The House of Hanover (the Hanoverians) were a German royal dynasty which succeeded the House of Stuart as kings of Great Britain in 1714. They also ruled Hanover in Germany, their original posession. It is sometimes referred to as the House of Brunswick, Hanover line. The first Hanoverian rulers, George I and George II, were from Hanover, in what is now Germany. The Hanoverians were descended from Henry the Lion, and were thus members of the ancient Welf dynasty.

Holders of the British Crown also served as Electors of Hanover (see Personal union). Beginning in 1814, when Hanover was made into a kingdom, the British monarch also served jointly as King of Hanover. The thrones of the United Kingdom and Hanover diverged in 1837 as the throne of Hanover, unlike that of the U.K., was under the Salic law, and so did not pass to Queen Victoria and instead passed to her uncle, the Duke of Cumberland. (See: Rulers of Hanover)

The dynasty provided six monarchs:

Of the Kingdom of Great Britain:

• George I (r. 1714-1727)
• George II (r. 1727-1760)
• George III (r. 1760-1820)¹

Of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland:

• George III (r. 1760-1820)
• George IV (r. 1820-1830)
• William IV (r. 1830-1837)
• Victoria (r. 1837-1901).

When Victoria died, the Royal House name changed to the dynasty to the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, after her husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Her grandson, King George V changed the name to House of Windsor to avoid anti-German feelings in the UK during World War I. However, the current British monarch is a direct descendant of George I, and the Act of Settlement requires the monarch to be a Protestant descendant of Sophia, Electress of Hanover.

Under Salic law, the current head of the House is Ernst August of Hanover.

The streets of Brisbane's Central Business District are named after members of the House of Hanover. Streets running parallel with Queen St are named for female members, with streets running perpendicular named after male members.

Hanover Square in downtown New York City is also named for the family.

See also: List of British monarchs

External links

• Encyclopedia Britannica 2002 article
• Genealogy

Note

¹The Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland merged in 1801 forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.