The Hanovers 1714-1901

[LouisFerdinand]

King William IV of England granted his German kingdom of Hanover a short-lived liberal constitution.

[Curryong]

King William IV of England granted his German kingdom of Hanover a short-lived liberal constitution.

It was only (very) short-lived because his successor, Ernst ('scar-face) Duke of Cumberland was certainly no liberal. He succeeded William as King of Hanover in June 1837, following their niece Victoria's succession to the British throne. As Salic law prevailed in Hanover (as in much of Germany at that time) Victoria could not succeed to the kingdom if there was a male in the line. Ernst was her eldest surviving uncle so he got the gig.

He was a rather unpleasant and authoritarian individual with a sinister reputation in Britain, which was somewhat undeserved. However his relationship with Victoria was strained and he certainly didn't begin well in Hanover with his voiding of the constitution granted only a few years before. That got all the intelligentsia and liberals offside. They protested, so, in retaliation, Ernst caused several of them to lose their positions for their effrontery. They included the brothers Grimm who were professors at the university.

[LouisFerdinand]

Queen Charlotte and Christmas tree   

[LouisFerdinand]

Great Seal of King George II of England     
http://www.maryevans.com/history/10173503

[LouisFerdinand]

A portrait of Queen Adelaide   
http://www.maryevans.com/history/10069217

[LouisFerdinand]

In 1821 King George IV of England became the first monarch to pay a state visit to Ireland since King Richard II of England.

[LouisFerdinand]

Coming from Hanover, King George I of England spoke almost exclusively in German.   
In an attempt to appease the British public, he began to sign his name "George Rex" instead of the Germanic "Georg Ludwig".

[LouisFerdinand]

King George II was the last British monarch to be born outside the country.   
He founded the Georg August University in Gottingen in Hanover.

[LouisFerdinand]

The Duke of St. Albans carried the Queen's crown at the coronation of King George II in 1727.   
http://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/XD542289

[LouisFerdinand]

A miniature of Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales     
http://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0010301

[LouisFerdinand]

Lords Liverpool and Castlereagh drew up the marriage contract at the time it was assumed that Princess Charlotte of Wales would marry the Hereditary Prince of Orange.   
It was stipulated that if Charlotte and Willem had only one child, that child would inherit England and the Dutch crown would go to the German branch of the House of Orange.

[LouisFerdinand]

The Duchess of Kent refused to acknowledge Queen Adelaide's precedence. She left letters from Queen Adelaide unanswered. She commandeered space in the royal stables and apartments for her use.