List of princes of Lüneburg

The following is a list of all princes of Lüneburg during its time as an independent principality.

Coat of arms of the Principality of Lüneburg

The Principality of Lüneburg (German: Fürstentum Lüneburg), later also called Celle, was a territory within the Holy Roman Empire that existed from 1269 to 1705, whose land covered part of the modern-day German state of Lower Saxony. The territory was granted imperial immediacy which gave it the special status of reporting directly to the emperor. It emerged in 1269 following the division of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and its rulers continued to use the title of dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Lüneburg lost its independence in 1705 when it was inherited by the Principality of Calenberg (also known as Hanover), which however could keep a separate seat in the Reichstag for Lüneburg or "Brunswick-Celle".

Princes of Lüneburg

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Old House of Lüneburg

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Portrait Name Rule Remarks
John (1242-1277) 1269 - 1277 Following the division of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, John was the first ruler of the new Principality of Lüneburg.
  Otto II the Strict (1266-1330) 1277 - 1330 Otto II of Brunswick-Lüneburg after Otto the Child (Otto I of Brunswick-Lüneburg)
Otto III (1296-1352) 1330 - 1352
  William († 1369) 1330 - 1369 William II of Brunswick-Lüneburg. His death precipitated the Lüneburg War of Succession in 1370.

Old House of Brunswick

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Portrait Name Rule Remarks
  Magnus Torquatus (1328-1373) 1369 - 1373 Magnus II. "Magnus with the Necklace." 2nd cousin, once removed, of William II

Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg

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Portrait Name Rule Remarks
  Albert of Saxe-Wittenberg (d 1385) 1370 - 1385 Albert moved the residence to Celle after the slighting of Lüneburg Castle.
  Wenceslas of Saxe-Wittenberg (d 1388) 1370 - 1388

Middle House of Brunswick

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Portrait Name Rule Remarks
  Henry I the Mild (d 1416) 1388 - 1416
  William the Victorious (1392-1482) 1416 - 1428
Henry II the Peaceful (1411-1473) 1416 - 1428

Middle House of Lüneburg

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Portrait Name Rule Remarks
  Bernard I (d 1434) 1388 - 1409 and
1428 - 1434
  Otto I the Lame (d 1446) 1434 - 1446 Otto IV of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Also "Otto Crookleg".
  Frederick the Pious (d 1478) 1434 - 1457 and
1472 - 1478
Frederick II
  Bernard II (1432-1464) 1457 - 1464 Also Prince-Bishop of Hildesheim as Bernard III (1452–1458)
  Otto II the Magnanimous (1439-1471) 1457 - 1471 Otto V of Brunswick-Lüneburg
  Henry I of Lüneburg (1468-1532) 1486 - 1520
  Otto I of Harburg (1495-1549) 1520 - 1527 Otto VI of Brunswick-Lüneburg
  Francis (1508-1549) 1536 - 1539
  Ernest the Confessor (1497-1546) 1520 - 1546 Ernest I. Introduced the Reformation into the Principality of Lüneburg in 1527. He was also the progenitor of the Calenberg-Celle and Wolfenbüttel lines
  Francis Otto (1530-1559) 1555 - 1559
Henry of Dannenberg (1533-1598) 1559 - 1569 Henry III
  William the Younger (1535-1592) 1559 - 1592
  Ernest II (1564-1611) 1592 - 1611
  Christian (1566-1633) 1611 - 1633
  Augustus the Elder (1568-1636) 1633 - 1636 Augustus
  Frederick (1571-1648) 1636 - 1648

New House of Lüneburg

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Portrait Name Ruled from To Remarks
  Christian Louis
Christian Ludwig
10 December 1648 15 March 1665 Nephew of the previous duke; he was already Duke of Brunswick-Calenberg, which he resigned to his next brother to take up the rule of this duchy.
  John Frederick (1625-1679)
Johann Friedrich
1665
  George William
Georg Wilhelm
15 March 1665 28 August 1705 Brother of Christian Louis, previously ruler of Brunswick-Calenberg
In 1705 the Principality of Lüneburg was united with the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg through inheritance.

See also

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Sources

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  • Geckler, Christa (1986). Die Celler Herzöge: Leben und Wirken 1371–1705. Celle: Georg Ströher. ISBN 3-921744-05-8. OCLC 255990175.
  • William Havemann: Geschichte the Lande Brunswick und Lüneburg, 3 Bde., Nachdruck. Hirschheydt, Hannover 1974/75, ISBN 3-7777-0843-7 (Originalausgabe: Verlag the Dietrich'schen Buchhandlung, Göttingen 1853–1857)
  • Hans Patze (Begr.): Geschichte Niedersachsen, 7 Bde. Hahnsche Buchhandlung, Hannover 1977- (Veröffentlichungen the Historischen Kommission für Niedersachsen und Bremen, 36)