Electorate of Hanover: Map & History
The Electorate of Hanover was an electorate of the Holy Roman Empire located in northwestern Germany that arose from the Principality of Calenberg.
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The Electorate of Hanover was an electorate of the Holy Roman Empire located in northwestern Germany that arose from the Principality of Calenberg. Although formally known as the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg, it made Hanover its capital city. For most of its existence, the electorate was ruled in personal union with Great Britain and Ireland following the Hanoverian Succession.
Modern Countries Once Part of Electorate of Hanover
At its mapped extent, Electorate of Hanover covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Electorate of Hanover's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Electorate of Hanover in Depth
History
In 1692, the Holy Roman Emperor, Leopold I, elevated George's son, Duke Ernest Augustus to the rank of elector of the empire as a reward for aid given in the War of the Grand Alliance. There were protests against the addition of a new elector, and the elevation did not become official (with the approval of the Imperial Diet) until 1708, in the person of Ernest Augustus's son, George Louis. Though the elector's titles were properly duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he is commonly referred to as the elector of Hanover after his residence.
The electorate was legally bound to be indivisible: it could add to its territory, but not alienate territory or be split up among several heirs; and its succession was to follow male primogeniture.
Geography
The electorate comprised large parts of the modern German state of Lower Saxony in Northern Germany. Beside the Principality of Calenberg it also included the former princely lands of Göttingen and Grubenhagen as well as the territory of the former County of Hoya and former Lordship of Diepholz.
In 1705, Elector George I Louis inherited the Principality of Lüneburg with the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg upon the death of his uncle Duke George William of Brunswick-Lüneburg. In 1715, he purchased the duchies of Bremen-Verden from King Frederick IV of Denmark (confirmed by the 1719 Treaty of Stockholm), whereby his former landlocked electorate gained access to the North Sea.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Electorate of Hanover (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Electorate of Hanover: Key Facts
| Capital | Hanover |
|---|---|
| Official language | Low Saxon |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
| Form of government | principality, absolute monarchy |
| Founded | 1692 |
| Dissolved | 1814 |
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q706018 (CC0).
Electorate of Hanover Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Electorate of Hanover appears, with the other states of the time.
Electorate of Hanover Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 47,681 km² in 1759 CE.
Electorate of Hanover: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Electorate of Hanover exist?
Electorate of Hanover is dated to 1709 CE – 1802 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
What was the capital of Electorate of Hanover?
The capital of Electorate of Hanover was Hanover.
How large was Electorate of Hanover at its peak?
At its peak in 1759 Electorate of Hanover covered about 47,681 km².
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