Waldeck-Pyrmont
The Principality of Waldeck-Pyrmont, a German state since 1625, was a member state of the Germanic Confederation from 1815 to 1866. Waldeck-Pyrmont consisted of two separated areas. The smaller of the two, Pyrmont, was a mere 26 square miles. In 1866, the principality sided with Prussia against Austria. Waldeck-Pyrmont was governed by Prussia as the result of a treaty started in 1867 and renewed every 10 years with the proviso that it could be canceled on two-year’s notice. A Prussian appointed Landesdirector conducted the government in the name of the prince. The officials of the State took an oath of allegiance to the King of Prussia. The Prince of Waldeck reserved very few rights and was restricted to paying off his debt that was accruing with an interest rate of 32 percent. After the Austro-Prussian War, it became a member state of the North German Confederation in 1867 and agreed a convention with Prussia the same year. It became a member state of the German Empire in 1871.
George Victor was the Prince until 1893. His son Prince Friedrich, the last prince of Waldeck-Pyrmont, succeeded him. George Victor’s sister, Helena, married Queen Victoria’s youngest son. They were married for only two years before Leopold died from a fall; he was a hemophiliac. She and their two children continued to live in England.
Waldeck-Pyrmont was a hereditary constitutional monarchy whose parliament had one chamber known as the Landtag. There were fifteen members of the Landtag, three of whom represented Pyrmont. Waldeck-Pyrmont had one vote in the Bundesrat and one in the Reichstag.
The population in 1914 was 63,000. The population was almost wholly (98 percent) Protestant. The capital was Arolsen. The area was 1121 km². There was no special military relationship between this principality and any unit.