States_of_the_German_Empire_(1871)

States of the German Empire

States of the German Empire

Federated states of the German Empire

The German Empire consisted of 25 constituent states and an imperial territory, 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

The flags and coat of arms of all states, the Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine, and the Prussian provinces

Grand Duchies

Duchies

Cockades of the German states

Principalities

Free and Hanseatic Cities

Different from the above-mentioned monarchies these city-states were constitutionally organised as republics.

Imperial Territory

Different from all other aforementioned constituent states, this region, comprising territory ceded by France in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War, was first administered directly by the central government, but was granted limited autonomy in 1911 with an elected state parliament of its own.

See also
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