Schwäbischer Kreis Swabian Circle
Oberrheinischer Kreis Upper Rhenish Circle
Länder der Böhmischen Krone Lands of the Bohemian Crown
Bayerischer Kreis Bavarian Circle
Österreichischer Kreis Austrian Circle
Westfälischer Kreis Westphalian Circle
Niedersächsischer Kreis Lower Saxon Circle
Kurrheinischer Kreis Electoral Rhenish Circle
Burgundischer Kreis Burgundian Circle
Schweizer Eidgenossenschaft Swiss Confederation
Obersächsischer Kreis Upper Saxon Circle
Fränkischer Kreis Frankish Circle
- According to english Wikipedia
Explanation from Wikipedia regarding the first line of the first (usually not sung) stanza of the german national anthem. The Anthem was written during the Vormärz (Premarch) 1830-1848 and is directed towards a unified and free Germany.
The Imperial Circles were an attempt by the Emperors to centralize and standardize the use of executive force within the Holy Roman Empire.