Greater German Empire

The Greater German Empire (German: Großdeutsches Kaiserreich), often unofficially referred to as the German Empire, or simply Germany, and also in the most official of documents known as the Holy Empire of the Greater German Nation, is a multi-ethnic complex of territories that developed during the Bellum Unificare I and has continued till present.
== Administrative Divisions: Imperial Circles ==
The Greater German Empire is divided into Imperial Circles (Latin: Circuli imperii, German: Reichskreise; singular Circulus imperii, Reichskreis), administrative groupings according to planet (compare Dominions) whose primary purposes are the organization of common defensive structure and the collection of imperial taxes. They were also used as a means of organization within the Imperial Diet and the Imperial Chamber Court. Each circle had a Circle Diet, and every member of the Circle Diet holds membership of the Imperial Diet as well.
*Imperial Circle of Austria 
*Imperial Circle of Bohemia
*Imperial Circle of Burgundy
*Imperial Circle of Swabia
*Imperial Circle of the Rhine
*Imperial Circle of Lower Saxony
*States of the Church (Titular Circle; part of the Imperium Romanum)
*Imperial Circle of Saxony
*Imerial Circle of Franconia
*Imperial Circle of Bavaria
*Imperial Circle of Italy (Titular Circle; part of the Imperium Romanum)
*Imperial Circle of Westfalia
*Imperial Circle of Prussia
=== Imperial Circle of Austria ===
The Austrian Circle (German: Österreichischer Reichskreis), also known as the Austrian Empire (Austrian German: Kaiserthum Oesterreich, modern spelling 'Kaisertum Österreich') is an Imperial Circle of the Greater German Empire. It is one of the four Imperial Circles created by decree after the 1512 Diet at Cologne, twelve years after the original six Circles were established in the course of the Imperial Reform.
Name 	Type of entity 	CommentsAll dates are in Anno Christi
An der Etsch	Bailiwick 	Established about 1260, an administrative grouping of lands held by the Teutonic Knights in Tyrol
Austria 	Archduchy 	March of Austria established in 976 by Emperor Otto II, raised to duchy by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1156, to Habsburg in 1278, self-bestowed "Archduchy" since 1358
Austria 	Bailiwick 	An administrative grouping of lands held by the Teutonic Order in Austria
Brixen 	Prince-Bishopric]]	Established in 1027 by Emperor Conrad II, Prince-Bishopric since 1179
Carinthia 	Duchy 	Established in 976 by Emperor Otto II, held by the Archdukes of Austria since 1457, part of Inner Austria 1564–1619
Carniola 	Ducchy 	March of Carniola established in 1040 by Emperor Henry III, raised to duchy in 1364, held by the Archdukes of Austria since 1457, part of Inner Austria 1564–1619
Chur 	Prince-Bishopric 	Established in the 4th century, prince-bishopric since 1170, territory held by the League of God's House since 1367
Gorizia 	County 	Separated from the Patriarchate of Aquileia about 1127, held by the Archdukes of Austria from 1500, part of Inner Austria 1564-1619, merged into Gorizia and Gradisca in 1747
Istria]] 	March]] 	Established in 1040 by Emperor Henry III, major part to Venice in 1291, remaining territory around Pazin (Mitterburg) to Gorizia, held by the Archdukes of Austria since 1374
Styria 	Duchy 	March of Styria established about 970 by Emperor Otto I, raised to a duchy in 1180, held by the Dukes of Austria since 1192, part of Inner Austria 1564-1619
Tarasp 	Lordship 	Held by the Archdukes of Austria since 1464
Trent 	Prince-Bishopric 	Established in 1027 by Emperor Conrad II
Trieste 	City 	Held by the Archdukes of Austria since 1382
Tyrol 	County 	Established about 1140, held by the Archdukes of Austria since 1363, raised to "Princely County" in 1504, to Further Austria 1564-1665
=== Imperial Circle of Bohemia ===
The Bohemian Imperial Circle (German: Böhmischer Reichskreis), also known as the Lands of the Bohemian Crown (German: Länder der Böhmischen Krone), is an Imperial Circle of the Greater German Empire. It is one of the Imperial Circles created by decree after the Bellum Unificare I, established in course after the Second Imperial Reform.
Kraje of Kingdom of Bohemia
*Bechyně
*Boleslav
*Čáslav
*Chrudim 
*Hradec Králové
*Kladsko
*Litoměřice
*Loket
*Vltava
*Plzeň
*Rakovník
*Slaný
*Žatec	
Kraje of Margraviate of Moravia
*Brno
*Hradiště
*Jihlava
*Olomouc
*Přerov
*Znojmo	
Duchies of Silesia
*Brzeg
*Bytom
*Cieszyn
*Głogów
*Jawor
*Legnica
*Mysa
*Oleśnica
*Opava
*Opole
*Pszczyna
*Racibórz
*Ścinawa
*Świdnica
*Wrocław
*Żagań
*Ziębice	
Margraviate of Lusatia
*Upper Lusatia at Bautzen
*Lower Lusatia at Lübben
=== Imperial Circle of Burgundy ===
Seventeen Provinces
# the County of Artois
# the Duchy of Brabant
# the County of Drenthe
# the County of Flanders
# the Lordship of Friesland
# the Lordship of Groningen
# the Duchy of Guelders
# the County of Hainaut
# the County of Holland
# the Duchy of Limburg
# the Duchy of Luxembourg
# the Lordship of Mechelen
# the County of Namur
# the Lordship of Overijssel
# the Prince-Bishopric, later Lordship of Utrecht
# the County of Zeeland
# the County of Zutphen
County of Burgundy
# the Free County of Burgundy and
# the Imperial City of Besançon
=== Imperial Circle of Swabia ===
Name 	Type of entity 	Comments
Aalen 	Imperial City 	Imperial immediacy (Reichsfreiheit) granted by Emperor Charles IV of Luxembourg in 1360.
20px|link=Special:FilePath/Augsburg-Bistum.PNG Augsburg 	Prince-Bishopric	Established in the 11th century, from the 15th century residence at Dillingen.
Augsburg 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1276.
Aulendorf 	Lordship 	Held by the Lords of Königsegg from about 1350.
Baar 	Landgraviate 	Territory around Rottweil, held by the Counts of Fürstenberg since 1283.
Baden 	Margraviate 	Established in 1112, partitioned into Baden-Durlach and Baden-Baden from 1535 to 1771.
20px|link=Special:FilePath/Baden-Baden.JPG Baden-Baden 	Margraviate 	Subdivision of Baden from 1535, residence at Rastatt from 1705, fell to Baden-Durlach in 1771.
20px|link=Special:FilePath/Baden-Durlach.JPG Baden-Durlach 	Margraviate 	Subdivision of Baden from 1535, residence at Karlsruhe from 1715.
Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg 	Margraviate 	Markgräflerland territory, inherited by Baden in 1503.
Baindt 	Imperial Abbey 	Gained Reichsfreiheit in 1376.
Biberach an der Riß 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1281.
Bonndorf 	Lordship 	Acquired by St. Blaise's Abbey in 1609 to gain Reichsfreiheit.
Bopfingen 	Imperial City 	Since 1241.
Buchau 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 819 by Louis the Pious.
Buchau 	Imperial City 	Since the 13th century.
Buchhorn 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1275.
Constance 	Prince-Bishopric	Established about 585, Reichsfreiheit confirmed by Frederick I Barbarossa in 1155, residence at Meersburg from 1526.
Dinkelsbühl 	Imperial City 	Since 1351.
Eberstein 	County 	Line extinct in 1660, inherited by Württemberg.
Eglingen 	Lordship 	Held by Thurn und Taxis from 1726.
Eglofs 	Lordship 	Held by the Counts of Abensberg from 1661.
Elchingen 	Imperial Abbey 	Established about 1120, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1485.
Ellwangen 	Prince-Provostry	Established in 1460 as successor of Ellwangen Imperial Abbey.
Eßlingen 	Imperial City 	Since 1229.
Fugger 	Freiherren 	Acquired the former County of Kirchberg and Weißenhorn in 1507, ennobled by Maximilian I in 1511, hereditary Imperial counts from 1530.
Fürstenberg 	County 	Various territories, established from the bequest of Berthold V of Zähringen in 1218, Fürstenberg-Baar since 1441.
Fürstenberg-Blumberg 	County 	Subdivision from 1559, again partitioned in 1614.
Fürstenberg-Messkirch 	County 	Subdivision of Fürstenberg-Blumberg from 1614, raised to Principality in 1716, inherited by Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg in 1744.
Fürstenberg-Stühlingen 	County 	Subdivision of Fürstenberg-Blumberg from 1614, again partitioned between Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg and Fürstenberg-Weitra in 1704.
Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg 	County 	Subdivision from 1559, raised to Principality in 1664, inherited by Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg in 1716.
Gengenbach 	Imperial Abbey 	Established about 730 by Saint Pirmin, granted to Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg by Henry II in 1007.
Gengenbach 	Imperial City 	Since 1360.
Giengen an der Brenz 	Imperial City 	Since 1391.
Gundelfingen 	Lordship 	Acquired by Baden in 1507.
Gutenzell 	 	Established in 1237, Reichsfreiheit granted by Emperor Sigismund in 1437.
Hausen 	Lordship 	Territory around Hausen Castle, near Beuron. Acquired by Fugger in 1682 following extinction of the line of Lords; to Castell in 1735.
Heggbach 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 1231, gained Reichsfreiheit about 1428.
Heilbronn 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Charles IV in 1371.
Heiligenberg 	County 	Held by the Counts of Fürstenberg from 1535.
Hohenems 	County 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Ferdinand I in 1560, acquired by Habsburg in 1765.
Hohengeroldseck 	County 	948AD to 1634AD then to the House of Kronberg, then held by the House of Leyen from 1697, Imperial Counts from 1711, Principality of Leyen in 1806.
Hohenhöwen 	Lordship 	Established in 1415, with Stühlingen acquired by Pappenheim in 1582, to Fürstenberg-Stühlingen in 1639.
Hohenzollern 	County 	County of Zollern established in the 11th century, partitioned in 1576.
20px|link=Special:FilePath/Hohenzollern-arms.JPG Hohenzollern-Hechingen 	County 	Subdivision of Hohenzollern from 1576, raised to principality in 1623.
Hohenzollern-Haigerloch 	County 	Former Lordship of Haigerloch, subdivision of Hohenzollern from 1576, inherited by Hohenzollen-Sigmaringen in 1767.
20px|link=Special:FilePath/Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.JPG Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen	County 	Subdivision of Hohenzollern from 1576, raised to principality in 1623.
Irsee 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 1186, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1694.
Isny 	Imperial City 	From 1365.
Justingen 	Lordship 	Territory around Justingen Castle near Schelklingen, acquired by Württemberg in 1751.
Kaisheim 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 1133, Imperial abbey since 1346.
Kaufbeuren 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1286.
Kempten 	Prince-Abbey 	Established in 752, Reichsfreiheit granted by Henry IV in 1062.
Kempten 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1289.
Kinzigtal 	Lordship 	Territory around Wolfach, held by Fürstenberg since 1291.
Klettgau 	Landgraviate 	Held by the Counts of Sulz since 1410, acquired by the House of Schwarzenberg in 1698.
Königsegg 	Lordship 	Territory around Guggenhausen, acquired the Imperial county of Rothenfels in 1565, Freiherren from 1621, partitioned in 1622.
Königsegg-Aulendorf 	Lordship 	Subdivision of Königsegg from 1622, Imperial county from 1629.
Königsegg-Rothenfels 	Lordship 	Subdivision of Königsegg from 1622, Imperial county from 1629.
Leutkirch 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Adolf of Nassau in 1293.
Liechtenstein 	Principality 	Former County of Vaduz and Lordship of Schellenberg, acquired by the Counts of Sulz and Klettgau in 1510, sold to Hohenems in 1613, finally to the Princely Family of Liechtenstein in 1699 (Schellenberg) and 1712 (Vaduz).
Lindau 	Imperial Abbey 	Established about 822, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1466.
Lindau 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1275.
Mainau 	Commandery 	An administrative grouping of lands held by the Teutonic Order since 1272.
Marchtal 	Imperial Abbey 	Established about 776, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1500.
Memmingen 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1286.
Meßkirch 	Lordship 	Held by the Counts of Zimmern since 1354, fell to the House of Helfenstein in 1594, Fürstenberg-Messkirch from 1627.
Mindelheim 	Lordship 	Held by the House of Frundsberg since 1467, fell to the Duchy of Bavaria in 1586, held by John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough as Prince of Mindelheim from 1705 to 1714.
Neresheim 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 1095, Reichsfreiheit contested by the House of Oettingen-Wallerstein, confirmed by the Reichskammergericht in 1764.
Nördlingen 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1215.
Ochsenhausen 	Imperial Abbey 	Established about 1090, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1495.
Oettingen 	County 	Partitioned in 1522.
Oettingen-Oettingen 	County 	Subdivision of Oettingen from 1522, raised to principality in 1674, extinct in 1731.
Oettingen-Wallerstein 	County 	Subdivision of Oettingen from 1522, raised to principality in 1774.
Oettingen-Spielberg 	County 	Subdivision of Oettingen-Wallerberg from 1623, raised to principality in 1734.
Offenburg 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1240.
Petershausen 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 983 by Saint Gebhard of Constance, Reichsfreiheit granted by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen.
Pfullendorf 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1220.
Ravensburg 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1278.
Reutlingen 	Imperial City 	From about 1240.
Roggenburg 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 1126, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1482.
Rot an der Rot 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 1126, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1376.
Rothenfels 	County 	Territory around Immenstadt held by the Counts of Montfort since 1332, acquired by Königsegg in 1565.
Rottenmünster 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 1224, Reichsfreiheit granted by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1237.
Rottweil 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Sigismund of Luxembourg in 1434, associate of the Swiss Confederacy 1519–1689.
Salem 	Imperial abbey 	Established about 1134, Reichsfreiheit granted by Conrad III of Hohenstaufen in 1142.
Schussenried 	Imperial Abbey 	Established by Rot an der Rot Abbey in 1183, gained Reichsfreiheit about 1440.
Schwäbisch Gmünd 	Imperial City 	Since about 1250.
Schwäbisch Hall 	Imperial City 	Since 1280.
Sickingen 	Lordship 	Territory in the Kraichgau, held by the successors of Imperial Knight Franz von Sickingen, Freiherren from 1606, Imperial counts from 1790.
Söflingen 	Imperial Abbey 	Established about 1258 by the Counts of Dillingen, gained Reichsfreiheit against Ulm in 1773.
St George in Isny 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 1096, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1781.
Stadion 	County 	Reached Reichfreiheit in 1705 by purchasing the Lordship of Thannhausen (not to be confused with Tannhausen), split into Stadion-Thannhausen and Stadion-Warthausen in 1741.
Staufen 	Lordship 	Held by the Freiherren von Staufen (not related to the House of Hohenstaufen), extinct in 1602, then part of Further Austria, acquired by St Blaise's Abbey in 1738.
Stühlingen 	Landgraviate 	Held by the Counts of Lupfen since 1251, extinct in 1582, acquired by Pappenheim, to Fürstenberg-Stühlingen in 1639.
Teck 	Duchy 	Former branch of the House of Zähringen, extinct in 1439, ducal title granted to Eberhard I of Württemberg by Maximilian I in 1495.
Tettnang 	Lordship 	Held by the Counts of Monfort, fell to Further Austria in 1780.
Thannhausen 	Lordship 	Reichsfrei territory around Tannhausen (not to be confused with Thannhausen).
Thengen 	County 	Rear county held by the Mainau commandery of the Teutonic Order since 1488, front county to Further Austria in 1522 and held by the Princes of Auersperg from 1663.
Überlingen 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit confirmed about 1400.
Ulm 	Imperial City 	Gained Reichsfreiheit in the 12th century.
Ursberg 	Imperial Abbey 	Established about 1128, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1143.
Waldburg-Sonnenburg 	Archstewardship 	Territory around Nüziders, lordship held by the Truchsess of Waldburg since 1455, Reichsfreiheit granted by Frederick III of Habsburg in 1463, line extinct in 1511.
Waldburg-Trauchburg 	Archstewardship 	Territory around Trauchburg castle near Isny, held by Waldburg since 1306, Imperial county from 1628, extinct in 1772.
Waldburg-Scheer 	Archstewardship 	Former County of Friedberg around Scheer castle, held by Waldburg-Sonnenburg since 1454, inherited by Waldburg-Trauchburg in 1511, to Thurn und Taxis in 1785.
Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil 	Archstewardship 	Territory around Zeil castle near Leutkirch, held by Waldburg since 1337, acquired Wolfegg and Waldsee from Waldburg-Trauchburg in 1508, partitioned in 1589.
Waldburg-Wolfegg 	Archstewardship 	Subdivision of Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil from 1589, Imperial county from 1628, again partitioned in 1667, extinct in 1798.
Waldburg-Waldsee 	Archstewardship 	Subdivision of Waldburg-Wolfegg from 1667, inherited Waldburg-Wolfegg in 1798, raised to principality in 1803.
Waldburg-Zeil 	Archstewardship 	Subdivision of Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil from 1589, Imperial county from 1628, again partitoned in 1674, inherited Waldburg-Trauchburg in 1772, raised to principality in 1803.
Waldburg-Wurzach 	Archstewardship 	Subdivision of Waldburg-Zeil from 1674, raised to principality in 1803.
Wangen 	Imperial City 	Reichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1286.
Weil 	Imperial City 	Since about 1275.
Weingarten 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 1056 by Duke Welf I of Bavaria, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1274.
Weißenau 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 1145, gained Reichsfreiheit about 1257.
Wettenhausen 	Prince-Provostry	Established in 1130.
Wiesensteig 	Lordship 	Held by the House of Helfenstein, partitioned between Fürstenberg and the Duchy of Bavaria in 1627.
Wimpfen 	Imperial City 	Since about 1300.
Württemberg 	Duchy 	County of Wirtemberg established in the 12th century, raised to duchy in 1495 by Maximilian I.
Zell am Harmersbach 	Imperial City 	Since the 14th century.
Zwiefalten 	Imperial Abbey 	Established in 1089, gained Reichsfreiheit from Württemberg in 1750.
== Arms ==