sondershausen) |
Sondershausen | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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Waldeck-Pyrmont (Fürstentum Waldeck und Pyrmont) |
Arolsen | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
City-States[]
The city-states all shared one vote in the Reichstag, and it often went uncast due to disagreements on how it should be voted.
Flag | State | Capital | Admission | Coat of Arms | Location |
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Berlin (Berlin) |
Berlin | January 18, 1971 | |||
Bremen (Freie Hansestadt Bremen) |
Bremen | January 18, 1871 | |||
Hamburg (Freie Hansestadt Hamburg) |
Hamburg | January 18, 1871 | |||
Lübeck (Freie Hansestadt Lübeck) |
Lübeck | January 18, 1871 |
Imperial Territories[]
Alsace-Lorraine was the chief imperial territory (Reichsland) during the duration of the german empire. While administered directly from Berlin, it was granted considerable autonomy, and maintained its separate votes even after Berlin became a separate state.
Flag | State | Capital | Admission | Coat of Arms | Location |
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Alsace-Lorraine (Reichsland Elsaß-Lothringen) |
Straßburg | January 18, 1871 | ![]() |
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