Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 12.djvu/889

 REUNION

799

REUSS

(Berlin, 1862), of which the second volume is devoted to Frederick William IV; " Biographische Denk- blatter nach perscinlichen Erinnerungen " (Leipzig, .1878); "Aus Konig FriedrichWilhelms IV. gesundeii u. kranken Tagen" (Leipzig, 1885). To his Rhenish homeland were devoted the "Aachener Lieder- chromk" (Aachen, 1873) and "Die rheinische Flora" (Aachen, 1881).

Consult the biographical sketch compiled by Huffer from Iteumont's diaries in Annalen des hislorischtn Vereins fur den Niederrhein, lxx^•ii (Cologne. 1904).

Patricids Schlager.

Reunion, Diocese of. See Saint Denis.

Reunion of Christendom. See Union op Chri.stexdom.

Reusens, Edmond, archseologist and historian, b. at Wijneghem (Antwerp), 25 April, 1831 ; d. at Louvain, 24 Dec, 1903. Sent to the LTniversity of Louvain im- mediately after his ordination to the priesthood (1854), he soon became head librarian of the university (1859- 1896). He collaborated with his rector, Mgr de Ram, in his works on the religious history of Belgium, and in 1864 they founded the review, "Analectes pour servir a I'histoire ecclesiastique de la Belgique", which Reusens continued to direct until his death. With the same teacher, he became interested in the history of the University of Louvain, to which he de- voted almost exclusively the last years of his life. Through his historical studies he acquired a knowledge of palaeography and diplomacy and became professor of a course in these branches (1881-1903) which waa the first of its kind in Belgium. In 1900 he was ap- pointed a member of the Royal Commission of History (Brussels). After teaching theology for two years he had charge of a new course in Christian archaeology from 1864-1900. In this department he soon ac- quired great distinction, as is e\ndenced by the success of his manual, his appointment (1884) to the Royal Commission of Monuments (Bru.ssels), his participa- tion in the exposition of ancient art, and his share in the renovation of religious art in Belgium. His prin- cipal works are: "Elements d'archeologie chretienne " (Louvain, 1871-5); " Elements de paleographie " (Lou- vain, 1899); "Documents relatifs a I'histoire de I'universitede Louvain" (Louvain, 1881-1903).

Annuaire de t'unirentite caiholique de Louvain (1905) pp. sv- xxiii; Unirersile caiholique de Lourain, bibliography and sup- plement. I, H, III (Louvain, 1900, 1902. 1904. 1906).

R. Maere.

Reuss, name of the two smallest states of the German Confederation, which lie almost in the centre of Germany, east of Thuringia, on the western boun- daries of the Kingdom of Saxony. Their united area is 440 sq. miles. Reuss alterer Linie, or Reu8.s- Greitz, comprises 122 sq. miles and in 1905 its popula- tion was 70,603, of whom 68,549 were Lutherans, 1205 Catholics, and 54 Jews. Reuss jiingerer Linie, or Reuss-Schleiz, contains 318 sq. miles, and had 144,584 inhabitants in 1905, of whom 140,640 were Lutherans, 2806 Catholics, and 290 Jews. The present Principality of Reuss and the neighbouring tracts of land were inhabited in early medieval times by Slavonian races who were ci\'ilized and converted to Christianity by the German Emperor Otto I (936-73). In church matters the region was under the Diocese of Zeitz (founded in 968), which became a suffragan of Magdeburg. On account of the frequent inroads of the Slavs, the residence of the Bishop of Zeitz was removed to Naumburg in 1028, after which the see was called Naumburg-Zeitz. Upon its subjection to German authority, the whole province was allotted to the Margraviate of Zeitz. As early as the year 1000, however. Emperor Otto III permitted the entire part lying on the eastern boundary of Thuringia to be administered by im- Derial I'oals. or bailiffs (advocaliimperii), whence this

territory received the name of Vogtland (Terra ndvncatorum), a designation that has remained to this day a geographical summary for Reuss, especially that part on the Saxon borders. The position of vogt soon became hereditary. The princes of Reuss are descended from the vogls of Weida. Erkenbert I (1122) is proved by documentarj' evidence to have been their ancestor. His successors acquired almost the whole Vogtland by feuds or marriage settle- ment, although in the fourteenth and fifteenth cen- turies they lost the greater part of their possessions, most of which fell to Saxe-Meissen (the present Kingdom of Saxony). In 1244 the vogt Henry IV entered a German monastery. His sons divided his possessions, their seats being respectively at Weide (extinct in 1.535), Gera (extinct in 1550), and Plauen. The Plauen branch was subdivided into an elder line that died out in 1572, and a younger line. Henry, the founder of the Plauen lino (d. about 1300), on ac- count of a visit to Russia received the surname of "der Reusse" (Ruthenus), whence the name passed to the country; on account of the close relations of that countrj' with the neighbouring Saxon states, Luther- anism speedily gained a foothold in Reuss.

The rulers joined the Smalkaldic League against the German emperor, and forfeited their possessions, but afterwards recovered them. Henry XXII is notable among the more modern princes of this house for his enmity to Prussia, which he opposed in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, when the Prus- sian troops occupied his domain. Henry joined the North German Confederation and the new German Empire (1871). He alone of all the confederate princes remained until his death (1902) an implacable enemy of Prince Bismarck and of the conditions created in Germany by the foundation of the empire. His son, Henry XXIV foorn in 1878), being incapable of ruling, the regency passed to the princes of the younger line of Reuss. After the death of Henry XXIV, the last scion of the younger Kne, the Prin- cipalities of Reuss-Greiz and Reuss-Schleitz will be united. Since the end of the twelfth century all the male members of the princely house ha\-e borne the name of Henry in honour of the Emperor Henry VI of Germany (1190-7), to whom they were under great obligations. The Reformation entirely des- troyed Catholicism in Reuss. The few Catholic settlers were for a long time deprived of regular re- ligious ministrations. A Brief obtained from the papal nuncio in Vienna, 15 March, 1822, by the efforts of the Catholic Princess Gasparina of Rohan- Rochefort, wife of Henry XIX, placed the Catholics in the domains of the elder line under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Prague; and through a papal Brief of 18 March, 1874, they passed under that of the \'icar Apostolic of Saxonj'. The parish of Greiz has existed since 1897 and the statutes of the Catholic congregation there, dated 12 April, 1897, received government sanction on 7 June of the same year, together with the grant of a legal status under the civil law. Priests from the neighbouring countries (Bavaria and Saxony) are not prevented from ex- ercising their spiritual functions.

Excluding Greiz and Frauenreuth, permission of the authorities to hold religious ser\'ices is required in the towns and villages of the principality. The Catholics of Reuss-Schleiz were placed under the jurisdiction of the bishops of Paderborn by a Decree of the papal "Congregatio de propaganda fide" of 27 June, 1869, which, however, was not offioially rec- ognized, and, when in 1883 the Catholics of the city of Gera desired a mission with permanent i)riests, the Government made its consent (icpi-ndcnt upon the transfer of jurisdiction to the \'ic:tr .\postolic of Saxony. This was effected by a Decree of Propa- ganda dated 7 October, 1889. By a princely rescript of 14 June, 1894, the status of the CathoUc