Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover

Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover
Name	Ernest Augustus
Title	King of Hanover
Succession	King of Hanover
Reign	20 June 1837 – 18 November 1851
Predecessor	William IV
Successor	George V
Spouse	Princess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (m. 1815)
Issue	George V, King of Hanover
House	House of Hanover
Father	George III
Mother	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Birth date	5 June 1771
Birth place	Buckingham House, London, Kingdom of Great Britain
Death date	18 November 1851 (aged 80)
Death place	Herrenhausen Palace, Kingdom of Hanover
Burial place	Welfenmausoleum, Hanover

Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover was the fifth son of King George III and Queen Charlotte. He became the first ruler of the Kingdom of Hanover following its separation from the United Kingdom due to Salic law, reigning from 1837 until his death. A staunch Tory and conservative figure, his reign in Hanover was marked by the revocation of the liberal Constitution of 1833 and significant political conflict.

Early life and military career

Born at Buckingham House, he was created Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn and Earl of Armagh in 1799. He pursued a military career, serving with the Hanoverian Army during the War of the First Coalition and was severely wounded at the Battle of Tourcoing in 1794, losing the sight in his left eye. His later service included a controversial period as Field Marshal and commander of the Hanoverian Guards. Ernest Augustus was also installed as a Knight of the Garter and became an active, often divisive, member of the House of Lords.

Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale

As the Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, he was a hugely influential and reactionary force in British politics. He was a leading opponent of Catholic emancipation and the Great Reform Act, aligning himself with the Ultra-Tories. His life was marred by scandal, including unproven allegations surrounding the death of his valet and rumors about his personal conduct. He maintained close ties with the Kingdom of Hanover and was a major beneficiary under the Civil List.

King of Hanover

He ascended the throne of Hanover in 1837 when his niece, Queen Victoria, could not inherit under Salic law. His reign began with the immediate overthrow of the liberal Constitution of 1833, which he replaced with the autocratic Constitution of 1840. This provoked the protest of the Göttingen Seven, a group of professors including the Brothers Grimm, whom he dismissed or exiled. His rule was characterized by persistent conflict with the Hanoverian Parliament and opposition from liberal factions throughout the Vormärz period.

Marriage and issue

In 1815, he married his cousin, the twice-widowed Princess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who was the sister of his brother's wife, Queen Louise of Prussia. Their only child to survive infancy was George, who succeeded him as the last King of Hanover. The marriage, though initially controversial, provided dynastic stability for the House of Hanover in Germany.

Later life and death

In his later years, Ernest Augustus became increasingly blind but continued to govern Hanover with a firm hand. He witnessed the Revolutions of 1848 but his kingdom remained relatively stable compared to others in the German Confederation. He died at Herrenhausen Palace in 1851 and was interred in the Welfenmausoleum in the city of Hanover. He was succeeded by his son, George V.

Legacy

Ernest Augustus is remembered as a deeply conservative monarch who rolled back constitutional advances in Hanover. His equestrian statue, the Ernst-August-Denkmal, remains a landmark in front of Hanover Hauptbahnhof. Through his son, he is the direct ancestor of the current head of the House of Hanover, Ernst August, Prince of Hanover. His reign represents a pivotal, reactionary chapter in the history of the Kingdom of Hanover before its annexation by the Kingdom of Prussia in 1866.

Category:Kings of Hanover Category:House of Hanover Category:British princes Category:Knights of the Garter