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Principality of Calenberg Fürstentum Calenberg (German) | |||||||
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| 1432–1692 | |||||||
 Schloss und Ampt Calenberg, engraving by Caspar Merian (1654) | |||||||
| Status | Principality (state of the Holy Roman Empire) | ||||||
| Capital | Calenberg Hanover (from 1636) | ||||||
| Common languages | German Low Saxon | ||||||
| Government | Principality | ||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages Early modern era | ||||||
• William the Victorious first Prince of Calenberg | 1432 | ||||||
• Incorporated Principality of Göttingen | 1495 | ||||||
• Joined Lower Saxon Circle | 1500 | ||||||
• Line extinct, fell back to Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel | 1584 | ||||||
• Fell to House of Hanover | 1635 | ||||||
• Raised to Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg | 1692 | ||||||
• Acquired Lüneburg | 1705 | ||||||
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The Principality of Calenberg was a dynastic division of the Welf Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg established in 1432. Calenberg was ruled by the House of Hanover (from the Principality of Lüneburg) from 1635 onwards; the princes received the ninth electoral dignity of the Holy Roman Empire in 1692. Their territory became the nucleus of the Electorate of Hanover, ruled in personal union with the Kingdom of Great Britain from 1714 onwards. The principality received its name from Calenberg Castle, a residence of the Brunswick dukes.