Grey Wolf
Donor
The two most discussed types of Germany in the 19th century are basically federal empires - the German Empire that emerged after the Franco-Prussian War, or the abortive 1848 creation. In both, the local rulers retained local sovereign rule, passing on higher functions to an executive and Emperor for the whole.
But if you look at the North German Confederation, then there is a sort of model for a Prussian Empire, whereby it is largely subsuming defeated states - Hannover, Nassau etc. Albeit in this form, it also has some of the proto-federal empire in such things as the Imperial cities.
How could a non-federal German Empire have come about some time during the 19th century, whereby the individual sovereign entities are swallowed up as regions or provinces, and their rulers at best become members of a House of Lords equivalent, holding their own personal lands and titles, but exercising no political power beyond what they can in parliament?
But if you look at the North German Confederation, then there is a sort of model for a Prussian Empire, whereby it is largely subsuming defeated states - Hannover, Nassau etc. Albeit in this form, it also has some of the proto-federal empire in such things as the Imperial cities.
How could a non-federal German Empire have come about some time during the 19th century, whereby the individual sovereign entities are swallowed up as regions or provinces, and their rulers at best become members of a House of Lords equivalent, holding their own personal lands and titles, but exercising no political power beyond what they can in parliament?