= Hanover = '''Hanover''' is a historic region in [[Germany]]. <> ---- == History == The duchy of '''Brunswick and Lüneburg''' was established in 1235 for '''Otto I''', in return for surrendering his lands to [[WorldHistory/HolyRomanEmpire/FrederickII|Frederick II]]. Otto's grandfather, '''Henry III''', had been '''duke of Saxony''' and '''Bavaria''' until he was sent into exile; this was a reconciliation between their dynasties. The duchy began to splinter in 1269, with the formation of the '''principality of Brunswick'''. The '''principality of Calendon''' would be established in 1432. By the 17th century, these dukes held court in the city of '''Hanover'''. For various periods of time, the duchy was re-united as a personal union. One such duke, '''Ernest Augustus''', was raised to an [[WorldHistory/HolyRomanEmpire#Electors|elector of the Holy Roman Empire]] in 1692. Hereafter the dukes would prefer the title '''prince-elector''', including his son, [[UnitedKingdom/GeorgeI|George I]]. Hanover became a primary target of both the [[WorldHistory/SevenYearsWar|Seven Years' War]] and the [[WorldHistory/NapoleonicWar|Napoleonic Wars]]. Because the [[WorldHistory/HolyRomanEmpire|Holy Roman Empire]] was dissolved through the latter war, the independent '''kingdom of Hanover''' was declared in 1814 under [[UnitedKingdom/GeorgeIII|George III]]. Then kingdom was annexed by [[Germany/Monarchs#Kingdom_of_Prussia|Prussia]] through the [[WorldHistory/AustroPrussianWar|Austro-Prussian War]] in 1866. It became the '''province of Hanover'''. After [[WorldHistory/WorldWar2|World War 2]], regional government was reorganized such that the city of Hanover became the capital of the '''state of Lower Saxony'''. ---- CategoryRicottone