Last modified: 2019-01-25 by klaus-michael schneider
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Hanover is not a Land of the Federal Republic of Germany anymore. It is now part of the Land of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen). The flag of the former kingdom and the flag of this former Land were all yellow-white horizontally. This flag can still be used in the former Hanoverian part of Lower Saxony.
Pascal Vagnat, 6 Oct 2000
The house of Brunswick originated in Othbert, margrave of Este in Italy. This family acquired the inheritance of the Guelph [also spelt Welf] family by marriage around the year 1000 of Azzo II with Kunigunde, daughter of Welf II. In 1106 the family acquired (Lower) Saxony by marriage of Heinrich the Black to Wulfhild (died 1126), last of the Billungs, who had been dukes of Saxony for the last ages. A generation later they acquired also by marriage the duchy of Brunswick. They were made lords of Brunswick and Lüneburg in 1181 and dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg 12th August 1235.
The Guelph family divided in branches and was reunited more than once. In the 12th century they started using the Saxon horse to claim their rights to (Lower) Saxony. An important division took place in the house of Brauschweig-Lüneburg in 1546:
Ernst August I, who succeeded to the throne of Hanover in 1837 at the death of William IV (of Great Britain and Hanover), was the Duke of Cumberland and his successors through Ernst August II continued using the title. It seems that starting with Ernst August III, they did not. I do not know why. The family name of the Hanover kings was Welf (sometimes the Italian form Guelph is used in English).
Norman Martin, 6 Oct 2000