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 Kingdom of Bavaria Kingdom of Prussia (itself subdivided into provinces; including the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg ruled in personal union until annexed 1 July 1876) Kingdom of Saxony Kingdom of Württemberg Grand Duchies Grand Duchy of Baden Grand Duchy of Hesse Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Grand Duchy of Oldenburg Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (officially the Grand Duchy of Saxony from 1903) Duchies Duchy of Anhalt Duchy of Brunswick Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha