Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (August 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Duchies of Brunswick and Lüneburg Herzogtum Braunschweig-Lüneburg
1235–1806
Coat of arms
Brunswick-Lüneburg as part of the Holy Roman Empire, c. 1648
Status	Duchy
Capital	Braunschweig Lüneburg
Common languages	West Low German
Government	Duchy
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Henry the Lion defeated; Saxony divided; Henry reinvested with Welf allod	1180 1181
• Allod elevated to Duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg	1235
• Partition into Lüneburg and Brunswick	1269
• Grubenhagen formed	1291
• Göttingen formed	1345
• Brunswick splits into Wolfenbüttel and Calenberg	1432
• The end of the Holy Roman Empire	1806
Currency	Goldgulden, thaler, pfennig
Preceded by Succeeded by Duchy of Saxony Electorate of Hanover Duchy of Brunswick
Today part of	Germany

The Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg (German: Herzogtum Braunschweig und Lüneburg), or more properly the Duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg, was a historical duchy that existed from the late Middle Ages to the Late Modern era within the Holy Roman Empire, until the year of its dissolution. The duchy was located in what is now northwestern Germany. Its name came from the two largest cities in the territory: Brunswick and Lüneburg.

The dukedom emerged in 1235 from the allodial lands of the House of Welf in Saxony and was granted as an imperial fief to Otto the Child, a grandson of Henry the Lion. The duchy was divided several times during the High Middle Ages amongst various lines of the House of Welf, but each ruler was styled "Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg" in addition to his own particular title.^[1][2] By 1692, the territories had consolidated to two: the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg (commonly known as Electorate of Hanover) and the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.

In 1714, the Hanoverian branch of the family succeeded to the throne of Great Britain, which they ruled in personal union with Hanover until 1837. For this reason, many cities and provinces in former British colonies are named after Brunswick or Lüneburg. The Hanoverians never ruled Brunswick while they held the British throne, as the city was part of neighbouring Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. After the Congress of Vienna in 1814/15, the Brunswick-Lüneburg territories became the Kingdom of Hanover and the Duchy of Brunswick.

History[]

Otto the Child is enfeoffed with Brunswick-Lüneburg by Emperor Frederick II, Lüneburg Sachsenspiegel, 1448

When the imperial ban was placed on Henry the Lion in 1180, he lost his titles as Duke of Saxony and Duke of Bavaria. He went into exile for several years, but was then allowed to stay on the (allodial) estates inherited from his mother's side until the end of his life.

At the Imperial Diet of 1235 in Mainz, as part of the reconciliation between the Hohenstaufen and Welf families, Henry's grandson, Otto the Child, transferred his estates to Emperor Frederick II and was enfeoffed in return with the newly created Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, which was formed from the estates transferred to the Emperor as well as other large areas of the imperial fisc. After his death in 1252, he was succeeded by his sons, Albert the Tall and John, who ruled the dukedom jointly.

In 1269 the duchy was divided, Albert receiving the southern part of the state around Brunswick and John the northern territories in the area of Lüneburg. The towns of Lüneburg and Brunswick remained in the overall possession of the House of Welf until 1512 and 1671 respectively. In 1571 the Amt of Calvörde became an exclave of the Duchy. The various parts of the duchy were further divided and re-united over the centuries, all of them being ruled by the Welf or Guelph dynasty, who maintained close relations with one another—not infrequently by marrying cousins—a practice far more common than is the case today, even among the peasantry of the Holy Roman Empire, for the salic inheritance laws in effect, encouraged the practice of retaining control of lands and benefits. The seats of power moved in the meantime from Brunswick and Lüneburg to Celle and Wolfenbüttel as the towns asserted their independence.

History of the subordinate principalities[]

The Territorial division of the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg and dynastic relationships within the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg and to the Kingdom of Great Britain.

The subsequent history of the dukedom and its subordinate principalities was characterised by numerous divisions and reunifications. The subordinate states that were repeatedly created, and which had the legal status of principalities, were generally named after the residence of their rulers.

The estates of the different dynastic lines could be inherited by a side line when a particular family died out. For example, over the course of the centuries there were the Old, Middle and New Houses (or Lines) of Brunswick, and the Old, Middle and New Houses of Lüneburg. The number of simultaneously reigning dynastic lines varied from two to five.

Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel[]

In 1269 the Principality of Brunswick was formed following the first division of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg. In 1432, as a result of increasing tensions with the townsfolk of Brunswick, the Brunswick Line moved their Residence to Wolfenbüttel, into the water castle, which was expanded into a Schloss, whilst the town was developed into a royal seat. The name Wolfenbüttel was given to this principality. From 1546 Wolfenbüttel became the residence of the senior prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Henry, Duke of Brunswick-Dannenberg.^[3]

With sole rights to the duchy Brunswick-Lüneburg, he provided a conditional sub-lease of the principality of Lüneburg to the princes of Calenburg with the conditions of payment to the Wolfenbüttel heirs (Chief of the House), together with the guarantee that only his descendants would inherit this senior principality of Wolfenbüttel. Not until 1753/1754 was the Residence moved back to Brunswick, into the newly built Brunswick Palace. In 1814 the principality became the Duchy of Brunswick, with its own subordinate principalities that are all apart from the Calenburg principality from which sprang the de facto Kingdom of Hanover. Hanover being the Junior branch, and Wolfenbüttel the Elder.^[4]

The very temporary Kingdom of Hanover and immediately disputed new Duchy was deemed illegally formed as not allowed to be done by the Junior branch (Hanover's Regency) while the Chief prince Charles II was awaiting to come of age in 1821. When he came of age there was immediate confrontation and open protests on an annual and consistent basis. The new constitution of Brunswick was declared illegal, as well as all new laws passed by Hanover during their Regency.^[5]

These acts were officially declared as an English invasion and usurpation in the edict of Charles II of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel on May 10, 1827. In the 10th year of his reign he was driven from the Duchy, and had since condemned these treasonous acts of his brother and Hanover as capital offenses, and sentenced them as such. France, the UK and the USA co-signed treaties that would have ousted Hanover and placed them in the hands of Charles II, had they followed through.^[6]

In 1866 Prussia annexed the territories and refused to recognize the Kingdom of Hanover or any of those new titles. Prince Charles II of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel also protested these violent annexations from his places of exile in Paris, as well as Geneva Switzerland, and from the UK. His protests included repudiations of the new entities and titles created by the Council of Vienna, most of which were published in the Gazette on an annual basis. Prussia recognized Duke Charles II as the rightful Duke, although in exile.^[7]

Most countries agreed as well, that he remained the de jure (and 10 years de facto) Duke and recognized all his execution of office as de facto. These recognitions were consistent with what transpired from his signed and sealed will dated the 12th of April 1873. The whole world unanimously honored his will which stated Hanover and his brother were (after having been condemned to death) not his natural family. The text included all the domains, estates, etc of Brunswick were transferred to Geveva. Otto von Bismark honored the treaty in sending financial assets of the domains of Brunswick to Geneva.^[8]

Principality of Calenberg (later Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg)[]

In 1432 the estates gained by the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel between the Deister and Leine split away as the Principality of Calenberg. To the north this new state bordered on the County of Hoya near Nienburg and extended from there in a narrow, winding strip southwards up the River Leine through Wunstorf and Hanover where it reached the Principality of Wolfenbüttel. In 1495 it was expanded around Göttingen. In 1584 it went back to the Wolfenbüttel Line.

In 1634, as a result of inheritance distributions, it went to the House of Lüneburg, before becoming an independent principality again in 1635, when it was given to George, younger brother of Prince Ernest II of Lüneburg, who chose Hanover as his Residenz. New territory was added in 1665 in the vicinity of Grubenhagen and in 1705 around the Principality of Lüneburg. In 1692 Duke Ernest Augustus from the Calenberg Line acquired the right to be a prince-elector as the Prince-Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Colloquially the Electorate was also known as the Electorate of Hanover or as Kurhannover. In 1814 it was succeeded by the Kingdom of Hanover.

Principality of Lüneburg[]

The Principality of Lüneburg emerged alongside the Principality of Brunswick in 1269 when the inheritance of the Duchy was divided. After the death of Duke George William of Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1705, King George I inherited the state of Lüneburg, being both the benefactor of Georges William's 1658 renunciation in favour of his younger brother Ernest Augustus and the husband of the Duke's morganatic daughter, Sophie Dorothea, later known as the "Princess of Ahlden". It was united with the Principality of Calenberg, which had been elevated in 1692 into the Electorate.

Principality of Göttingen[]

The southernmost principality in the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg stretched from Münden in the south down the River Weser to Holzminden. In the east it ran through Göttingen along the River Leine via Northeim to Einbeck. It emerged in 1345 as the result of a division of the Principality of Brunswick and was united in 1495 with Calenberg.

Principality of Grubenhagen[]

From 1291 to 1596 Grubenhagen was an independent principality, its first ruler being Henry the Admirable, son of Albert of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. The state lay ran from the northern part of the Solling hills and the River Leine near Einbeck and north of the Eichsfeld on and in the southwestern Harz. After being split in the course of the years into smaller and smaller principalities it Grubenhagen finally returned in 1596 to Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.

Other branches[]

Other branches that did not have full sovereignty existed in the Dannenberg, Harburg, Gifhorn, Bevern, Osterode, Herzberg, Salzderhelden and Einbeck.

While a total of about a dozen subdivisions that existed, some were only dynastic and not recognised as states of the Empire, which at one time had over 1500 such legally recognized entities. In the List of Reichstag participants (1792), the following four subdivisions of Brunswick-Lüneburg had recognized representation:

• The Principality of Lüneburg.
• The Principality of Calenberg-Göttingen, merged under Eric I of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in 1495.
• The Principality of Grubenhagen.
• The Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.

By 1705 only two Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg survived, one ruling Calenberg, Lüneburg and other possessions, and the other ruling Wolfenbüttel.

From Lüneburg to Hanover[]

One of the dynastic lines was that of the princes of Lüneburg, who in 1635 acquired Calenberg for George, a junior member of the family who set up residence in the city of Hanover. His son Christian Louis and his brothers inherited Celle in 1648 and thereafter shared it and Calenberg between themselves; a closely related branch of the family ruled separately in Wolfenbüttel.

As a latter day development, what became the Electorate of Hanover was initially called the Elector of Brunswick-Lunenberg when the Holy Roman Emperor appointed Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick-Lunenberg an Elector in 1696 (two years before his death) in a somewhat controversial move to increase the number of Protestant electors—thereby offending the entrenched interests of the extant prince-electors who would no longer be so few. As with most matters in Europe during these times, this was part of the centuries-long religious unrest accompanied by outright warfare (see Thirty Years' War) triggered by the zealous advocates on either side of the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation.

The territories of Calenberg and Lüneburg-Celle were made an Electorate by the Emperor Leopold I in 1692 in expectation of the imminent inheritance of Celle by the Duke of Calenberg, though the actual dynastic union of the territories did not occur until 1705 under his son George I Louis, and the Electorate was not officially approved by the Imperial Diet until 1708.

The resulting state was known under many different names (Brunswick-Lüneburg, Calenberg, Calenberg-Celle; its ruler was often known as the "Elector of Hanover". Coincidentally, in 1701 the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg found himself in the line of succession for the British crown, later confirmed in 1707 by the Act of Union, which he subsequently inherited, thereby creating a personal union of the two crowns on 20 October 1714.

After a little over a decade, the matter of the disputed electorate was settled upon the heir, and the new Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (acceded as duke on 23 January 1698), George I Louis was able to style himself the Elector of Brunswick and Lüneburg from 1708. It was not just happenstance but similar religious driven politics that brought about the circumstance that he was also put into the line of succession for the British crown by the Act of Settlement— which was written to ensure a Protestant succession to the thrones of Scotland and England at a time when anti-Catholic sentiment ran high in much of Northern Europe and much of Great Britain.

In the event, George I succeeded his second cousin Anne, Queen of Great Britain — the last reigning member of the House of Stuart, and subsequently formed a personal union from 1 August 1714 between the British crown and the duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg (electorate of Hanover) which would last until well after the end of the Napoleonic wars more than a century later—including even through the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and the rise of a new successor kingdom. In that manner, the "Electorate of Hanover" (the core duchy) was enlarged with the addition of other lands and became the kingdom of Hanover in 1814 at the peace conferences (Congress of Vienna) settling the future shape of Europe in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars.

History of the relationship to the British Crown[]

The first Hanoverian King of Great Britain, George I of Great Britain, was the reigning Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and was finally made an official and recognized prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire in 1708. His possessions were enlarged in 1706 when the hereditary lands of the Calenberg branch of the Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg merged with the lands of the Lüneburg-Celle branch to form the state of Hanover. Subsequently, George I was referred to as Elector of Hanover.

In 1700 and 1701, when the English Parliament had addressed the question of an orderly succession, with a particular religious bias toward a Protestant ruler, from the childless ruling Queen Anne (House of Stuart), it passed the provisions of the Act of Settlement 1701 to Sophia of Hanover, granddaughter of James I. Sophia predeceased Queen Anne by a few weeks, but her son and heir, George I, succeeded as King of Great Britain when Anne, his second cousin, died in August 1714. Great Britain and Hanover remained united in personal union until the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837.

George I was followed by his son George II and great-grandson George III. The last mentioned retained the position of elector even after the Holy Roman Empire was abolished by its last emperor in 1806. George III contested the validity of the dissolution of the Empire and maintained separate consular offices and staff for the Electorate of Hanover until the peace conferences at the war's end. After the fall of Napoleon, George III regained his lands plus lands from Prussia as King of Hanover, whilst giving up some other smaller scattered territories.

After the Congress of Vienna[]

After the end of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, Calenberg-Celle and its possessions were added to by the Congress of Vienna ending the Napoleonic war, being born anew under the name of Kingdom of Hanover (including Brunswick-Lüneburg). During the first half of the 19th century, the Kingdom of Hanover was ruled as personal union by the British crown from its creation under George III of the United Kingdom, the last elector of Hanover until the death of William IV in 1837. At that point, the crown of Hanover went to William's younger brother, Ernest, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale under the Salic laws requiring the next male heir to inherit, whereas the British throne was inherited by an elder brother's only daughter, Queen Victoria.

Subsequently, the kingdom was lost in 1866 by his son George V of Hanover during the Austro-Prussian War when it was annexed by Prussia, and became the Prussian province of Hanover.

Duchy of Brunswick[]

The Wolfenbüttel Line retained its independence, except from 1807 to 1813, when it and Hanover were merged into the Napoleonic Kingdom of Westphalia. The Congress of Vienna of 1815 turned it into an independent state under the name Duchy of Brunswick. The Duchy remained independent and joined first the North German Confederation and in 1871 the German Empire.

When the main line of descent became extinct in 1884, the German Emperor withheld the rightful heir, the Crown Prince of Hanover, from taking control, instead installing a regent. Decades later, the families were reconciled by the marriage of the Crown Prince's son to the Emperor's only daughter, and the Emperor allowed his son-in-law to assume rule (his father having renounced his own right).

Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg and successors[]

House of Welf[]

Partitions of Brunswick-Lüneburg under Welf rule[]

Table of rulers[]

(Note: Here the numbering of the princes is the same for all duchies, as all were titled Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg, despite the different parts of land and its particular numbering of the rulers. The princes are numbered by the year of their succession.)

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Otto I the Child		1204	1235–1252	9 June 1252	Brunswick-Lüneburg	Matilda of Brandenburg 1228 ten children	Grandson of Henry the Lion, founded the Duchy and was recognised as such in 1235, by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Albert I the Tall		1236	1252-1269	15 August 1279	Brunswick-Lüneburg	1254 no children 1263 seven children	Sons of Otto I, they shared rule of the land until 1269. Albert became Prince of Brunswick and John a Prince of Luneburg.
			1269–1279		Brunswick
John I		1242	1252-1269	13 December 1277	Brunswick-Lüneburg	1265 five children
			1269–1277		Brunswick
All Welf lines continued to bear the title "Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg" between the division of 1269 and the end of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. This was an additional title to the representation of their actual territorial lordship. However, as this is list of rulers, the list goes beyond the use of the title, going through all generations until the end of the noble family representation in the land, in 1918.
Otto II the Strict Under regency of: Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1277-79) (1277-82)		1266	1277-1330	10 April 1330	Lüneburg	1288 five children	His rule was marked by several feuds, financed by pledges (Verpfändungen), involving border and property disputes with his neighbours. Otto restricted the rights of the knights and safeguarded public order.
Henry I the Admirable		August 1267	1279–1291	7 September 1322	Brunswick	Agnes of Meissen 1282 sixteen children	Sons of Albert I, ruled jointly. In 1291 divided the land: Henry received Grubenhagen, William Wolfenbüttel and Albert Göttingen. William died without descendants, and Albert reunited his land with his brother's.
			1291–1322		Grubenhagen
William I		1270	1279-1291	30 September 1292	Brunswick	190 no children
			1291–1292		Wolfenbüttel
Albert II the Fat		1268	1279-1291	22 September 1318	Brunswick	Rixa of Mecklenburg-Werle 1284 ten children
			1291–1292		Göttingen
			1292–1318		Göttingen and Wolfenbüttel
Otto III the Mild		24 June 1292	1318–1344	30 August 1344	Göttingen and Wolfenbüttel	1311 no children 1319 no children	Sons of Albert II, ruled jointly. After Otto's death Magnus and Ernest divided the land: Magnus received Wolfenbüttel and Ernest Göttingen.
Magnus I the Pious		1304	1318–1344	1369	Göttingen and Wolfenbüttel	Sophia of Brandenburg-Stendal 1327 eight children
			1344-1369		Wolfenbüttel
Ernest I		1305	1318–1344	24 April 1367	Göttingen and Wolfenbüttel	1337 three children
			1344–1367		Göttingen
Henry II		Before 1296	1322–1351	After 1351	Grubenhagen	1318 four children Helvis of Ibelin 1324 six children	Sons of Henry I, ruled jointly.
Ernest II		1297	1322–1361	9 March 1361	Grubenhagen	June 1335 nine children
William II		1298	1322–1360	1360	Grubenhagen	Unmarried
John II		Before 1296	1322–1325	After 1367	Grubenhagen	Unmarried
Otto IV		1296	1330–1352	19 August 1352	Lüneburg	1311 three children	Sons of Otto II, ruled jointly. After Otto's death in 1352, William ruled alone. His death without descendants precipitated the Lüneburg War of Succession in 1370.
William III the Elder		c.1300	1330–1369	23 November 1369	Lüneburg	7 April 1328 one child Maria After 1387 one child 12 March 1346 no children Agnes of Saxe-Lauenburg 1363 no children
Albert III		c.1339	1361–1383	1383	Grubenhagen	c.1380? one child	Sons of Ernest II, ruled jointly. John abdicated 1364 to join the clergy and Albert became sole ruler.
		c.1339	1361–1364	18 January 1401	Grubenhagen	June 1335 nine children
Otto V the Evil		1330	1367–1394	13 November 1394	Göttingen	1379 two children
Magnus II of the Necklace (Torquatus)		1304	1369–1373	25 July 1373	Wolfenbüttel and Lüneburg	1327 eight children	Inherited Wolfenbüttel from his father. However, the Lüneburg War of Succession allowed his succession also in this duchy. However, the War of Succession brought, after his death, the dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg to the government.
Frederick I		1357	1373–1400	5 June 1400	Wolfenbüttel	Anna of Saxe-Wittenberg 1386 two children	Fulfilling the agreement of Hanover, married the daughter of the Duke Wenceslaus of Saxe-Wittenberg.
After the death of Magnus II with the Necklace, a treaty (the Reconciliation of Hanover) was agreed between the widow of Magnus II and her sons and the claimers, Albert of Saxe-Wittenberg and his uncle Duke Wenceslaus I of Saxe-Wittenberg: the estates of the Principality were to pay homage both to the Welfs and to the Ascanians, and the two noble houses would govern the state alternately. Initially, the land would be given to the two Ascanians from Wittenberg, and after their death it would go to the sons of the fallen Duke Magnus II. After their death, rule of the Principality was to revert to the Ascanians. In order to underpin the agreement, in 1374 Albert of Saxe-Lüneburg married Catharina, the widow of Magnus II. The treaty also envisaged the creation of a statutory body representing the estates, which was to supervise the treaty. However, 1373–1388 would be the only period in which a Brunswick-Luneburg land was not ruled by a Welf.
Albert IV (Ascanian)		before 1350	1373–1385	28 June 1385	Lüneburg	10 November 1373 Hanover 11 July 1374 Celle one child	Inherited Lüneburg as he was son of Elisabeth, daughter of William the Elder. To reinforce his claim married the widow of the previous duke, Katherine. Albert also moved the residence to Celle after the slighting of Lüneburg Castle. With no male heirs, his co-ruler and uncle, Wenceslaus I of Saxe-Wittenberg, took the entire government of Lüneburg.
Wenceslaus I (Ascanian)		1337	1373–1388	15 May 1388	Lüneburg	23 January 1376 six children	Took the entire government of the duchy after the death of his nephew, the natural heir. After his death,according to the treaty, the duchy was returned to the Welfs.
In the wake of his death, Elector Wenceslas appointed Bernard, his brother-in-law, as co-regent involved him in the government. But his younger brother Henry did not agree with this ruling, and after vain attempts to reach an agreement, the fight flared up again in the spring of 1388. Elector Wenceslas had to assemble an army without the help of Bernard, supported by the town of Lüneburg. From Winsen an der Aller, he wanted to attack Celle, which was held by Henry and his mother. During the preparations Elector Wenceslas fell seriously ill and died shortly thereafter. According to legend, he was poisoned. Lüneburg continued the preparations, formed an alliance with the Bishop of Minden and Count of Schaumburg and set up his own army. On 28 May 1388, battle was joined at Winsen an der Aller; it ended in victory for Henry. According to the provisions of the Treaty of Hanover from the year 1373, after the death of Wensceslas, the Principality passed to the House of Welf. In 1389, a inheritance agreement between the Welfs and the Ascanians was concluded, the treaty of 1374 was abolished, and the Principality was secured for the Welfs.
Eric I the Winner Under regency of Frederick I, Duke of Brunswick-Osterode (1383-1401)		c.1383	1383–1427	28 May 1427	Grubenhagen	six children
Henry III the Mild		1355	1388–1400	14 October 1416	Lüneburg	11 November 1388 two children 30 January 1409 one child	Sons of Magnus II, ruled jointly. They permanently recovered Lüneburg for the Welfs. In 1400 inherited Wolfenbüttel and in 1416 divided their lands: Henry retained Lüneburg and Bernard kept Wolfenbüttel until 1428, when exchanged it with Lüneburg from his nephews.
			1400-1409		Lüneburg and Wolfenbüttel
			1409–1416		Lüneburg
Bernard I		between 1358 and 1364	1388–1400	11 June 1434	Lüneburg	1386 three children
			1400–1409		Lüneburg and Wolfenbüttel
			1409-1428		Wolfenbüttel
Otto VI the One-Eyed		1380	1394–1463	6 February 1463	Göttingen	Agnes of Hesse 1408 one child	With no male heirs, after his death Gottingen is absorbed by Calenberg.
William IV the Victorious		1392	1416–1428	25 July 1482	Lüneburg	Cecilia of Brandenburg 30 May/6 June 1423 Berlin two children 1466 one child	Sons of Henry III, ruled jointly. In 1428 they exchanged, with their uncle Bernard I, Lüneburg for Wolfenbüttel. In 1432 founded the Principality of Calenberg, a split-off from Lüneburg, and left the remaining Wolfenbüttel to his brother Henry IV. After the latter's death William took his lands. In 1463, attached the Principality of Göttingen to Calenberg.
			1428–1432		Wolfenbüttel
			1432–1482		Calenberg (and Göttingen)
			1473–1482		Wolfenbüttel
Henry IV the Peaceful		1411	1416–1428	7 December 1473	Lüneburg	1436 one child
			1428-1473		Wolfenbüttel
Henry V		1416	1427–1464	20 December 1464	Grubenhagen (Part 1 from 1440)	before 27 June 1457 two children	In 1440 divided Grubenhagen with his brother Albert.
Bernard I		between 1358 and 1364	1428–1434	11 June 1434	Lüneburg	1386 three children	In 1428, Bernard recovered Luneburg from his nephews.
Otto VII the Lame		?	1434–1446	1446	Lüneburg	1425 one child	Ruled jointly. Their rule was marked by major building work to Celle Castle and also by numerous reforms which improved the legal situation of farmers vis-a-vis their local lords.
Frederick II the Pious		1418	1434–1457	19 March 1478	Lüneburg	Magdalene of Brandenburg 3 July 1429 Tangermünde three children
Albert V		1 November 1419	1440–1485	15 August 1485	Grubenhagen (Part 2)	15 October 1471 two children	In 1440 Henry V divided Grubenhagen with his brother, Albert.
Bernard II		1437	1457–1464	1464	Lüneburg	1463 no children	Also Prince-Bishop of Hildesheim. Ruled jointly with his brother Otto.
Otto VIII the Magnanimous		1439	1457–1471	9 January 1471	Lüneburg	Anna of Nassau-Dillenburg 25 September 1467 Celle two children	Ruled jointly with his brother Bernard until 1464.
Henry VI Under regency of Albert II (V), Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (1464-79)		1460	1464–1526	6 December 1526	Grubenhagen (Part 1)	26 August 1494 Einbeck no children	With his uncle Albert V, officialized the division of Grubenhagen. However, his death without descendants allowed his cousins (sons of Albert) to reunite Grubenhagen.
Frederick II the Pious		1418	1471–1478	19 March 1478	Lüneburg	Magdalene of Brandenburg 3 July 1429 Tangermünde three children	2nd rule.
Henry VII the Middle Under regency of Anna of Nassau-Dillenburg (1478-86)		15 September 1468	1478–1520	19 February 1532	Lüneburg	Margaret of Saxony 27 February 1487 Celle seven children Anna von Camp c.1528? no children	Grandson of Frederick II. As he opposed to the newly elected Emperor Charles V, the latter deposed him from the duchy and gave it to his sons.
Frederick III the Turbulent		1424	1482–1485	7 July 1503	Calenberg	Anna of Brunswick-Grubenhagen-Einbeck After 1460 no children 10 May 1483 no children	Imprisoned by his brother William, who took his place.
William V the Younger		1425	1482–1485	7 July 1503	Wolfenbüttel	1444 three children	Inherited Wolfenbüttel from his father. Joined Wolfenbüttel to his domains in 1485, when he imprisoned his brother. Abdicated to his sons in 1491.
			1485–1491		Calenberg and Wolfenbüttel
Philip I		1476	1485–1551	4 September 1551	Grubenhagen (Part 2 until 1526)	Unknown before 1509 one child c.1510? nine children	Son of Albert V, in 1526 reunited Grubenhagen under his hands.
Henry VIII the Elder		14 June 1463	1491–1494	23 June 1514	Calenberg and Wolfenbüttel	Catherine of Pomerania-Wolgast 1486 nine children	Sons of William V, ruled jointly. In 1494, they divided their lands. Henry retained Wolfenbüttel and Eric retained Calenberg.
			1494–1514		Wolfenbüttel
Eric II the Elder		16 February 1470	1491-1494	30 July 1540	Calenberg and Wolfenbüttel	Katharina of Saxony 1496/97 no children Elisabeth of Brandenburg 7 July 1525 Stettin four children
			1494–1540		Calenberg
Henry IX the Younger		10 November 1489	1514–1568	11 June 1568	Wolfenbüttel	1515 eight children Sophia of Poland 22/25 February 1556 no children	He was the last Catholic of his family. Under him the medieval fortress (Burg) was rebuilt into a castle (Schloss); he was a passionate opponent of the Lutherans, and driving force behind the Catholic alliance established against the Schmalkaldic League; the disinheritance of a third son could not be carried out.
Otto IX		24 August 1495	1520–1527	11 August 1549	Lüneburg	Meta von Camp 1527 no children	Sons of Henry VII, ruled jointly. Otto abdicated in 1527 and founded his own estate, the Lordship of Harburg, which passed to his own descendants. Ernest was a champion of the Protestant cause during the early years of the Protestant Reformation. Francis started his co-rulership in 1536, and abdicated three years later to rule in his own estate, the Principality of Gifhorn, which was reannexed to Lüneburg after his death as he left no descendants.
Ernest III the Confessor		27 June 1497	1520–1546	11 January 1546	Lüneburg	2 June 1528 Schwerin seven children
Francis I		23 November 1508	1536–1539	23 November 1549	Lüneburg	Clara of Saxe-Lauenburg 29 September 1547 Amt Neuhaus seven children
Interin government: 1546–1555
Eric III Under regency of Elisabeth of Brandenburg and Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse (1540-45)		10 August 1528	1540–1584	17 November 1584	Calenberg	Sidonie of Saxony 17 May 1545 Hann. Münden no children Dorothea of Lorraine 26 November 1575 Nancy no children	During his regency, his mother implemented the Reformation in Calenberg. She also wrote a "government manual" for Eric, with important advice that should serve him as a guide. Left no descendants, and Calenberg was annexed to Wolfenbüttel.
Ernest IV		17 December 1518	1551–1567	2 April 1567	Grubenhagen	9 October 1547 Wolgast one child	Left no male descendants. The land passed to his brother Wolfgang.
Francis Otto		20 June 1530	1555–1559	29 April 1559	Lüneburg	1559 no children	Left no descendants. The land passed to his brothers.
Henry X		1533	1559–1569	19 January 1598	Lüneburg	1569 seven children	Brothers of Francis Otto, ruled jointly. In 1569 Henry founded the duchy of Dannenberg, which left to his own descendants. William ruled alone from 1569.
William VI the Younger		4 July 1535	1559–1592	20 August 1592	Lüneburg	Dorothea of Denmark 12 October 1561 fifteen children
Wolfgang		6 April 1531	1567–1595	14 May 1595	Grubenhagen	10 December 1570 Osterode am Harz no children	Like most of his predecessors, he had financial problems, so he was often forced to sell or pledge major parts of his possession and he had to demand high taxes. As he left no male descendants, the land passed to his brother Philip.
Julius		29 June 1528	1568–1584	3 May 1589	Wolfenbüttel	Hedwig of Brandenburg 25 February 1560 Cölln eleven children	In 1584 absorbes the Principality of Calenberg. By embracing the Protestant Reformation, establishing the University of Helmstedt, and introducing a series of administrative reforms, Julius was one of the most important Brunswick dukes in the early modern era.
			1584–1589		Wolfenbüttel and Calenberg
Ernest V		31 December 1564	1592–1611	2 March 1611	Lüneburg	Unmarried	Left no descendants. The land passed to his brother, Christian.
Philip II		2 May 1533	1595–1596	4 April 1596	Grubenhagen	Clara of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1 July 1560 Wolfenbüttel no children	As he left no male descendants, the land had no heir and was occupied by the Principality of Wolfenbüttel.
Henry Julius		15 October 1564	1589–1596 1596–1613	30 July 1613	Wolfenbüttel and Calenberg Wolfenbüttel, Calenberg and Grubenhagen	Dorothea of Saxony 26 September 1585 Wolfenbüttel one child Elizabeth of Denmark 19 April 1590 Cölln ten children	In 1596 occupied Grubenhagen.
Frederick Ulrich Under regency of Elizabeth of Denmark (1616-22)		5 April 1591	1613–1634	11 August 1634	Wolfenbüttel, Calenberg and Grubenhagen	4 September 1614 Wolfenbüttel no children	Because of his alcoholism, was deposed by his own mother, with the help of her brother, Christian IV of Denmark, deposed her son, as he was alcoholic and at that point unfit for ruling. She took the regency in his name. During her regency, Elizabeth lost in 1617 the Principality of Grubenhagen and left the government business for , who nearly ruined the state by minting coins from cheap metals and thus causing inflation. Because of the bad situation of the state, the king of Denmark had Frederick take control of the government again. Frederick didn't leave descendants, and his lands passed to collateral lines of the Lüneburg Welfs.
Christian the Elder		9 November 1566	1611-1617	8 November 1633	Lüneburg	Unmarried	Absorbed Grubenhagen from Wolfenbüttel. As he left no descendants, the land passed to his brother, Augustus. Grubenhagen is definitively annexed to Lüneburg.
			1617–1633		Lüneburg and Grubenhagen
Augustus I the Elder		18 November 1568	1633–1636	1 October 1636	Lüneburg (and Grubenhagen)	Unmarried	No legitimate issue. The land passed to his brother, Frederick IV.
George		17 February 1582	1634–1641	2 April 1641	Calenberg	Anne Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt 14 December 1617 Darmstadt eight children	Younger son of William VI. Inherited Calenberg from his cousin Frederick Ulrich, who had left no descendants. Abdicated to his son in 1641.
Augustus II the Younger		10 April 1579	1634–1666	17 September 1666	Wolfenbüttel	Clara Maria of Pomerania-Barth 13 December 1607 Strelitz two children Dorothea of Anhalt-Zerbst 26 October 1623 Zerbst five children Elisabeth Sophie of Mecklenburg 1635 two children	Younger son of Henry X. Inherited Wolfenbüttel from his cousin Frederick Ulrich, who had left no descendants. In 1643 he moved into the Residence at Wolfenbüttel, was the founder of a barock theatre and the Bibliotheca Augusta.
Frederick IV		28 August 1574	1636–1648	10 December 1648	Lüneburg (and Grubenhagen)	Unmarried	As he left no descendants, the land passed to a nephew, Christian Louis, son of Frederick's brother George.
Christian Louis		25 February 1622	1641–1648	15 March 1665	Calenberg	Sophia Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg 9 October 1653 no children	In 1648 inherited the Principality of Lüneburg from his uncle Frederick IV, he gave Calenberg to his younger brother George William, and instead ruled the larger territory of Lüneburg.
			1648-1665		Lüneburg
George William		26 January 1624	1648–1665	28 August 1705	Calenberg	Éléonore Desmier d'Olbreuse 1676 one child	When his brother, Christian Louis died childless in 1665, George William inherited Luneburg. He then gave Calenberg to his next brother, John Frederick. At his death without male descendants, the land passed to his son-in-law, the Elector of Hanover. Lüneburg is annexed to Hanover.
			1665-1705		Lüneburg
Rudolf Augustus		16 May 1627	1666–1704	26 January 1704	Wolfenbüttel	1650 three children Rosine Elisabeth Menthe 1681 (morganatic) no children	Sons of Augustus II, ruled jointly from 1685 to 1702. According to reports dating to 1677, Rudolf Augustus slashed a way through the Lechlum Forest, the Alten Weg ("Old Way"), later the "Barock Road" between the Lustschloss of Antoinettenruh via the little barock castle [later the Sternhaus] to the at Stöckheim; in 1671 captured the town and fortress of Brunswick. After the death of Rudolf Augustus, Anthony Ulrich returned to the throne and ruled alone. A politician, art lover and poet, he founded a museum named after him in Brunswick; he had also Salzdahlum Castle built.
Anthony Ulrich		4 October 1633	1685-1702 1704–1714	27 March 1714	Wolfenbüttel	Elizabeth Juliana of Schleswig-Holstein-Sønderburg-Nordborg 17 August 1656 thirteen children
John Frederick		25 April 1625	1665–1679	18 December 1679	Calenberg	Benedicta Henrietta of the Palatinate 30 November 1668 Hanover three children	Brother of Christian Louis and George William. As he left no male heirs, the land passed to his younger brother, Ernest Augustus.
Ernest Augustus I		20 November 1629	1679–1692	23 January 1698	Calenberg	Sophia of the Palatinate 30 September 1658 Heidelberg seven children	Youngest son of George. Brother of Christian Louis, George William and John Frederick. In 1692, he was appointed Prince-elector by Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, thus raising the House of Welf to electoral dignity. The old Principality of Calenberg thus adopted the new name of Electorate of Hanover.
			1692-1698		Electorate of Hanover
George I Louis		28 May 1660	1698–1705	11 June 1727	Electorate of Hanover	Sophia Dorothea of Brunswick-Lüneburg 22 November 1682 Celle (annulled 1694) two children	The electorship became effective under his rule. In 1705 reunited his father-in-law's princedom of Lüneburg to the Electorate. In 1714 was chosen for King of Great Britain, starting a personal union between Hanover and this new country. Lüneburg was definitely annexed to the Electorate. Thus the Wolfenbüttel was the remaining old land of Brunswick-Lüneburg that remained separate.
			1705–1727		Electorate of Hanover and Lüneburg
Augustus William		8 March 1662	1714–1731	23 March 1731	Wolfenbüttel	1681 no children 1695 no children 1710 no children	Son of Anthony Ulrich. Ruler of the only land that was still not in Hanoverian lands, to which it would never belong.
George II Augustus		30 October / 9 November 1683O.S./N.S.	1727–1760	25 October 1760	Electorate of Hanover	Wilhelmina Charlotte Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach 22 August / 2 September 1705O.S./N.S. Hanover ten children	In personal union with Great Britain.
Louis Rudolph		22 July 1671	1731–1735	1 March 1735	Wolfenbüttel	Christine Louise of Oettingen-Oettingen 22 April 1690 Aurich three children	Left no male heirs, and his land passed to a collateral line.
Ferdinand Albert		29 May 1680	1735	2 September 1735	Wolfenbüttel	Antoinette Amalie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 15 October 1712 Brunswick thirteen children	From the line of Brunswick-Bevern. Grandson of Augustus II.
Charles I		1 August 1713	1735–1773	26 March 1780	Wolfenbüttel	Philippine Charlotte of Prussia 2 June 1733 Berlin thirteen children	Founder of the Collegium Carolinum in Brunswick, the porcelain makers of Fürstenberg, the fire office; in 1753 the Residence was moved to Brunswick.
George III William Frederick		4 June 1738	1760-1811	29 January 1820	Electorate of Hanover	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 8 September 1761 London fifteen children	In personal union with Great Britain.
Charles II William Ferdinand		9 October 1735	1773–1806	10 November 1806	Wolfenbüttel	Augusta of Great Britain 16 January 1764 London seven children	Due to financial problems, was obliged to replace his father. He was the head of the Prussian Army; died in the Battle of Jena; because his son and heir died young, and two other sons were not eligible, rule passed to his youngest son.
With the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the title of Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg ceased to exist. However, its successor states continued.
Frederick William the Black Duke		9 October 1771	1806–1807	16 June 1815	Wolfenbüttel	Marie Elisabeth Wilhelmine of Baden 1 November 1802 Karlsruhe three children	Duke of Oels/Silesia, the "Black Duke"; recruited a Freikorps (volunteer corps), the Black Brunswickers, at the outbreak of the War of the Fifth Coalition in Bohemia in 1809, and made his way via Brunswick to the North Sea and then on to Great Britain.
On the Eve of Napoleonic era, in 1807 the Duchy was briefly annexed to the Kingdom of France, to appear again in 1813 as Duchy of Brunswick.
George IV Augustus Frederick		12 August 1762	1811–1830	26 June 1830	Electorate of Hanover (until 1814) Kingdom of Hanover (from 1814)	Caroline Amelia Elizabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 8 April 1795 London one child	In personal union with the United Kingdom. Named regent of his father due to his illness, succeeding him after his death in 1820. Left no male descendants. The land passed to his brother.
Frederick William the Black Duke		9 October 1771	1813–1815	16 June 1815	Brunswick	Marie Elisabeth Wilhelmine of Baden 1 November 1802 Karlsruhe three children	Restored to his duchy.
Charles III Under regency of George IV of the United Kingdom (1815-23)		30 October 1804	1815–1830	18 August 1873	Brunswick	Unmarried	On the eve of the July Revolution of 1830, Charles was in Paris, and did not manage to keep the duchy for himself; his brother William took over with the agreement of the people and his international neighbours.
William VII Henry		21 August 1765	1830–1837	20 June 1837	Kingdom of Hanover	Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen 13 July 1818 London four children	In personal union with the United Kingdom. Usually numbered IV as King of Hanover and the United Kingdom. As he left only illegitimate descendants, the land passed to his brother.
William VIII		25 April 1806	1830–1884	18 October 1884	Brunswick	Unmarried
Ernest Augustus		5 June 1771	1837–1851	18 November 1851	Kingdom of Hanover	Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 29 May 1815 Neustrelitz three children	End of personal union with the United Kingdom, as in this country the successor in 1837 was Queen Victoria (in Hanover the Salic Law was still active).
George V Frederick		27 May 1819	1851–1866	12 June 1878	Kingdom of Hanover	Marie of Saxe-Altenburg (I) 18 February 1843 Hanover three children	He was the last king of Hanover, as his reign ended with the Unification of Germany.
Ernest Augustus Under regency of: Prince Albert of Prussia (1885-1906) Duke John Albert of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1906-13)		17 November 1887	1887–1918	30 January 1953	Brunswick	Victoria Louise of Prussia 24 May 1913 Berlin five children	His regency came to an end on 1 November 1913 when Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover's son, was permitted to ascend to Duchy following his marriage to Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia. In 1918, with the abolition of the monarchy, all nobles titles were equally abolished.

See also[]

• Electorate of Hanover
• Duchy of Brunswick
• Duchy of Gifhorn
• Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
• Principality of Calenberg
• Principality of Grubenhagen
• Principality of Göttingen
• Principality of Lüneburg
• Brunswick-Bevern
• House of Hanover
• House of Welf
• List of the rulers of Lüneburg
• List of the rulers of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

References[]

External links[]

• Map of Lower Saxony 1789
• Royalty guide - Braunschweig
• Royalty guide - Braunschweig-Lüneburg