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Principality of Calenberg
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Calenberg was a dynastic division of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire. It existed as a separate entity from 1485 until 1705, when it was merged with Lüneburg-Celle to form the state of Hanover.
Dukes of Calenberg
Ruins of Calenberg Castle
Eric I was the younger son of William , who ruled the territories of Wolfenbüttel and Göttingen in Brunswick-Lüneburg. In 1491, he turned the government of Wolfenbüttel over to his sons Henry IV and Eric; in 1494 they divided the territory among themselves. The western portion, taken by Eric, became the Duchy of Calenberg, named after Calenberg Castle near Pattensen.
House of Calenberg
On Eric II's death, Calenberg was acquired by the descendents of Henry IV who ruled in Wolfenbüttel:
House of Wolfenbüttel
Upon Frederick Ulrich's death, his lands were divided between the houses of Lüneburg and Dannenberg, the former gaining Calenberg and the latter Wolfenbüttel.
House of Lüneburg
- Subsequently, under George III in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars, both the lands and titles were enlarged and became the Kingdom of Hanover.
George Louis inherited Lüneburg-Celle from his uncle in 1705. The merged Calenberg and Celle contained all of the territory of Brunswick-Lüneburg except for Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. This territory became known initially as the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg under Ernest Augustus who also abandoned the divisions of property under Salic law and adopted male-line primogeniture with the Emperor's permission. When the dignity was confirmed, it became known (popularly but unofficially) as the Electorate of Hanover, an indivisible territory passing by male-line primogeniture.
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