House of Hanover Index (1714 – 1901)

King George I, the first monarch of the House of Hanover; Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Anne, the last of the Stuarts, had seventeen pregnancies which resulted in only three live births.  In 1700, the last of those three children, Prince William, Duke of Gloucester, died six days after his eleventh birthday.  Parliament was faced with a succession crisis as it did not want the throne to go to a Roman Catholic.  The 1701 Act of Settlement was passed giving the throne to Sophia of the Palatinate, Electress of Hanover and her Protestant descendants.

Who was Sophia of Hanover?  Sophia was a granddaughter of King James I of England and first cousin of King Charles II and King James II.  Born Sophia of the Palatinate, her parents were Elizabeth Stuart, eldest daughter of King James I, and Frederick V, Elector Palatine.

King James I (also James VI, King of Scots) → Elizabeth Stuart  → Sophia of the Palatinate (also known as Sophia of Hanover married Ernst August, Elector of Hanover → George Ludwig, Elector of Hanover, later King George I of Great Britain, founder of the House of Hanover

In 1658, Sophia married Ernst August, Elector of Hanover.  In 1692, Ernst August was appointed Prince-Elector by the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I. When he died in 1698, He was succeeded by his son George Ludwig.

Sophia died on June 8, 1714, at the age of 83.  Her son George Ludwig was now the heir to the British throne.  Queen Anne died on August 1, 1714, which was only 54 days after Sophia died.  The first Hanoverian, King George I, was only 56th in line to the throne according to primogeniture, but the nearest Protestant according to the 1701 Act of Settlement.

Below is an indexed listing with links to biographical articles about the House of Hanover at Unofficial Royalty. If it says “Notable Issue” before a name, that means not all of the children for the parent of that person are listed. Also listed below are links to House of Hanover Miscellaneous Articles, and links to the various British Content Areas.

House of Hanover (1714 – 1901)

Family of King George I of Great Britain

Family of King George II of Great Britain

Family of King George III of the United Kingdom

Family of King George IV of the United Kingdom

King William IV of the United Kingdom

Family of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 

House of Hanover Royal Relationships

House of Hanover Notable Royal Lovers and Mistresses

House of Hanover Notable Illegitimate Children

King George I

King George II

King William IV

House of Hanover Miscellaneous Articles

British Content Areas