Page "Duke" Paragraph 59

In Germany, important ducal families were the Wittelsbachs in Bavaria, the Welfs in Hannover, the ducal family of Cleves, the Wettins in Saxony ( with its Ernestine branch divided into several duchies ), the Württembergs, the Mecklenburgs and finally of course also the Habsburgs in Austria as " Archdukes ".

In the German Confederation the Nassaus, the Ascanians of Anhalt, the Welf branch of Brunswick and the Ernestine lines of the Saxon duchies were the sovereign ducal families.