Which royal family is associated with the German nobility during the early modern period?

The Hohenzollerns are intricately connected to the German nobility during the early modern period, primarily through their role in the unification and governance of various German states. This family is most famously associated with the Kingdom of Prussia and served as the ruling house of Prussia before it became the leading state in the German Empire in 1871 under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck. The influence of the Hohenzollerns extended to significant military and political developments in Germany, including pivotal conflicts such as the Thirty Years' War and the unification of Germany in the late 19th century. As such, their legacy is deeply embedded in the history of German governance and nobility during that time.

In contrast, the other families mentioned—Windsors, Habsburgs, and Romanovs—while important in their own rights and royal histories, do not specifically embody the German nobility. The Windsors are a British royal family, the Habsburgs are notable for their influence across Austria and the broader Holy Roman Empire rather than a singular German identity, and the Romanovs ruled Russia. Thus, the focus on the Hohenzollerns highlights a distinct aspect of German history during the early modern period