principality · Germany and Central Europe

Principality of Lüneburg

1269 CE – 1705 CE · capital Celle

Guelph principality of the Lüneburg Heath ruled from Celle, which embraced the Reformation early and merged into the Electorate of Hanover in 1705.

Origins

In 1269 the brothers Albert and John divided the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, which their father Otto the Child had received in 1235. John received the northern lands around Lüneburg and Celle, founding the Principality of Lüneburg, while Albert took the Principality of Wolfenbüttel.

The salt city of Lüneburg was wealthy and largely independent, and after the War of the Lüneburg Succession in 1371 to 1388 the dukes moved their residence to Celle. Duke Ernest the Confessor introduced the Reformation from 1527. The principality was rural, with heathland, sheep and forests. George William, the last duke of Celle, saw his daughter Sophia Dorothea marry the future George I of Great Britain.

When George William died in 1705, Lüneburg passed to his nephew and son-in-law George Louis of Calenberg and was merged into the Electorate of Hanover. It later formed part of the Kingdom of Hanover and is now in Lower Saxony.

Cite this page

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). Principality of Lüneburg. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/principality-of-luneburg
MLA: “Principality of Lüneburg.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/principality-of-luneburg. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “Principality of Lüneburg.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/principality-of-luneburg.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Principality of Lüneburg’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/principality-of-luneburg (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻