Succession to the throne of Reuss

The succession to the throne of Reuss is vested in the male members of the Princely House of Reuss. The two Reuss principalities, Reuss Elder Line and Reuss Younger Line were abolished when on 11 November 1918 Heinrich XXVII, Prince Reuss Younger Line was forced to abdicate on his own behalf and on behalf of his kinsman Heinrich XXIV, Prince Reuss Elder Line for whom he was the regent.

In 1927 the claim to the two principalities was united in the person of Heinrich XXVII, Prince Reuss Younger Line upon the extinction of the Reuss Elder Line. The head of the House of Reuss and heir to the throne since 2012 is Heinrich XIV, Prince Reuss.

Succession law
The succession to the principality of Reuss Elder line was set out in Part 1 Article 3 of the principality's constitution

"Article 3. The Prince is the hereditary Lord. His person is inviolable. The right of succession to the Government follows, according to the House and family compacts of Reuss, the principle of first born and the lineal agnatic descent in the male line. He shall exercise the sovereignty in constitutional manner, the administrative powers in cooperation with the Diet ; the executive powers he wields alone. He shall appoint the State officials and represent the country in its external relations."

The succession to the principality of Reuss Younger line was set in Section II Article 8 of the principality's constitution.

"Article 8. The Government of the land with all its present and future parts, as well as the princely possessions belonging to primogeniture, are hereditary in the male line of the Princely House in conformity with the family laws according to the right of primogeniture and agnatic succession."

Equal marriage is a requirement for succession to the throne and membership of the House of Reuss in accordance with the House Law of 12 July 1893, as amended 4 July 1902, and by resolutions agreed by the agnates 26 January 1957 at Munich and again on 18 October 1996 at Köstritz. Comments to the media by the head of the house Prince Heinrich XIV in December 2022 on the place in the line of succession of Prince Heinrich XIII Reuss suggested the equal marriage rule may have been removed.

Current line of succession

 * Count Heinrich XXIV (1681-1748)
 * Count Heinrich IX (1711-1780)
 * Prince Heinrich XLIV (1753-1832)
 * Prince Heinrich LXIII (1786-1841)
 * Heinrich IV, Prince Reuss-Köstritz (1821-1894)
 * Heinrich XXIV, Prince Reuss-Köstritz (1855-1910)
 * Prince Heinrich XXXIX Reuss (1891-1946)
 * Heinrich IV, Prince Reuss (1919-2012)
 * Heinrich XIV, Prince Reuss (b. 1955)
 * (1) Heinrich XXIX, Hereditary Prince Reuss (b. 1997)
 * (2) Prince Heinrich V (b. 2012)
 * Prince Heinrich VII (1927-2002)
 * (3) Prince Heinrich XIX (b. 1974) morganatic marriage
 * Heinrich VII Prinz Reuss (b. 2017)
 * (4) Prince Heinrich XXII (b. 1976) morganatic marriage
 * Prince Heinrich VII (1825-1906)
 * Prince Heinrich XXXV (1887-1936)
 * Prince Heinrich V (1921-1980) morganatic marriage
 * Heinrich XXVII Ico Prinz Reuß (b. 1964)
 * Prince Heinrich XII (1829-1866)
 * Prince Heinrich XXVIII (1859-1924)
 * Prince Heinrich XXXIV (1887-1956)
 * Prince Heinrich I (1910-1982)
 * (5) Prince Heinrich VIII Reuss (b. 1944)
 * (6) Prince Heinrich XX (b.1975)
 * (7) Prince Heinrich XXIII (b.1979)
 * (8) Prince Heinrich IX (b. 1947)
 * (9) Prince Heinrich XXVI (b. 1988)
 * (10) Prince Heinrich X Reuss (b. 1948)
 * (11) Prince Heinrich XXIV (b. 1984)
 * (12) Prince Heinrich XIII (b. 1951) morganatic marriage
 * Heinrich XXVIII Prinz Reuß (b. 1991)
 * (13) Prince Heinrich XV Reuss (b. 1956) morganatic marriage
 * Heinrich XXX Prinz Reuß (b.1999)
 * Prince Heinrich III (1919-1993)
 * (14) Prince Heinrich XII (b. 1950)
 * (15) Prince Heinrich XXI (b. 1976)
 * (16) Prince Heinrich III (b. 2010)
 * (17) Prince Heinrich IV (b. 2011)
 * (18) Prince Heinrich VI (b. 2014)
 * (19) Prince Heinrich XXV (b. 1984)
 * (20) Prince Heinrich XVII (b. 1968) morganatic marriage
 * Heinrich II Prinz Reuß (b. 2004)
 * Prince Heinrich LXXIV (1798-1886)
 * Prince Heinrich IX (1827-1898)
 * Prince Heinrich XXVI (1857-1913)
 * Prince Heinrich Harry, Count von Plauen (1890-1951)
 * Prince Heinrich Enzio (1922-2000)
 * (18) Prince Heinrich Achaz (b. 1956) - morganatic marriage
 * Henrich XXXII Caspar Prinz Reuß (b. 1993)
 * Heinrich XXXIII Jacob Prinz Reuß (b. 1999)
 * (21)Prince Heinrich Patrik (b. 1966)
 * Count Enzio Heinrich von Plauen (1893-1973) - morganatic marriage
 * Count Rigo Heinrich von Plauen (b. 1935)
 * Count Richard Heinrich von Plauen (b. 1964)
 * Count Harry von Plauen (b. 2012)
 * Count Enzio Viktor Heinrich von Plauen (b. 1972)
 * Count Calixte Calle Heinrich von Plauen (b. 2003)
 * Count Friedrich Rigo Heinrich von Plauen (b. 1972)
 * Count Heinrich XXIII (1722-1787)
 * Count Heinrich LV (1768-1846)
 * Count Heinrich LV (1768-1846)
 * Prince Heinrich II (1803-1852)
 * Prince Heinrich XVIII (1847-1911)
 * Prince Heinrich XXXVII (1888-1964)
 * (22) Prince Heinrich XI Licco (b. 1934)
 * (23) Prince Heinrich XVI (b. 1965)
 * (24) Prince Heinrich XVIII (b. 1969)
 * (25) Prince Heinrich I (b.2003)