Reuss was the name of several historical states located in present-day
Thuringia, Germany. Its rulers, the House of Reuss, named all of their male children
Heinrich after the end of the 12th century in honour of
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor (1190–97), to whom they owed the estates of
Weida and
Gera. The head of each branch of the family bore the German title
Fürst (Prince) as did their children.