Prince of Lüneburg

The following is a list of all princes of Lüneburg during its time as an independent principality.

Coat of arms of the Principality of Lüneburg

The Principality of Lüneburg (German: Fürstentum Lüneburg), later also called Celle, was a territory within the Holy Roman Empire that existed from 1269 to 1705,

Princes of Lüneburg

Old House of Lüneburg

PortraitNameRuleRemarks
John (1242-1277)1269 - 1277Following the division of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, John was the first ruler of the new Principality of Lüneburg.
Otto II the Strict (1266-1330)1277 - 1330Otto II of Brunswick-Lüneburg after Otto the Child (Otto I of Brunswick-Lüneburg)
Otto III (1296-1352)1330 - 1352
William († 1369)1330 - 1369William II of Brunswick-Lüneburg. His death precipitated the Lüneburg War of Succession in 1370.

Old House of Brunswick

PortraitNameRuleRemarks
Magnus Torquatus (1328-1373)1369 - 1373Magnus II. "Magnus with the Necklace." 2nd cousin, once removed, of William II

Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg

PortraitNameRuleRemarks
Albert of Saxe-Wittenberg (d 1385)1370 - 1385Albert moved the residence to Celle after the slighting of Lüneburg Castle.
Wenceslas of Saxe-Wittenberg (d 1388)1370 - 1388

Middle House of Brunswick

PortraitNameRuleRemarks
Henry I the Mild (d 1416)1388 - 1416
William the Victorious (1392-1482)1416 - 1428
Henry II the Peaceful (1411-1473)1416 - 1428

Middle House of Lüneburg

PortraitNameRuleRemarks
Bernard I (d 1434)1388 - 1409 and
1428 - 1434
Otto I the Lame (d 1446)1434 - 1446Otto IV of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Also "Otto Crookleg".
Frederick the Pious (d 1478)1434 - 1457 and
1472 - 1478
Frederick II
Bernard II (1432-1464)1457 - 1464Also Prince-Bishop of Hildesheim as Bernard III (1452–1458)
Otto II the Magnanimous (1439-1471)1457 - 1471Otto V of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Henry I of Lüneburg (1468-1532)1486 - 1520
Otto I of Harburg (1495-1549)1520 - 1527Otto VI of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Francis (1508-1549)1536 - 1539
Ernest the Confessor (1497-1546)1520 - 1546Ernest I. Introduced the Reformation into the Principality of Lüneburg in 1527. He was also the progenitor of the Calenberg-Celle and Wolfenbüttel lines
Francis Otto (1530-1559)1555 - 1559
Henry of Dannenberg (1533-1598)1559 - 1569Henry III
William the Younger (1535-1592)1559 - 1592
Ernest II (1564-1611)1592 - 1611
Christian (1566-1633)1611 - 1633
Augustus the Elder (1568-1636)1633 - 1636Augustus
Frederick (1571-1648)1636 - 1648

New House of Lüneburg

PortraitNameRuled fromToRemarks
Christian Louis
Christian Ludwig
10 December 164815 March 1665Nephew of the previous duke; he was already Duke of Brunswick-Calenberg, which he resigned to his next brother to take up the rule of this duchy.
John Frederick (1625-1679)
Johann Friedrich
1665
George William
Georg Wilhelm
15 March 166528 August 1705Brother of Christian Louis, previously ruler of Brunswick-Calenberg
In 1705 the Principality of Lüneburg was united with the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg through inheritance.