Principality of Lippe

Principality of Lippe
Fürstentum Lippe (German)
1789–1918
Flag of Lippe
Flag
Coat of arms of Lippe
Coat of arms
The Principality of Lippe within the German Empire
The Principality of Lippe within the German Empire
The Principality of Lippe in 1918
The Principality of Lippe in 1918
StatusState of the Holy Roman Empire
(1789–1806)
State of the Confederation of the Rhine
(1806–1813)
State of the German Confederation
(1815–1866)
State of the North German Confederation
(1867–1871)
Federated State of the German Empire
(1871–1918)
CapitalDetmold
Common languagesWest Low German
Religion
Church of Lippe
GovernmentPrincipality
Prince 
• 1789–1802
Leopold I (first)
• 1905–1918
Leopold IV (last)
History 
• Raised to Principality
1789
• German Revolution
12 November 1918
Area
19101,215 km2 (469 sq mi)
Population
• 1910
150,000+
Preceded by
Succeeded by
County of Lippe
Free State of Lippe

Lippe (later Lippe-Detmold and then again Lippe) was a state in Germany, ruled by the House of Lippe. It was located between the Weser river and the southeast part of the Teutoburg Forest. It originated as a state during the Holy Roman Empire, and was promoted to the status of principality in 1789. During this period the ruling house split into a number of branches, with the main line residing at Detmold. During the Reformation, Lippe had converted to Lutheranism in 1538 and then to Calvinism in 1604.

From the demise of the empire in 1806, the principality was independent, but it joined the North German Confederation in 1866 and became one of the States of the German Empire in 1871. Over the course of the nineteenth century it gradually developed into a constitutional monarchy with moderate participation in government for the landed nobility. Its economy was overwhelmingly agrarian and among the weakest in the German Empire. After the last prince abdicated in 1918, it continued as a Free State of Germany until it was merged into North Rhine-Westphalia in 1947.