List of the rulers of Lüneburg

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

Rulers of the Principality of Lüneburg

Old House of Lüneburg

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

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

Further information: House of Ascania
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

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

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

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

Sources

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