Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover
A reactionary Hanoverian king whose ascension permanently severed the political union between Britain and Germany.
1771–1851 (age 80)·King of Hanover from 1837 to 1851·Birthday: June 5
Biography
Ernest Augustus, the fifth son of King George III, lived most of his life with no reasonable expectation of a crown. A soldier by trade, he served as a cavalry officer and was a notably unpopular Viceroy of Hanover, where his conservative, authoritarian instincts first surfaced. History called in 1837 upon the death of his brother, William IV. Because Hanover followed the Salic law barring female succession, Ernest, not his niece Victoria, inherited the German kingdom, ending the 123-year personal union with Britain. As King of Hanover, he swiftly revoked the relatively liberal constitution, earning a reputation as a staunch absolutist who clashed constantly with his subjects and parliament. His reign was defined by a rigid adherence to old-world monarchical principles, making him a symbol of stubborn resistance to the democratic currents sweeping 19th-century Europe.
#1 When Ernest Was Born
The biggest hits of 1771
Ernest's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1771Born
1776Started school
1784Became a teenager
1787Could drive
1789Could vote
1792Turned 21
1801Turned 30
1811Turned 40
1821Turned 50
1831Turned 60
1841Turned 70
1851Turned 80
Key Achievements
- Became King of Hanover in 1837, permanently separating the Hanoverian crown from the British monarchy.
- Served as a cavalry commander for the Hanoverian army during the Napoleonic Wars.
- Founded the Royal Hanoverian State Orchestra (now the NDR Radiophilharmonie) in 1842.
- Oversaw the construction of the Waterloo Column in Hanover to commemorate the battle.
- Was the last British prince to hold the title of Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale.
Did You Know?
He was blinded in one eye during the Battle of Tournai in 1794.
He was the last Hanoverian monarch to rule as an absolute king, refusing to accept a constitutional monarchy.
He was the subject of numerous hostile caricatures in the British press due to his political views.
He married his cousin, Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who was already twice widowed.
He was the godfather of his grand-niece, Princess Alice, later the Grand Duchess of Hesse.
“I am a soldier, and a soldier must be obeyed.”
