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George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

1582 – 1641

Founder of the House of Hanover

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About George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Lived 1582 – 1641 (aged 59). George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg was a German military personnel.

George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (17 February 1582, in Celle (German Georg)– 12 April 1641, in Hildesheim), ruled as Prince of Calenberg from 1635. He was a member of the House of Welf, a prominent German noble family. George was part of a cadet branch of the family known as the Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg, which held territories in what is now Lower Saxony in Germany.

George was the sixth son of William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1535–1592) and Dorothea of Denmark (1546–1617). His mother was the daughter to King Christian III of Denmark and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. She acted as a regent during the early years of his reign, keeping power from the Councillors who had mismanaged the estates during his father's fits of insanity.

In the 1635 re-division of the territories of the House of Welf, after the death of Frederick Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, he received the Principality of Calenberg, which included the former Principality of Göttingen, since 1495, while his elder brother, Augustus the Elder, retained the Principality of Lüneburg. George was the first duke to move his residence to Hanover, where he built the Leineschloss as his residence in 1636, a palace situated by the river Leine. After his death, he was succeeded by his son, Christian Louis.

Children George married Anne Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt, daughter of Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and Magdalene of Brandenburg, in 1617. They had the following known children: Christian Louis, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1622–1665), Prince of Calenberg from 1641-1648, and Prince of Lüneburg from 1648-1665. George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1624–1705), Prince of Calenberg from 1648-1665, and Prince of Lüneburg from 1665-1705. He was the father of Sophia Dorothea of Celle, wife of the future King George I of Great Britain. John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1625–1679), Prince of Calenberg from 1665-1679. Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1628–1685), who married King Frederick III of Denmark. Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover (1629–1698), Prince of Calenberg from 1679-1698, husband of Electress Sophia, and father of King George I of Great Britain.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
University of Jena
Also known as
Georg von Calenberg, Giorgio di Brunswick Lüneburg, Georg Wilhelm von Braunschweig-Lüneburg

Family & relationships

Spouse
Anne Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt
Parent
Dorothea of Denmark, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Parent
William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

People in George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg's

Frequently asked questions

Who was George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg?

founder of the House of Hanover

When was George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg born?

George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg was born on 17 February 1582 in Celle.

When did George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg die?

George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg died on 2 April 1641 in Hildesheim.

What was George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg's occupation?

George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg was a military personnel.

What nationality was George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg?

George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg was German.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

· Wikidata: Q61829

· DBpedia: George, Duke of Brunswick

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. https://biography.guide/george-duke-of-brunswick-luneburg/

MLA: "George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/george-duke-of-brunswick-luneburg/.

Chicago: "George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/george-duke-of-brunswick-luneburg/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-27 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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