House of Brunswick-Lüneburg

The House of Brunswick-Lüneburg, also known as the Welf dynasty, was a prominent German noble family. They were significant rivals to the Hohenstaufens in the Middle Ages. The dynasty's origins trace back to the 9th century, with ancestors holding possessions in Bavaria.

Over time, the Welfs expanded their influence, with figures like Henry the Lion becoming dukes of Bavaria and Saxony, making them powerful rivals to the Holy Roman emperors. The dynasty eventually split, with one branch becoming the Hanoverian Welfs. This branch gained electoral status in the Holy Roman Empire and, through succession, their ruler George I became king of Great Britain in 1714, establishing the House of Hanover. The British sovereignty of the Welfs ended with Queen Victoria, and their Hanoverian territories were eventually annexed by Prussia.12