© Reuters. Prince Heinrich XIII P. R. is seen inside a police automobile on this display seize from Reuters TV, after 25 suspected members and supporters of a far-right group have been detained throughout raids throughout Germany, in Frankfurt, Germany December 7, 2022. Tilman Blasshofer
By Sarah Marsh
BERLIN (Reuters) – Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss is without doubt one of the final descendents of a dynasty that when dominated over swathes of jap Germany. He’s suspected of hoping to change into the nation’s new chief in a violent coup to overthrow the democratic order.
The 71-year-old was one in every of 25 members and supporters of a far-right group planning the alleged putsch who have been arrested early on Wednesday in nationwide raids, based on the authorities.
The actual property developer has for years publicly advocated the idea life was higher worldwide underneath monarchy. He stems from Home of Reuss, which for hundreds of years dominated over components of present-day Thueringen state till Germany’s 1918 revolution that led to the institution of the Weimar Republic.
Neither the Home of Reuss nor Prince Reuss’ Workplace responded to requests for remark.
He mentioned in a 2019 speech to the World Internet Discussion board – which describes itself as bringing collectively progressive minds to empower optimistic radical change – that within the principality of Reuss folks led “pleased lives” as a result of the tax price was simply 10% and the buildings have been “easy and clear”.
“If issues didn’t work nicely, you simply went to the prince,” Heinrich mentioned. “Who’re you supposed to show to in the present day? Your parliamentarian, the native, federal or EU stage? Good luck!”
Within the speech, peppered with anti-Semitic conspiracies, he mentioned Germany had been a vassal state authorities since World Conflict Two and wanted to regain its sovereignty by a peace deal.
He mentioned monarchies worldwide together with that of France had been overthrown as a result of meddling of international powers which needed to determine company buildings within the pursuit of revenue. The folks had suffered consequently, he mentioned.
HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR
Prosecutors mentioned on Wednesday Heinrich had reached out to representatives of Russia, whom the group noticed as its central contact for establishing its new order. They mentioned there was no proof the representatives had reacted positively to the request. The Kremlin mentioned there could possibly be no query of any Russian involvement within the alleged plot.
Heinrich was arrested at his home in Frankfurt, led out by balaclava-clad policemen in handcuffs, sporting mustard-coloured corduroy trousers and a tartan-patterned jacket, with lengthy gray hair.
Police additionally searched his searching lodge in Thueringen the place he was suspected of stockpiling weapons, based on the Ostthueringer newspaper. The state in jap Germany is understood for the long-standing energy there of the far proper.
The federal prosecutors’ workplace declined to touch upon the report, saying solely there had been a raid in that space.
It additionally declined to touch upon how, if in any respect, Heinrich was concerned within the far-right “Reichsbuerger” motion, which denies the existence of the trendy German state, and which prosecutors say impressed the group of suspects arrested.
The Reuss dynasty named all its male kids Heinrich or Henry after the tip of the twelfth century in honour of Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor, who bequeathed them the estates of Weida and Gera, now cities in Thueringen state.
Whereas formally, there are not any princes and princesses any extra in Germany, some descendents like Heinrich have continued to make use of the title. He had named his actual property and monetary companies firm, based mostly in Frankfurt, the “Buero Prinz Reuss”.
The Home of Reuss, at the moment headed by Heinrich XIV who lives in Austria, has nonetheless beforehand distanced itself from Heinrich XIII, calling him a confused man peddling conspiracy theories, based on native media.
