The House of Welf (also Guelf or Guelph) is a European

dynasty A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family, usually in the context of a monarchy, monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A dynasty may also be referred to as a "house", "family" or "clan", among others. H ...

that has included many German and British

monarch A monarch () is a head of stateWebster's II New College Dictionary. "Monarch". Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. Life tenure, for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest ...

s from the 11th to 20th century and Emperor

Ivan VI of Russia Ivan VI Antonovich (; – ), also known as Ioann Antonovich, was Emperor of Russia from October 1740 until he was overthrown by his cousin Elizabeth Petrovna in December 1741. He was only two months old when he was proclaimed emperor and his mo ...

in the 18th century. The originally

Franconia Franconia ( ; ; ) is a geographical region of Germany, characterised by its culture and East Franconian dialect (). Franconia is made up of the three (governmental districts) of Lower Franconia, Lower, Middle Franconia, Middle and Upper Franco ...

n family from the Meuse-Moselle area was closely related to the imperial family of the

Carolingians The Carolingian dynasty ( ; known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolingus, Carolings, Karolinger or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family named after Charles Martel and his grandson Charlemagne, descendants of the Arnulfing and Pippinid ...

Origins

The (Younger) House of Welf is the older branch of the

House of Este The House of Este ( , , ) is a European dynasty of North Italian origin whose members ruled parts of Italy and Germany for many centuries. The original House of Este's elder branch, which is known as the House of Welf, included dukes of Bavaria ...

, a dynasty whose earliest known members lived in

Veneto Veneto, officially the Region of Veneto, is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the Northeast Italy, north-east of the country. It is the fourth most populous region in Italy, with a population of 4,851,851 as of 2025. Venice is t ...

and

Lombardy The Lombardy Region (; ) is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in northern Italy and has a population of about 10 million people, constituting more than one-sixth of Italy's population. Lombardy is ...

in the late 9th/early 10th century, sometimes called Welf-Este. The first member was

Welf I, Duke of Bavaria Welf I ( 1035/10406 November 1101) was Duke of Bavaria from 1070 to 1077 and from 1096 to his death. He was the first member of the Welf branch of the House of Este. In the genealogy of the Elder House of Welf, he is counted as Welf IV. Bio ...

, also known as Welf IV. He inherited the property of the

Elder House of Welf The Elder House of Welf (known as Rudolphins in Burgundy) was a Frankish noble dynasty of European rulers documented since the 9th century. Closely related to the Carolingian dynasty, it consisted of a Burgundian and a Swabian group. It has n ...

when his maternal uncle Welf III, Duke of Carinthia and Verona, the last male Welf of the Elder House, died in 1055. Welf IV was the son of Welf III's sister Kunigunde of Altdorf and her husband Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan. In 1070, Welf IV became Duke of

Bavaria Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...

Welf II, Duke of Bavaria Welf II (1072 – 24 September 1120, Kaufering), or Welfhard, called Welf the Fat (''pinguis''), was Duke of Bavaria from 1101 until his death. In the Welf genealogy, he is counted as Welf V. Life Welf was the oldest son of Welf I, Duke o ...

married Countess

Matilda of Tuscany Matilda of Tuscany (; or ; – 24 July 1115), or Matilda of Canossa ( ), also referred to as ("the Great Countess"), was a member of the House of Canossa (also known as the Attonids) in the second half of the eleventh century. Matilda was on ...

, who died childless and left him her possessions, including

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...

Ferrara Ferrara (; ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy, capital of the province of Ferrara. it had 132,009 inhabitants. It is situated northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main ...

Modena Modena (, ; ; ; ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It has 184,739 inhabitants as of 2025. A town, and seat of an archbis ...

Mantua Mantua ( ; ; Lombard language, Lombard and ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Italian region of Lombardy, and capital of the Province of Mantua, eponymous province. In 2016, Mantua was designated as the "Italian Capital of Culture". In 2 ...

, and Reggio, which played a role in the

Investiture Controversy The Investiture Controversy or Investiture Contest (, , ) was a conflict between church and state in medieval Europe, the Church and the state in medieval Europe over the ability to choose and install bishops (investiture), abbots of monasteri ...

. Since the Welf dynasty sided with the Pope in this controversy, partisans of the Pope came to be known in Italy as Guelphs (''Guelfi''). The first genealogy of the Welfs is the '' Genealogia Welforum'', composed shortly before 1126. A much more detailed history of the dynasty, the '' Historia Welforum'', was composed around 1170. It is the earliest history of a noble house in Germany. File:Kunigunda Azzo.jpg, Kunigunde of Altdorf, sister of Welf III, wife of Albert Azzo II of Este, Margrave of Milan, parents of Welf IV File:Wgt Stifterbüchlein 25v.jpg,

( 1030/1040 – 1101) File:WElf.jpg,

(1073–1120)

Bavaria and Saxony

Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria Henry IX (107513 December 1126), was a member of the House of Welf, a powerful dynasty in medieval Germany. He was born around 1075 and died in 1126. Henry IX is often referred to as “Henry the Black” (Heinrich der Schwarze) and ruled as Duk ...

, from 1120 to 1126, was the first of the three dukes of the Welf dynasty called Henry. His wife Wulfhild was the heiress of the house of Billung, possessing the territory around

Lüneburg Lüneburg, officially the Hanseatic City of Lüneburg and also known in English as Lunenburg, is a town in the German Bundesland (Germany), state of Lower Saxony. It is located about southeast of another Hanseatic League, Hanseatic city, Hambur ...

in Lower Saxony. Their son, Henry the Proud, was the son-in-law and heir of

Lothair II, Holy Roman Emperor Lothair III, sometimes numbered Lothair II and also known as Lothair of Supplinburg ( June 1075 – 4 December 1137), was Holy Roman Emperor from 1133 until his death. He was appointed Duke of Saxony in 1106 and elected King of Germany in 1125 b ...

and became also

Duke of Saxony This article lists dukes, electors, and kings ruling over different territories named Saxony from the beginning of the Saxon Duchy in the 6th century to the end of the German monarchies in 1918. The electors of Saxony from John the Steadfast ...

on Lothair's death. Lothair left his territory around Brunswick, inherited from his mother of the

Brunonids The Brunonids (or Brunonians, , , i.e. "Brunos") were a Saxon noble family in the 10th and 11th centuries, who owned property in Eastphalia (around Brunswick) and Frisia. The Brunonids are assumed to be descendants of Brun, Duke of Saxony (d. ...

, to his daughter Gertrud. Her husband Henry the Proud became then the favoured candidate in the imperial election against Conrad III of the

Hohenstaufen The Hohenstaufen dynasty (, , ), also known as the Staufer, was a noble family of unclear origin that rose to rule the Duchy of Swabia from 1079, and to royal rule in the Holy Roman Empire during the Middle Ages from 1138 until 1254. The dynast ...

. Henry lost the election, as the other princes feared his power and temperament, and was dispossessed of his duchies by Conrad III. Henry's brother

Welf VI Welf VI (111515 December 1191) was the margrave of Tuscany (1152–1162) and duke of Spoleto (1152–1162), the third son of Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria, and a member of the illustrious family of the Welf (also known as the House of Guelph). ...

(1115–1191), Margrave of Tuscany, later left his Swabian territories around Ravensburg, the original possessions of the

, to his nephew Emperor Frederick I, and thus to the House of Hohenstaufen. File:Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria.jpg, Henry the Black, duke of Bavaria (1075–1126) and his wife Wulfhild of Billung File:Lev rodice dvojice.jpg, Henry the Proud (1102–1139), Duke of Bavaria and Saxony, and his wife Gertrud of Saxony, daughter of

, Duke of Saxony File:Vad-0321 125 Welf VI.jpg,

(1115–1191), Margrave of Tuscany File:Steingaden GO-1.jpg, Steingaden Abbey, Swabia, place of burial of its founder Welf VI (d. 1191) The next duke of the Welf dynasty Henry the Lion (1129/1131–1195) recovered his father's two duchies, Saxony in 1142, Bavaria in 1156 and thus ruled vast parts of Germany. In 1168 he married Matilda (1156–1189), the daughter of

Henry II of England Henry II () was King of England The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with the ...

and

Eleanor of Aquitaine Eleanor of Aquitaine ( or ; ; , or ; – 1 April 1204) was Duchess of Aquitaine from 1137 to 1204, Queen of France from 1137 to 1152 as the wife of King Louis VII, and Queen of England from 1154 to 1189 as the wife of King Henry II. As ...

, and sister of

Richard I of England Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199), known as Richard the Lionheart or Richard Cœur de Lion () because of his reputation as a great military leader and warrior, was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ru ...

, gaining ever more influence. His first cousin,

Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa (December 1122 – 10 June 1190), also known as Frederick I (; ), was the Holy Roman Emperor from 1155 until his death in 1190. He was elected King of Germany in Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aa ...

of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, tried to get along with him, but when Henry refused to assist him once more in an Italian war campaign, conflict became inevitable. Dispossessed of his duchies after the

Battle of Legnano The battle of Legnano was a battle between the imperial army of Frederick Barbarossa and the troops of the Lombard League on 29 May 1176, near the town of Legnano, in present-day Lombardy, Italy. Although the presence of the enemy nearby was al ...

in 1176 by Emperor Frederick I and the other princes of the German Empire eager to claim parts of his vast territories, he was exiled to the court of his father-in-law Henry II in Normandy in 1180. He returned to Germany three years later. Henry made his peace with the Hohenstaufen Emperor in 1185 and returned to his much diminished lands around Brunswick without recovering his two duchies. Bavaria had been given to

Otto I, Duke of Bavaria Otto I (1117 – 11 July 1183), called the Redhead (), was Duke of History of Bavaria, Bavaria from 1180 until his death. He was the first Bavarian ruler from the House of Wittelsbach, a dynasty which reigned until the abdication of King Ludwig ...

, and the

Duchy of Saxony The Duchy of Saxony () was originally the area settled by the Saxons in the late Early Middle Ages, when they were subdued by Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars from 772 CE and incorporated into the Carolingian Empire (Francia) by 804. Upon the 84 ...

was divided between the Archbishop of Cologne, the

House of Ascania The House of Ascania () was a dynasty of German rulers. It is also known as the House of Anhalt, which refers to its longest-held possession, Principality of Anhalt, Anhalt. The Ascanians are named after Ascania (or Ascaria) Castle, known as ' ...

and others. Henry died at Brunswick in 1195. File:Lev Jindrich.jpg, Henry the Lion (1130–1195), Duke of Bavaria and Saxony File:Matylda.jpg, Matilda Plantagenet (1156–1189), wife of Henry the Lion, sister of

File:Burg Dankwarderode am Burgplatz in Braunschweig IMG 2756.jpg, Henry's

Dankwarderode Castle Dankwarderode Castle () on the ''Burgplatz'' ("castle square") in Braunschweig (Brunswick) is a Saxon lowland castle. It was the residence of the Brunswick dukes for centuries and, today, is part of the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum. Constructio ...

in Brunswick File:Braunschweiger Loewe Original Brunswick Lion.jpg, Henry's

Brunswick Lion The ''Brunswick Lion'' () is a Middle Ages, medieval sculpture, created in bronze between 1164 and 1176, and the best-known landmark in the Germany, German city of Braunschweig, Brunswick. The ''Brunswick Lion'' was originally located on the Bur ...

File:Ottta4Brunsvicky.jpg,

Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV (1175 – 19 May 1218) was the Holy Roman Emperor from 1209 until his death in 1218. Otto spent most of his early life in England and France. He was a follower of his uncle Richard the Lionheart, who made him Count of Poitou in 1196 ...

, son of Henry the Lion and Matilda of England

Brunswick and Hanover

Henry the Lion's son, Otto of Brunswick, was elected

King of the Romans King of the Romans (; ) was the title used by the king of East Francia following his election by the princes from the reign of Henry II (1002–1024) onward. The title originally referred to any German king between his election and coronatio ...

and crowned Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV after years of further conflicts with the Hohenstaufen emperors. He incurred the wrath of

Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III (; born Lotario dei Conti di Segni; 22 February 1161 – 16 July 1216) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1198 until his death on 16 July 1216. Pope Innocent was one of the most power ...

and was

excommunicated Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to deprive, suspend, or limit membership in a religious community or to restrict certain rights within it, in particular those of being in communion with other members of the con ...

in 1215. Otto was forced to abdicate the imperial throne by the Hohenstaufen Frederick II.Canduci, pg. 294 He was the only Welf to become Holy Roman Emperor. Brunswijk wapen

Henry the Lion's grandson Otto the Child became duke of a part of Saxony in 1235, the new

Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg The Duchy of Brunswick and 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, Duke of ...

, and died there in 1252. The duchy was divided several times during the High Middle Ages amongst various lines of the House of Welf. The subordinate states had the legal status of principalities within the duchy, which remained as an undivided imperial

fief A fief (; ) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form of feudal alle ...

. Each state was generally named after the ruler's residence, e.g., the rulers of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel originally lived in Wolfenbüttel. Whenever a branch of the family died out in the male line, the territory was given to another line, as the duchy remained enfeoffed to the family as a whole rather than its individual members. All members of the House of Welf, male or female, bore the title ''Duke/Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg'' in addition to the style of the subordinate principality. By 1705, the subordinate principalities had taken their final form as the

Electorate of Hanover The Electorate of Hanover ( or simply ''Kurhannover'') was an Prince-elector, electorate of the Holy Roman Empire located in northwestern Germany that arose from the Principality of Calenberg. Although formally known as the Electorate of Brun ...

and the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, and these would become the

Kingdom of Hanover The Kingdom of Hanover () was established in October 1814 by the Congress of Vienna, with the restoration of George III to his Hanoverian territories after the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleonic era. It succeeded the former Electorate of Hanover, and j ...

and the

Duchy of Brunswick The Duchy of Brunswick () was a historical German state that ceased to exist in 1918. Its capital city, capital was the city of Braunschweig, Brunswick (). It was established as the successor state of the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel ...

after the

Congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna of 1814–1815 was a series of international diplomatic meetings to discuss and agree upon a possible new layout of the European political and constitutional order after the downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon, Napol ...

in 1815.

Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

In 1269 the Principality of Brunswick was formed following the first division of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg. In 1432, as a result of increasing tensions with the townsfolk of Brunswick, the Brunswick Line moved their residence to Wolfenbüttel Castle, thus the name ''Wolfenbüttel'' became the unofficial name of this principality. With

the Brunswick line even had a short intermezzo on the Russian imperial throne in 1740. Not until 1754 was the residence moved back to Brunswick, into the new

Brunswick Palace Brunswick Palace ( or ''Braunschweiger Residenzschloss'') on the ''Bohlweg'' in the centre of the city of Brunswick (), was the residence of the Brunswick dukes from 1753 to 8 November 1918. History Work on the first building was begun in 1 ...

. In 1814 the principality became the

, ruled by the senior branch of the House of Welf.

Principality of Calenberg – later Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg

In 1432 the estates gained by the ''Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel'' between the

Deister The Deister () is a chain of hills in the Germany, German state of Lower Saxony, about 15 mi (25 km) southwest of the city of Hanover. It runs in a north-westerly direction from Springe in the south to Rodenberg in the north. The next i ...

and

Leine The Leine (; Old Saxon ''Lagina'') is a river in Thuringia and Lower Saxony, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Aller and the Weser and is long. The river's source is located close to the town of Leinefelde in Thuringia. About downriver ...

split away as the ''Principality of Calenberg''. In 1495 it was expanded around

Göttingen Göttingen (, ; ; ) is a college town, university city in Lower Saxony, central Germany, the Capital (political), capital of Göttingen (district), the eponymous district. The River Leine runs through it. According to the 2022 German census, t ...

and in 1584 went back to the Wolfenbüttel Line. In 1634, as a result of inheritance distributions, it went to the House of Luneburg residing at Celle Castle. In 1635 it was given to George, younger brother of Prince Ernest II of Lüneburg, who chose

Hanover Hanover ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the States of Germany, German state of Lower Saxony. Its population of 535,932 (2021) makes it the List of cities in Germany by population, 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-l ...

as his residence. New territory was added in 1665, and in 1705 the Principality of Luneburg was taken over by the Hanoverians. In 1692 Duke Ernest Augustus from the Calenberg-Hanover Line acquired the right to be a

prince-elector The prince-electors ( pl. , , ) were the members of the Electoral College of the Holy Roman Empire, which elected the Holy Roman Emperor. Usually, half of the electors were archbishops. From the 13th century onwards, a small group of prince- ...

of the Holy Roman Empire as the Prince-Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Colloquially the Electorate was known as the

. In 1814 it was succeeded by the

British succession

Religion-driven politics placed Ernest Augustus's wife Sophia of the Palatinate in the line of succession to the British crown by the

Act of Settlement 1701 The Act of Settlement ( 12 & 13 Will. 3. c. 2) is an act of the Parliament of England that settled the succession to the English and Irish crowns to only Protestants, which passed in 1701. More specifically, anyone who became a Roman Catho ...

, written to ensure a Protestant succession to the thrones of Scotland and England at a time when anti-Catholic sentiment ran high in much of Northern Europe and Great Britain. Sophia died shortly before her first cousin once removed,

Anne, Queen of Great Britain Anne (6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England, List of Scottish monarchs, Scotland, and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 8 March 1702, and List of British monarchs, Queen of Great Britain and Irel ...

, the last sovereign of the

House of Stuart The House of Stuart, originally spelled Stewart, also known as the Stuart dynasty, was a dynasty, royal house of Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland, Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland and later Kingdom of Great Britain, Great ...

. Sophia's son George I succeeded Queen Anne and formed a

personal union A personal union is a combination of two or more monarchical states that have the same monarch while their boundaries, laws, and interests remain distinct. A real union, by contrast, involves the constituent states being to some extent in ...

from 1714 between the British crown and the Electorate of Hanover, which lasted until well after the end of the

Napoleonic Wars {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Napoleonic Wars , partof = the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , image = Napoleonic Wars (revision).jpg , caption = Left to right, top to bottom:Battl ...

more than a century later, through the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and the rise of a new successor kingdom. The British royal family became known as the

House of Hanover The House of Hanover ( ) is a European royal house with roots tracing back to the 17th century. Its members, known as Hanoverians, ruled Hanover, Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Empire at various times during the 17th to 20th centurie ...

. File:Coat of arms of Great Britain (1714–1801).svg, Coat of arms of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain (1714–1801) File:Bernard Lens King George I 1718 VA.jpg, George I (1714–1727) File:George II 1755-1767.jpg, George II (1727–1760) File:Frederick, Prince of Wales 1754 by Liotard.jpg,

Frederick, Prince of Wales Frederick, Prince of Wales (Frederick Louis, German: ''Friedrich Ludwig''; 31 January 1707 – 31 March 1751) was the eldest son and heir apparent of King George II of Great Britain. He grew estranged from his parents, King George and Queen C ...

(b. 1707 d. 1751) File:George III (by Sir William Beechey).jpg,

George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...

(1760–1820) File:King George IV when Prince Regent (1762-1830), by Henry Bone.jpg,

George IV George IV (George Augustus Frederick; 12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 29 January 1820 until his death in 1830. At the time of his accession to the throne, h ...

(1820–1830) File:WilliamIVbyLonsdale.jpg,

William IV William IV (William Henry; 21 August 1765 – 20 June 1837) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III, William succeeded hi ...

(1830–1837) File:Dronning victoria.jpg, Victoria (1837–1901)

Kingdom of Hanover

The "Electorate of Hanover" (the core duchy) was enlarged with the addition of other lands and became the

in 1814 at the

. During the first half of the nineteenth century, the Kingdom was ruled as

by the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

crown from its creation under

of the United Kingdom, the last elector of Hanover until the death of

in 1837. At that point, the crown of Hanover went to William's younger brother, Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale under the

Salic law The Salic law ( or ; ), also called the was the ancient Frankish Civil law (legal system), civil law code compiled around AD 500 by Clovis I, Clovis, the first Frankish King. The name may refer to the Salii, or "Salian Franks", but this is deba ...

requiring the next male heir to inherit, whereas the British throne was inherited by an elder brother's only daughter,

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

. Her offspring belong to the

House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha ( ; ) is a European royal house of German origin. It takes its name from its oldest domain, the Ernestine duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and its members later sat on the thrones of Belgium, Bulgaria, Portugal ...

: in 1917 the name was changed to the

House of Windsor The House of Windsor is the reigning house of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The house's name was inspired by the historic Windsor Castle estate. The house was founded on 17 July 1917, when King George V changed the na ...

. The Kingdom of Hanover was lost in 1866 by Ernest Augustus's son George V of Hanover, Austria's ally during the

Austro-Prussian War The Austro-Prussian War (German: ''Preußisch-Österreichischer Krieg''), also known by many other names,Seven Weeks' War, German Civil War, Second War of Unification, Brothers War or Fraternal War, known in Germany as ("German War"), ''Deutsc ...

, when it was annexed by

Prussia Prussia (; ; Old Prussian: ''Prūsija'') was a Germans, German state centred on the North European Plain that originated from the 1525 secularization of the Prussia (region), Prussian part of the State of the Teutonic Order. For centuries, ...

after Austria's defeat and became the Prussian province of Hanover. The Welfs went into exile at

Gmunden Gmunden () is a town in Upper Austria, in the district of Gmunden (district), Gmunden. It has 13,204 inhabitants (estimates 2016 ). Geography Gmunden covers an area of and has a median elevation of . It is situated next to the lake Traunsee on t ...

, Austria, where they built '' Cumberland Castle''. File:Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Hanover.svg, Coat of arms of the

kingdom of Hanover The Kingdom of Hanover () was established in October 1814 by the Congress of Vienna, with the restoration of George III to his Hanoverian territories after the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleonic era. It succeeded the former Electorate of Hanover, and j ...

1837 File:Ernest Augustus I of Hanover.PNG,

Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover Ernest Augustus (; 5 June 177118 November 1851) was King of Hanover from 20 June 1837 until his death in 1851. As the fifth son of George III of the United Kingdom and Hanover, he initially seemed unlikely to become a monarch, but none of his e ...

File:GeorgeVHannover.jpg, King George V of Hanover

Brunswick succession

The senior line of the dynasty had ruled the much smaller principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, created the sovereign

in 1814. This line became extinct in 1884. Although the Duchy should have been inherited by the

Duke of Cumberland Duke of Cumberland is a peerage title that was conferred upon junior members of the British royal family, named after the historic county of Cumberland. History The Earldom of Cumberland, created in 1525, became extinct in 1643. The dukedom w ...

, son of the last king of Hanover, Prussian suspicions of his loyalty led the duchy's throne to remain vacant until 1913, when the Duke of Cumberland's son, Ernst August, married the daughter of Kaiser

Wilhelm II Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert; 27 January 18594 June 1941) was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia from 1888 until Abdication of Wilhelm II, his abdication in 1918, which marked the end of the German Empire as well as th ...

and was allowed to inherit it. His rule there was short-lived, as the monarchy came to an end following the First World War in 1918. The Welf dynasty continues to exist. The last member sitting on a European throne was Frederica of Hanover, Queen of Greece († 1981), mother of

Queen Sofia of Spain Queen most commonly refers to: * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a kingdom * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen (band), a British rock band Queen or QUEEN may also refer to: Monarchy * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Q ...

and King

Constantine II of Greece Constantine II (, ; 2 June 1940 – 10 January 2023) was the last King of Greece, reigning from 6 March 1964 until the abolition of the Greek monarchy on 1 June 1973. Constantine was born in Athens as the only son of Crown Prince Paul and ...

. Frederica's brother Prince George William of Hanover married Princess Sophie of Greece and Denmark, sister of

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, later Philip Mountbatten; 10 June 19219 April 2021), was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. As such, he was the consort of the British monarch from h ...

. The House's head is Queen Frederica's nephew Ernst August, the third and present husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco. File:Leineschloss Leine.jpg, The Leine Palace in Hanover File:Unbekannt, Maison de Plaisir d'Herrenhausen, c1708..jpg, Herrenhausen Palace and

Herrenhausen Gardens The Herrenhausen Gardens (, ) of Herrenhausen Palace are located in Herrenhausen, an urban district of Hanover, the capital of Lower Saxony, Germany. Dating to the era of the King of Hanover, Kings of Hanover, they comprise Great Garden (), Ber ...

in Hanover File:Das Schloss in Celle.jpg, Celle Castle File:Braunschweiger Schloss.jpg,

File:Wolfenbuettel Schloss (2006).jpg, Wolfenbüttel Castle File:Pattensen Marienburg Castle.jpg, Marienburg Castle (Hanover)

Rulers

House of Welf

Partitions under Welf rule

Table of rulers

Family trees

Welf family tree 12th century

Welf family tree 18th century to present

Some direct ancestors (fathers and sons) of the present generation are: *

(1771–1851), Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale from 1799, king from 1837 * George V of Hanover (1819–1878) *

Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover, 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale (; 21 September 1845 – 14 November 1923), was the eldest child and only son of George V of Hanover and his wife, Marie of Saxe-Altenburg. Ernest Augustus was dep ...

(1845–1923) *

Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick Ernest Augustus (Ernest Augustus Christian George; ; 17 November 1887 – 30 January 1953) was Duke of Brunswick from 2 November 1913 to 8 November 1918. He was a grandson of George V of Hanover, thus a Prince of Hanover and a Prince of the Unit ...

(1887–1953) * Ernest Augustus, Prince of Hanover (1914–1987) * Ernest Augustus, Prince of Hanover (born 1954)

Complete male-line family tree

Male, male-line, legitimate, non-morganatic members of the house who either lived to adulthood, or who held a title as a child, are included. Heads of the house are in bold. * Adalberto the Margrave, d. c. 951 ** Oberto I, c. 910-975 ***Adalbert II of Milan *** Oberto II, Margrave of Milan, c. 940-1014 ****Hugh, Margrave of Milan **** Albert Azzo I, Margrave of Milan, 970-1029 ***** Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan, 997-1097 ******

, c. 1035-1101 *******

, 1072-1120 *******

, 1075-1126 ********

Conrad of Bavaria Conrad of Bavaria (; ) ( – 17 March 1126 or 1154) was a Cistercian monk, the son of Henry the Black, Duke of Bavaria and Wulfhilde Billung of Saxony. The former Molfetta Cathedral, now renamed church of Saint Conrad of Bavaria, is dedicate ...

, 1105-1126 ******** Henry the Proud, 1108-1139 ********* Henry the Lion, 1130-1195 **********

Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine Henry V, the Elder of Brunswick (; – 28 April 1227), a member of the House of Welf, was Count Palatine of the Rhine from 1195 until 1212. Life Henry was the eldest son of Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria and Matilda, the eldest ...

, 1173-1227 *********** Henry VI, Count Palatine of the Rhine, 1196-1214 **********

, 1175-1218 ********** William of Winchester, Lord of Lunenburg, 1184-1213 *********** Otto I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1204-1252 ************ Albert I, Duke of Brunswick, 1236-1279 ************* Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, 1267-1322 **************Otto, 1283-1309 **************Albert, Teutonic Knight, 1284-1341 **************

Henry II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen Henry II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, (before 1296 – after 1351), also called ''de Graecia'' ("of Greece"), was the eldest son of Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Agnes of Meissen. On their father's death in 1322, his sons agreed ...

, 1296-1351 *************** Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, 1320-1398 ***************John, canon of Halberstadt, 1321-1346 ***************Louis, canon of Cammin, 1323–1373 *************** Philip of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, Constable of Jerusalem, 1332-1370 ****************John of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, Admiral of Cyprus, d. 1414 ***************Riddag, 1334–1367 ***************Balthazar, Despot of Romania, 1336–1384 ***************Thomas, 1338–1384 *************** Melchior, Bishop of Osnabrück and Schwerin, 1341–1381 **************Frederick, c. 1291–1323 **************Conrad, c. 1294–1320 **************

Ernest I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen Ernest I of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (; – 9 March 1361) was Prince of Brunswick-Grubenhagen. Life He was the son of Henry I, the Admirable and his wife Agnes, née Countess of Meissen. Henry the Admirable founded the Principality of Gr ...

, 1297-1361 ***************

Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen Albert I of Brunswick-Grubenhagen ( – probably 1383) was a Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and Prince of Brunswick- Grubenhagen-Salzderhelden. He reigned from 1361 until his death. Albert I was the eldest son of the Duke Ernest the elder ...

Bernard II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Bernard II, Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, (about 1437 – 1464) was the Bishop of Hildesheim (as Bernard III) from 1452 to 1457, as well as Principality of Lüneburg, Prince of Lüneburg from 1457 to 1464. Life Bern ...

, 1437-1464 ****************** Otto V "the Victorious", Duke of Brunswick, 1439-1471 ******************* Henry I "the Middle", Duke of Brunswick, 1468-1532 ******************** Otto I, Duke of Brunswick-Harburg, 1495-1549 ********************* Otto II, Duke of Brunswick-Harburg, 1528-1603 ********************** Duke Otto Henry of Brunswick-Harburg, 1555-1591 **********************John Frederick, 1557-1619 ********************** William Augustus, Duke of Brunswick-Harburg, 1564-1642 **********************Enno, 1565–1600 ********************** Christopher, Duke of Brunswick-Harburg, 1570-1606 ********************** Otto III, Duke of Brunswick-Harburg, 1572-1641 **********************John, 1573–1625 **********************Frederick, 1578–1605 ******************** Ernest I "the Confessor", Duke of Brunswick, 1497-1546 ********************* Francis Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1530-1559 *********************Frederick, 1532–1553 ********************* Henry, Duke of Brunswick-Dannenberg, 1533-1598 ********************** Julius Ernest, Duke of Brunswick-Dannenberg, 1571-1636 **********************Francis, Provost of Strasbourg, 1572–1601 ********************** Augustus II "the Younger", Duke of Brunswick, 1579-1666 ***********************

Rudolph Augustus, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Rudolph or Rudolf may refer to: People * Rudolph (name), the given name including a list of people with the name Religious figures * Rudolf of Fulda (died 865), 9th century monk, writer and theologian * Rudolf von Habsburg-Lothringen (1788� ...

, 1627-1704 *********************** Anthony Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick, 1633-1714 ************************Augustus Frederick, 1657–1676 ************************ Augustus William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, 1662-1731 ************************ Louis Rudolph, Duke of Brunswick, 1671-1735 *********************** Ferdinand Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, 1636-1687 ************************Augustus Ferdinand, 1677–1704 ************************ Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, 1680-1735 ************************* Charles I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, 1713-1780 ************************** Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, 1735-1806 *************************** Charles George Augustus, Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, 1766-1806 ***************************George William Christian, 1769-1811 ***************************Augustus, 1770-1822 *************************** Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, 1771-1815 **************************** Charles II, Duke of Brunswick, 1804-1873 **************************** William, Duke of Brunswick, 1806-1884 ************************** Frederick Augustus, Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Oels, 1740-1805 **************************Albert Henry, 1742–1761 **************************William Adolf, 1745–1770 ************************** Leopold of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, 1752-1785 ************************* Duke Anthony Ulrich of Brunswick, 1714-1774 **************************

, 1740-1764 ************************** Peter Antonovich of Brunswick, 1745-1798 ************************** Alexei Antonovich of Brunswick, 1746-1787 ************************* Duke Louis Ernest of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1718-1788 *************************

Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (12 January 1721 – 3 July 1792) was a German military officer best known for his participation in the Seven Years' War. From 1757 to 1762, he led an Anglo-German army in western Germany which success ...

, 1721-1792 *************************Albert of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, 1725–1745 ************************* Frederick Francis of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, 1732-1758 ************************Ferdinand Christian, 1682–1706 ************************ Ernest Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, 1682-1746 ************************* Augustus William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, 1715-1781 *************************George Louis, 1721-1747 *************************George Frederick, 1723-1766 ************************* Frederick Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, 1729-1809 ************************Henry Ferdinand, 1684-1706 ********************* William the Younger, Duke of Brunswick, 1535-1592 ********************** Ernest II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1564-1611 ********************** Christian, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1566-1633 **********************

Augustus the Elder, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Augustus the Elder, Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (18 November 1568 – 1 October 1636) was the Lutheran Diocese of Ratzeburg, Bishop of Ratzeburg from 1610 to 1636 and the Principality of Lüneburg, Prince of Lünebur ...

, 1568-1636 ********************** Frederick IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1574-1648 **********************Magnus of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1577–1632 ********************** George, Duke of Brunswick, 1582-1641 *********************** Christian Louis, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1622-1665 *********************** George William, Duke of Brunswick, 1624-1705 *********************** John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick, 1625-1679 ***********************

Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover Ernest Augustus (; 20 November 1629 – 23 January 1698), Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, was Prince of Principality of Calenberg, Calenberg from 1679 until his death, and father of George I of Great Britain. He was appointed as the ninth prince-ele ...

, 1629-1698 ************************

George I of Great Britain George I (George Louis; ; 28 May 1660 – 11 June 1727) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 1 August 1714 and ruler of the Electorate of Hanover within the Holy Roman Empire from 23 January 1698 until his death in 1727. ...

, 1660-1727 *************************

George II of Great Britain George II (George Augustus; ; 30 October / 9 November 1683 – 25 October 1760) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Electorate of Hanover, Hanover) and a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Em ...

, 1683-1760 **************************

, 1707-1751 ***************************

, 1738-1820 ****************************

, 1762-1830 ****************************

Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (Frederick Augustus; 16 August 1763 – 5 January 1827) was the second son of George III, King of the United Kingdom and King of Hanover, Hanover, and his consort Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. A so ...

, 1763-1827 ****************************

, 1765-1837 ****************************

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (Edward Augustus; 2 November 1767 – 23 January 1820) was the fourth son and fifth child of King George III and Queen Charlotte. His only child, Queen Victoria, Victoria, became Queen of the United Ki ...

, 1767-1820 ****************************

, 1771-1851 ***************************** George V of Hanover, 1819-1878 ******************************

, 1845-1923 *******************************George William, Hereditary Prince of Hanover, 1880-1912 *******************************

, 1887-1953 ******************************** Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover, 1914-1987 ********************************* Ernest Augustus of Hanover, b. 1954 ********************************** Ernest Augustus of Hanover, b. 1983 ***********************************Welf Augustus von Hannover, b. 2019 ********************************** Prince Christian of Hanover, b. 1985 ***********************************3 children ********************************* Prince Louis Rudolph of Hanover, 1955-1988 **********************************Prince Otto Henry of Hanover, b. 1988 ********************************* Prince Henry of Hanover, b. 1961 **********************************Oscar Nick, b. 1996 **********************************Albert, b. 1999 **********************************Julius, b. 2006 ******************************** Prince George William of Hanover, 1915-2006 *********************************Prince Welf, 1947-1981, issue? *********************************Prince George, b. 1949, issue? ********************************Prince Christian, 1919-1981 ********************************Prince Guelph, 1923-1997 ****************************

Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (27 January 1773 – 21 April 1843), was the sixth son and ninth child of George III, King George III and his queen consort, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He was the only surviving son of George III ...

, 1773-1843 **************************** Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, 1774-1850 *****************************

Prince George, Duke of Cambridge Prince George, Duke of Cambridge (George William Frederick Charles; 26 March 1819 – 17 March 1904) was a member of the British royal family, a grandson of King George III and cousin of Queen Victoria. The Duke was an army officer by professio ...

, 1819-1904 ***************************

Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany (Edward Augustus;In ''The London Gazette'', the Prince is called simply 'Prince Edward'16 November 1756 Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (25 November 1743 – 25 August 1805), was a grandson of George II of Great Britain, George II and a younger brother of George III, George III of the United Kingdom. Life Youth Prince Wi ...

, 1743-1805 **************************** Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, 1776-1834 *************************** Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn, 1745-1790 **************************

Prince William, Duke of Cumberland Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (15 April 1721 Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="/nowiki>Old Style and New Style dates">N.S./nowiki> – 31 October 1765) was the third and youngest son of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ire ...

, 1721-1765 ************************Frederick Augustus, 1661-1691 ************************ Maximilian William of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1666-1726 ************************Charles Philip, 1669-1690 ************************Christian Henry, 1671-1703 ************************ Ernest Augustus, Duke of York and Albany, 1674-1728 **********************John of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1583–1628 ******************** Francis, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1508-1549 ******************Godfrey, 1441-1465 ****************Otto, Archbishop of Bremen, 1364–1406 ****************

Henry the Mild, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Henry of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Latin ''Henricus''; died 14 October 1416), Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, was called Henry the Mild. He was the prince of Lüneburg from 1388 to 1409 jointly with his brother Bernard I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, fr ...

, d. 1416 ***************** William the Victorious, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1392-1482 ****************** Frederick III "the Turbulent", Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1424-1495 ****************** William IV "the Younger", Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1425-1503 ******************* Henry IV "the Elder", Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1463-1514 ********************Christopher of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Archbishop of Bremen, 1487–1558 ******************** Henry V "the Younger", Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1489-1568 *********************Charles Victor, 1525–1553 *********************Philip, 1527–1553 *********************

Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Julius of Brunswick-Lüneburg (also known as Julius of Braunschweig; 29 June 1528 – 3 May 1589), a member of the House of Welf, was Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruling List of rulers of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, ...

, 1528-1589 ********************** Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1564-1613 ***********************

Frederick Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Frederick Ulrich (German Friedrich Ulrich, 5 April 1591 – 11 August 1634), Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, was prince of Wolfenbüttel from 1613 until his death. Life Frederick Ulrich was the son of Duke Henry Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel a ...

, 1591-1634 ***********************

Christian the Younger of Brunswick Christian the Younger of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (20 September 1599 – 16 June 1626), known as ''der tolle Halberstädter'' (the daredevil from Halberstadt), was a German Protestant military leader during the early years of the Thirty Years' War ...

, 1599-1626 ********************** Philip Sigismund of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, 1568-1623 **********************Joachim Charles, Provost of Strasbourg, 1573–1615 **********************Julius Augustus, Abbot of Michaelstein, 1578–1617 ********************Francis of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Bishop of Minden, 1492–1529 ********************George of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Archbishop of Bremen, 1494–1566 ********************Eric of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Teutonic Knight, 1500–1553 ********************William of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Teutonic Knight, d. 1557 ******************* Eric I "the Elder", Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1470-1540 ******************** Eric II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1528-1584 ***************** Henry the Peaceful, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1411-1473 ***************Louis, d. 1367 *************** Albert II, Prince-Archbishop of Bremen, d. 1395 ***************Henry, provost of Halberstadt ***************Ernest ************** Ernest I, Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen, 1305-1367 *************** Otto I "the Evil", Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen, 1340-1394 **************** Otto II "the One-Eyed", Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen, 1380-1463 ***************other son, clergyman ************* William I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1270-1292 *************Otto, d. c. 1346 ************* Lothar of Brunswick, 1275-1335 *************Conrad, d. c. 1303 ************ John, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1242-1277 ************* Otto II "the Strict", Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1266-1330 **************John, d. 1324 ************** Otto III, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1296-1352 **************Louis, Bishop of Minden, d. 1346 ************** William II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1300-1369 ************Otto, Bishop of Hildesheim, d. 1279 ************Conrad of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Prince-Bishop of Verden, d. 1300 ********

, 1115-1191 *********

Welf VII Welf VII (c. 1135 – 11 or 12 September 1167) was the only son of Welf VI, Duke of Spoleto and Margrave of Tuscany, and Uta, daughter of Godfrey of Calw, count palatine of the Rhine. He was a member of the House of Welf. His father inher ...

, 1135-1167 ********Adalbert, Abbot of Corvey ****** Fulco I, Margrave of Milan, c. 1070-1134 *******Azzo IV d'Este (d. before 1145) *******Bonifacio I d'Este (d. 1163) *******Fulco II d'Este (d. before 1172) *******Alberto (d. after 1184) *******Obizzo I d'Este (d. 1193) ********Azzo V of Este, d. 1190 ********* Azzo VI d'Este, 1170-1212 ********** Aldobrandino I d'Este, 1190-1215 *********** Contardo of Este, 1216-1249 ********** Azzo VII d'Este, 1205-1264 *********** Rinaldo d'Este, 1221-1251 ************ Obizzo II d'Este, 1247-1293, legitimised 1252 ************* Azzo VIII d'Este, d. 1308 ************* Hildebrand II of Este, Marquis of Ferrara, d. 1326 ************** Obert III of Este, Marquis of Ferrara, 1294-1352 *************** Hildebrand III of Este, Marquis of Ferrara, 1335-1361 *************** Nicholas II of Este, Marquis of Ferrara, 1338-1388 *************** Albert V of Este, Marquis of Ferrara, 1347-1393 **************** Nicholas III of Este, Marquis of Ferrara, 1383-1441, legitimised ***************** Hercules I of Este, Duke of Ferrara, 1431-1505 ****************** Alphonse I of Este, Duke of Ferrara, 1476-1534 ******************* Hercules II of Este, Duke of Ferrara, 1508-1559 ******************** Alphonse II of Este, Duke of Ferrara, 1533-1597 ******************** Louis of Este, Bishop of Ferrara, 1538-1586 ******************* Hippolyte II of Este, Archbishop of Milan, 1509-1572 ******************* Francis of Este, Marquis of Massalombarda, 1516-1578 ******************* Alphonse of Este, Marquis of Montecchio, 1527-1597, legitimised 1532 ******************** Alphonse of Este, 1560-1578 ******************** Caesar of Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio, 1562-1628 ********************* Alphonse III of Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio, 1591-1644 ********************** Francis I of Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio, 1610-1658 *********************** Alphonse IV of Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio, 1634-1662 ************************ Francis II of Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio, 1660-1694 ***********************Almeric d'Este, 1641–1660 *********************** Reynold of Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio, 1655-1737 ************************ Francis III of Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio, 1698-1780 ************************* Hercules III of Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio, 1727-1803 ************************John Frederick of Este, 1700–1727 **********************Obizzo d'Este, Bishop of Modena, 1611–1644 **********************Caesar d'Este, 1614–1677 **********************Charles Alexander d'Este, 1616–1679 ********************** Reynold d'Este, cardinal, 1618-1672 **********************Philibert d'Este, 1623–1645 *********************Louis of Este, Lord of Montecchio and Scandiano, 1594–1664 *********************Hippolyte d'Este, 1599–1647 *********************Nicholas d'Este, 1601–1640 ********************* Borso d'Este, 1605–1657 **********************Louis d'Este, Lord of Scandiano, 1648-1698 **********************Foresto Francis d'Este, Lord of Montecchio, 1652-1725 **********************Caesar Ignatius d'Este, Lord of Montecchio, 1653-1713 *********************Foresto d'Este, 1606–1639 ********************Alexander of Este, 1568–1624, cardinal ****************** Ferdinand of Este, 1477-1540 ****************** Hippolyte of Este, Archbishop of Esztergom, 1479-1520 ****************** Sigismund of Este, 1480-1524 ***************** Sigismund of Este, 1433-1507 **************Rinaldo **************Niccolò *************Francesco ****** Hugh V, Count of Maine, c. 1060-1131 ****Guido ****Otbert III, Margrave of East Liguria *Ambrose (d. 988), bishop of Aléria in Corsica

References

External links

Die Welfen. Official site

{{Authority control * Welf Welf Welf Germany–United Kingdom relations Germany–Italy relations Italy–United Kingdom relations