Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1235–1806 | |||||||||||
Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1648 | |||||||||||
| Status | Duchy | ||||||||||
| Capital | Brunswick | ||||||||||
| Common languages | German | ||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||||
| 1180 1181 | |||||||||||
• Allod elevated to Duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg | 1235 | ||||||||||
| 1269 | |||||||||||
• Grubenhagen formed | 1291 | ||||||||||
• Göttingen formed | 1345 | ||||||||||
• Brunswick splits into Wolfenbüttel and Calenberg | 1432 | ||||||||||
• The end of the Holy Roman Empire | 1806 | ||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||
| 1635 | 21,170 km2 (8,170 sq mi) | ||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||
• 1635 | 525,000 | ||||||||||
| Currency | |||||||||||
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| Today part of | Germany | ||||||||||
The Duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg (German: Herzogtum Braunschweig und Lüneburg), commonly known as the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg or Brunswick-Lüneburg, was an imperial principality of the Holy Roman Empire in the territory of present day Lower Saxony.
In 1235, Otto I was enfeoffed with the newly founded Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg at the Court of Mainz. It was based on the two castles in Brunswick and Lüneburg and the associated estate of the House of Welf. In 1269 there was a first division between the brothers Albrecht and Johann. The resulting principalities of Brunswick and Lüneburg together continued to form the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
The history of the duchy and the constituent principalities was marked by further divisions and mergers of the principalities. The constituent principalities existed until the end of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. At the Congress of Vienna, the Kingdom of Hanover and the Duchy of Brunswick were created as successor states. To this day, members of the House of Hanover call themselves Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg.