The House of Este is a European princely dynasty. It is split into two branches; the elder is known as the House of Welf-Este or House of Welf, the younger, as the House of Fulc-Este or later simply as the House of Este. Both are related in antiquity to the eight-hundred-year-old House of Wettin. The elder branch of the House of Este, the House of Welf, produced dukes of Bavaria (1070–1139, 1156–1180), dukes of Saxony (1138–1139, 1142–1180), a German king (1198–1218), and most impactful upon history, the dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg (1208–1918)—who were later styled the Electors of Hanover, a more prestigious Holy Roman Empire title than Arch-duke or duke, when two branches of the family recombined in 1705. After the peace ending the Napoleonic wars reshaped Europe ushering in the Modern era, the Electorate of Hanover (duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg — held in a personal union by the king of Great Britain, George III) was dissolved by treaty acknowledged by all signatories and its lands were enlarged with the state promoted to the Kingdom of Hanover, Hanover. The new kingdom existed from 1815–1866, but passed from being a personal union of the male British rulers in 1837 to an uncle under salic laws of inheritance (Queen Victoria, being female, was unable to inherit). The House of Este hence gave England the Hanoverian monarchs of the United Kingdom (1714–1901. In the strictest genetic (not the heraldic or salic law) sense, her successor, Edward VII of the United Kingdom of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was descended from the House of Este both through his father and mother as Prince Albert, although of the House of Wettin, had members of the House of Este among his ancestors. The younger branch of the House of Este included rulers of Ferrara (1240–1597), and Modena and Reggio (1288–1796).
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 07:53:33 +0000