Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Ernest Augustus
Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Elector-designate of Hanover

Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Elector of Hanover
Reign 19 December 1692 – 23 January 1698
Successor Georg Ludwig
Prince of Calenberg
Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Reign 18 December 1679 – 23 January 1698
Predecessor John Frederick
Successor Georg Ludwig
Born (1629-11-20)20 November 1629
Herzberg am Harz
Died 23 January 1698(1698-01-23) (aged 68)
Herrenhausen
Spouse Sophia of the Palatinate
Issue George I of Great Britain
Friedrich Augustus
Maximilian Wilhelm
Sophia Charlotte, Queen in Prussia
Karl Philipp
Christian Heinrich
Ernest Augustus, Duke of York
House Hanover
Father George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Mother Anne Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt

Ernest Augustus (German: Ernst August; 20 November 1629 – 23 January 1698) was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruled over the Principality of Calenberg (with its capital Hanover) subdivision of the duchy. He was appointed prince-elector, but died before the appointment became effective. He was also Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück.

Biography

Ernest Augustus was born at Herzberg am Harz, the son of George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Anne Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt (Ernest Augustus was descended from the Albertinian line of the Habsburg family and also the House of Hohenzollern). In 1658 he married Sophia of the Palatinate in Heidelberg. As the fourth son, he had little chance of succeeding his father as ruler, and so, in 1662, his relatives appointed him administrator of Osnabrück; according to the Peace of Westphalia, every second incumbent of the Osnabrück see was to be appointed by the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. However, after two of his elder brothers had died without sons, Ernest Augustus inherited part of his father's territories in 1679, namely Calenberg (including Göttingen).

In 1683, against the protestations of his five younger sons, Ernest Augustus instituted primogeniture, so that his territory would not be further subdivided after his death, and also as a pre-condition for obtaining the coveted electorship. He participated in the Great Turkish War on the side of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. In 1692 he was appointed prince-elector by the Emperor; however, the electorship did not come into effect until 1708. Ernest Augustus died in 1698 at Herrenhausen; he was succeeded as duke by his eldest son George I Louis, who would later also become king of Great Britain.

Arms of Ernest as Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1661–1692
Arms of Ernest August as Elector-designate 1692–1698

Ancestry

Children

NameBirthDeathNotes
George Louis28 May 166011 June 1727 Succeeded his mother Sophia as heir presumptive to the throne of Great Britain and succeeded Queen Anne as King George I of Great Britain
Friedrich Augustus 3 August 1661 31 December 1690 Died at the Battle of St. Georgen
Stillborn son February 1664February 1664
Maximilian Wilhelm13 December 1666 16 July 1726
Stillborn son 13 December 1666 13 December 1666 Twin of Maximilian
Sophia Charlotte30 October 166821 January 1705Married King Frederick I of Prussia
Karl Philipp3 October 166931 December 1690Died at the Battle of Pristina
Christian Heinrich 19 September 167131 July 1703Died during the Battle of Munderkingen when drowned in the Danube
Ernest Augustus 7 September 1674 14 August 1728Duke of York and Albany
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Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Cadet branch of the House of Welf
Born: 20 November 1629 Died: 23 January 1698
Religious titles
Preceded by
Francis William, Count of Wartenberg
Administrator of the
Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück

1662–1698
Succeeded by
Charles Joseph
Regnal titles
Preceded by
John Frederick
Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Prince of Calenberg

1679–1698
Succeeded by
George I Louis
Preceded by
New Creation
Elector-designate of Hanover
1692–1698
Succeeded by
George I Louis
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