Originally called the County of Lippe-Detmold, the Principality of Lippe came into existence in 1789 when it was raised from a County within the Holy Roman Empire to a Principality. Leopold I, Count of Lippe-Detmold became the first Prince of Lippe.

At the end of World War I, Leopold IV, the last Prince of Lippe, was forced to abdicate on November 12, 1918. However, Leopold negotiated a treaty with the new government that allowed his family to remain in Lippe. Today the territory that encompassed the Principality of Lippe is located in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

• Holy Roman Empire, German Confederation, North German Confederation, and the German Empire Explained
• The Constituent States of the German Empire
• Glossary of German Noble and Royal Titles

Below is an indexed listing with links to biographical articles about the Princely Family of Lippe. If it says “Notable Issue” before a name, that means not all of the children for the parent of that person are listed. Also listed below are links to the Lippe Content Areas.

House of Lippe – Lords, Counts, and Princes of Lippe (1123 – 1918)

Principality of Lippe (1789 – 1918)

Family of Leopold I, Prince of Lippe

• Leopold I, Prince of Lippe (Count of Lippe-Detmold 1782 – 1789, Prince of Lippe 1789 – 1802)
• Pauline of Anhalt-Bernburg, Princess of Lippe, Regent of Lippe (Regent 1802 – 1820, wife of Leopold I
  • Notable Issue: Leopold II, Prince of Lippe (see below)

Family of Leopold II, Prince of Lippe

• Leopold II, Prince of Lippe (reigned 1802 – 1851)
• Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, Princess of Lippe (wife of Leopold II, had nine children)
  • Notable Issue: Leopold III, Prince of Lippe (see below)
  • Notable Issue: Woldemar, Prince of Lippe (see below)
  • Notable Issue: Alexander, Prince of Lippe (see below)

Leopold III, Prince of Lippe

• Leopold III, Prince of Lippe (reigned 1851 – 1875)
• Elisabeth of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Princess of Lippe (no children)

Woldemar, Prince of Lippe

• Woldemar, Prince of Lippe (reigned 1875 – 1895)
• Sophie of Baden, Princess of Lippe (no children)

Alexander, Prince of Lippe

• Alexander, Prince of Lippe (unmarried, reigned 1895 – 1905)

Family of Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe

• Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe (reigned 1905 – 1918, monarchy abolished)
• Bertha of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, Princess of Lippe (1st wife of Leopold IV, had five children)
• Anna of Ysenburg and Büdingen, Princess of Lippe (2nd wife of Leopold IV, had one son)
  • Armin, Prince of Lippe (pretender 1949 – 2015 – see below)

Pretenders to the Throne

• LAST REIGNING: Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe (reigned 1905 – 1918, pretender 1918 – 1949)
• Former: Armin, Prince of Lippe (pretender 1949 – 2015)
• Current: Stephan, Prince of Lippe (pretender 2015 – present)

Content Areas/Miscellaneous

• Profiles: Princes and Consorts of Lippe
• Lippe Royal Burial Sites