The Dynasty
The dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg were members of the House of Guelph, which is one of the oldest aristocratic dynasties in Europe. The family traces its origins to the eighth century and Ruthard, Count of Argengau (d. 790, r. 749–69). In the early modern period, the House of Guelph comprised two main branches – Wolfenbüttel and Lüneburg. While the dukes of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel made their mark in early modern Europe culturally—with the world-renowned Herzog August Bibliothek, the high baroque Palace of Wolfenbüttel, and the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, for example—their cousins in Lüneburg staked their fortunes politically and succeeded in becoming one of the most powerful families in Europe. In 1714 they founded the Hanoverian dynasty, which provided six monarchs for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, from George I (1660–1727, r. 1714–27) to Queen Victoria (1819–1901, r. 1837–1901).
Wolfenbüttel Palace was the residence of the dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg from 1283 to 1754. Here you can see an image of the coat of arms for the duchy, crowned by the white horse of the house of Guelph.