Hanover (officially "Region Hannover") is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Soltau-Fallingbostel, Celle, Gifhorn, Peine, Hildesheim, Hamelin-Pyrmont, Schaumburg and Nienburg. History The city of Hanover was not part of the district until 2001. Then the district and the city were merged in order to form the new "Region Hannover" district (not to confuse with the administrative region of Hanover). Geography The district surrounds the city of Hanover and includes the outskirts of its metropolitan area. The Leine river enters the district in the south, runs through Hanover and leaves to the north. In the northwest there is the Steinhuder Meer, a lake with an area of 32 km?. " Northern of the Main begins Prussia " is the belief of many people. This prejudice is completely wrong and obscures the real backgrounds and proper understanding of modern history. Especially English, American and Commonwealth people should know better - Hanover's Kings had been Kings of Great Britain for a period of 123 years (Georges 1 to 4 and William 4th). However today's German Federal State of Lower Saxony actually consists of four different countries: the Duchy Brunswick, the Kingdom of Hanover, the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, and the County Schaumburg-Lippe. On November 1st, 1946 the British Military Government created Lower Saxony with these former countries. Additionally: The period, when the former Kingdom of Hanover was a Prussian province, lasted just 80 years. A relatively short intermission, if we realize the long lasting of the free and independent Guelph-country from the Middleages to nowadays. However, exactly this short interval contents quite a lot of dark spots of German history: German Civil War 1866 French-German War 1871 and manifestation of the Prussian-Nationalists' legend of a " hereditary enmity " against France (in the 1950 years Germany and France became friends with the help of the politicians deGaulle and Adenauer) various colonial wars inclusive suppression of the native inhabitants Prosecution of Social Democrats, catholics, members of the independently thinking Hanoverians and other critics under Bismarck The Great War 1914-18 National socialism and the Second World War 1933-45, probably the darkest section of the Germans Some of Lower Saxony's inhabitants still call themselves Prussians. These should risk a look into their history-book and learn about the mentioned sections above. What will they find? 1000 years of a free Lower Saxony with only 80 years of Prussian hegemony containing suppression, war, and nationalism. History of Hanover In 1156 the town of Hanover belonged to a Count of Lauenrode and was an unimportant place. The name 'Hanovere' was given to a group of farms on the banks of the Leine and was later passed on to the market-settlement founded by Count Hildebold between 1124 and 1141. 'EGO HANOVERENSIS SUM' were the words Henry The Lion had stamped on the Hanover silver coin in 1180 ' 'I am a Hanoverian'. This reminds one of John F. Kennedy's now world-famous declaration 780 years later: 'Ich bin ein Berliner', and shows that the great 12th century Welfe must have been an early fan of this town. Indeed it was The Lion who ordered that the (until that time fairly unimportant and only part of the 'Welfe' since about 1168) settlement be enlarged and reinforced. A decision that showed foresight and proved very important for the town. The small fishing settlement developed into a town under the protection of the Dukes of Roden and was then sold to the Welfen. In 1241 Duke Otto granted the town the rights of a borough. This certificate is the oldest document of Hanover's history. By that time, Hanover was already a thriving community of established traders and craftsmen. In the 14th century the city was fortified with a solid surrounding wall. There were three gates in the wall: the Leintor, Aegidientor and Steintor. Three gothic churches were built in the same century, Aegidienkirche, Marktkirche and Kreuzkirche. A hundred years later the old town hall was built next to the Marktkirche, all in the common brickwork style of northern Germany. At that time Hanover became bigger and bigger. Its citizens were confident enough to profess their belief in the teachings of Luther by swearing an oath in the market square in 1533. In the Thirty Year War, in 1636, after the division of the inheritance of the rulers in the principality Calenberg, Prince George of Braunschweig and Lüneburg moved his residence to Hanover, which was relatively safe. A turning point in the history of the town. The citizens did not realise their luck and fought against the lord who would undermine their privileges. Important trade routes from East to West, at the point where the north German lowland turns into the mountain range Mittelgebirge, were used again. The increasing importance of the North sea harbours strengthened the traffic on the North-South axis and added to Hanover's development. After the Seven Year War the embankments were pulled down and the city started growing again. Two boulevards were built in place of the large embankments, Georgstraße and Friedrichstraße (today Friedrichswall). Many of the major battles of the Napoleonic Wars were fought in Germany and Austria. Napoléon had surrendered the Kingdom of Hanover to Prussia in 1805, but the Prussians had to return it after their defeat at Jena and Auerstedt in 1806. Napoleon then combined Hanover withHessen-Kassel and Braunschweig to form the Kingdom of Westphalia. One of Napoléon's brothers was made king. In the 19th century, after the Napoleonic wars, Hanover became a kingdom, and when the union with England was over, it got its own king - Ernst August, whose monument now stands in front of the Central Station. At that time G.F. Laves, a well-known architect, worked in Hanover by appointment of the king. A lot of important buildings in Hanover are based on his plans, like the Leineschloß, the Castle of Herrenhausen (destroyed in the war), the Opera House, Waterloo Square and the Central Station. Between the station and the Old Town, the Ernst-August Stadt was built, new trades and companies were established there so, as things developed, the city centre moved from the old town to Ernst-August Stadt. In the 19th century the city started growing. Villages on the fringe were incorporated, but industralisation did not get going before 1866, when the Kingdom of Hanover was annexed by the Prussians. Before that the King did not want any smelly, dirty and noisy industry in his city so Hanover's industrial development started in the village of Linden, which was incorporated into Hanover in 1920. As the population grew, the new urban districts on the List, Linden, the East and North of the town began to grow. The villas, private residences and apartments from this period still characterise Hanover. This ring of residential areas was not as radically damaged by the bombs of the Second World War as the old part of town or the business areas. After 1945 the British forces supported rebuilding Hanover. With the 'Wirtschaftswunder' Hanover once again became the largest site for trade fairs in West Germany. Thanks to its trade fairs, Hanover opened its doors to the international public. That the Expo 2000 will be held here has led to new excitement 'The third millennium will begin in Hanover', in the words of one self-confident advertising slogan.
	RULERS OF HANOVER (HANNOVER) Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1202–1213 WILHELM I Son of Heinrich III of Saxony 1213–1252 OTTO I the Child Son of Wilhelm 1252–1279 ALBRECHT I Son of Otto I; in Brunswick 1267 1252–1277 JOHANN I Son of Otto I; in Lüneburg 1267 1277–1330 OTTO II Son of Johann I; in Lüneburg 1279–1322 HEINRICH I Son of Albrecht I; in Grubenhagen 1289 1279–1318 ALBRECHT II Son of Albrecht I; in Göttingen 1289 and Brunswick 1292 1279–1292 WILHELM II Son of Albrecht I; in Brunswick and Wolfenbüttel 1289 1318–1344 OTTO III Son of Albrecht II; in Brunswick and Göttingen 1318–1369 MAGNUS I Son of Albrecht II; in Brunswick 1345 1318–1367 ERNST I Son of Albrecht II; in Göttingen 1345 1322–1351 HEINRICH II Son of Heinrich I; in Grubenhagen 1322–1361 ERNST II Son of Heinrich I; in Osterode, also Herzberg 1360 1322–1360 WILHELM III Son of Heinrich I; in Herzberg and Grubenhagen 1391 1330–1352 OTTO IV Son of Otto II; in Lüneburg 1330–1369 WILHELM IV Son of Otto II; in Lüneburg (abdicated 1355?) 1345–1373 MAGNUS II Son of Magnus I; in Brunswick; killed in battle 1351–1399 OTTO V Son of Heinrich II; in Grubenhagen 1355–1367 LUDWIG Son of Magnus I; in Lüneburg ERNST Son of Ernst I; co-ruler 1355–1363 in Göttingen ALBRECHT Son of Ernst I; co-ruler 1363 in Göttingen ERNST Son of Magnus I; co-ruler 1385 in Blankenburg 1361–/1383 ALBRECHT III Son of Ernst II; in Salzderhelden 1361–/1421 FRIEDRICH I Son of Ernst II; in Herzberg and Osterode 1367–1394 OTTO VI Son of Ernst I; in Göttingen 1373–1400 FRIEDRICH II Son of Magnus II; in Gifhorn 1381 1373–1434 BERNHARD I Son of Magnus II; in Lüneburg 1388, then Brunswick 1409, then Lüneburg 1429 1373–1416 HEINRICH III Son of Magnus II; in Lüneburg 1409 /1383–1427 ERICH I Son of Albrecht III; in Salzderhelden 1394–1463 OTTO VII Son of Otto VI; in Göttingen 1416–1482 WILHELM V Son of Heinrich III; in Lüneburg, then Brunswick 1429, also Calenburg 1432, Göttingen 1463, Wolfenbüttel 1473 /1421–1452 OTTO VIII Son of Friedrich I; in Herzberg and Osterode 1427–1464 HEINRICH IV Son of Erich I; in Salzderhelden and Grubenhagen 1432–1473 HEINRICH V Son of Heinrich III; in Wolfenbüttel 1434–1445 OTTO IX Son of Bernhard I; in Lüneburg ERNST Son of Erich I; co-ruler 1441–1466 in Herzberg and Osterode 1445–1457 FRIEDRICH III Son of Bernhard I; in Lüneburg; abdicated, died 1478 1452–1485 ALBRECHT IV Son of Erich I; in Herzberg and Osterode 1457–1464 BERNHARD II Son of Friedrich III; in Lüneburg 1464–1471 OTTO X Son of Friedrich III; in Lüneburg 1464–1526 HEINRICH VI Son of Heinrich IV; in Salzderhelden and Grubenhagen 1471–1532 HEINRICH VII Son of Otto X; in Lüneburg 1482–1495 WILHELM VI Son of Wilhelm V; in Wolfenbüttel; abdicated, died 1503 1482–1495 FRIEDRICH IV Son of Wilhelm V; in Calenburg 1485–1551 PHILIPP I Son of Albrecht IV; in Herzberg and Osterode 1495–1514 HEINRICH VIII Son of Wilhelm VI; in Wolfenbüttel; killed in battle 1495–1540 ERICH II Son of Wilhelm VI; in Calenburg 1500–1508 ERICH III Son of Albrecht IV; in Herzberg and Osterode; abdicated, died 1532 1514–1568 HEINRICH IX Son of Heinrich VIII; in Wolfenbüttel 1521–1549 OTTO XI Son of Heinrich VII; in Lüneburg, then Harburg 1527 1527–1546 ERNST III Son of Heinrich VII; in Lüneburg 1527–1549 FRANZ Son of Heinrich VII; in Lüneburg, then Gifhorn 1539 1540–1584 ERICH IV Son of Erich II; in Calenburg 1546–1559 FRANZ OTTO Son of Ernst III; in Lüneburg 1549–1603 OTTO XII Son of Otto XI; in Harburg, also Moisburg 1560 1551–1567 ERNST IV Son of Philipp I; in Herzberg and Osterode 1559–1598 HEINRICH X Son of Ernst III; in Dannenberg 1569 1559–1592 WILHELM VII Son of Ernst III; in Lüneburg 1567–1595 WOLFGANG Son of Philipp I; in Herzberg and Osterode 1568–1589 JULIUS Son of Heinrich X; in Wolfenbüttel, also Calenburg 1584 1589–1613 HEINRICH JULIUS Son of Julius; in Wolfenbüttel, also Grubenhagen 1596 1592–1611 ERNST V Son of Wilhelm VII; in Lüneburg 1595–1596 PHILIPP II Son of Philipp I; in Herzberg and Osterode 1598–1636 JULIUS ERNST Son of Heinrich X; in Dannenberg 1603–1642 WILHELM AUGUST Son of Otto XII; in Harburg, also Blankenburg 1635 1603–1606 CHRISTOPH Son of Otto XII; in Harburg 1606–1641 OTTO XIII Son of Otto XII; in Harburg 1611–1633 CHRISTIAN Son of Wilhelm VII; in Lüneburg, also Grubenhagen 1617 1613–1634 FRIEDRICH ULRICH Son of Heinrich Julius; in Wolfenbüttel and (till1617) Grubenhagen 1633–1636 AUGUST I Son of Wilhelm VII; in Lüneburg, also Calenburg 1635 1634–1666 AUGUST II Son of Heinrich X; in Wolfenbüttel, also Dannenberg 1636 1636–1648 FRIEDRICH V Son of Wilhelm VII; in Lüneburg, also Harburg 1643 1636–1641 GEORG Son of Wilhelm VII; in Calenburg 1641–1665 CHRISTIAN LUDWIG Son of Georg; in Calenburg, then Lüneburg-Celle 1648 1648–1705 GEORG WILHELM Son of Georg; in Calenburg and Grubenhagen, then Lüneburg-Celle 1665 1665–1679 JOHANN FRIEDRICH Son of Georg; in Calenburg and Grubenhagen 1666–1704 RUDOLF AUGUST Son of August II; in Wolfenbüttel 1679–1692 ERNST AUGUST I Son of Georg; in Calenburg and Grubenhagen; Elector of Hanover 1692, died 1698 1704–1714 ANTON ULRICH Son of August II; in Wolfenbüttel 1714–1731 AUGUST WILHELM Son of Anton Ulrich; in Wolfenbüttel 1731–1735 LUDWIG RUDOLF Son of Anton Ulrich; in Wolfenbüttel; in Blankenburg 1707 1735–1735 FERDINAND ALBRECHT Son of Ferdinand Albrecht of Bevern son of August II; in Wolfenbüttel Electors of Hanover 1692–1814, Kings of Hanover 1814–1866, Dukes of Brunswick 1913–1918 1692–1698 ERNST AUGUST I Son of Georg Dk of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1698–1727 GEORG I Ludwig Son of Ernst August I 1727–1760 GEORG II Son of Georg I 1760–1820 GEORG III Son of Friedrich Ludwig son of Georg II 1820–1830 GEORG IV Son of Georg III 1830–1837 WILHELM Son of Georg III 1837–1851 ERNST AUGUST II Son of Georg III 1851–1866 GEORG V Son of Ernst August II; deposed, died 1878 1866–1913 To Germany (Prussia) 1913–1918 ERNST AUGUST IV Son of Ernst August III son of Georg V; deposed, died 1953 1918– To Germany Dukes of Brunswick 1735–1780 CARL I Son of Ferdinand Albrecht of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1780–1806 CARL II Son of Carl I; killed in battle 1806–1815 FRIEDRICH WILHELM Son of Carl II; killed in battle 1815–1830 CARL III Son of Carl son of Carl II; abdicated, died 1873 1830–1884 WILHELM Brother of Carl III