The Principality of Lüneburg (german: Fürstentum Lüneburg), later also called ''Celle'', was a territory within the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...

that existed from 1269 to 1705, whose land covered part of the modern-day German state of

Lower Saxony Lower Saxony (german: Niedersachsen ; nds, Neddersassen; stq, Läichsaksen) is a German state (') in northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ...

. The territory was granted

imperial immediacy Imperial immediacy (german: Reichsfreiheit or ') was a privileged constitutional and political status rooted in German feudal law under which the Imperial estates of the Holy Roman Empire such as Imperial cities, prince-bishoprics and secular pri ...

which gave it the special status of reporting directly to the emperor. It emerged in 1269 following the division of the

Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg The Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg (german: Herzogtum Braunschweig und Lüneburg), or more properly the Duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg, was a historical duchy that existed from the late Middle Ages to the Late Modern era within the Holy Roman ...

, and its rulers continued to use the title of dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Lüneburg lost its independence in 1705 when it was inherited by the

Principality of Calenberg The Principality of Calenberg was a dynastic division of the Welf duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg established in 1432. Calenberg was ruled by the House of Hanover from 1635 onwards; the princes received the ninth electoral dignity of the Holy Roman ...

(also known as Hanover), which however could keep a separate seat in the Reichstag for Lüneburg or "Brunswick-Celle". The following is a list of all the rulers of Lüneburg during its time as an independent principality.

Rulers of the Principality of Lüneburg

Old House of Lüneburg

Old House of Brunswick

Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg

Middle House of Brunswick

Middle House of Lüneburg

New House of Lüneburg

Sources

* Geckler, Christa (1986). ''Die Celler Herzöge: Leben und Wirken 1371–1705''. Celle: Georg Ströher. . . * William Havemann: ''Geschichte the Lande Brunswick und Lüneburg'', 3 Bde., Nachdruck. Hirschheydt, Hannover 1974/75, (Originalausgabe: Verlag the Dietrich'schen Buchhandlung, Göttingen 1853–1857) * Hans Patze (Begr.): ''Geschichte Niedersachsen'', 7 Bde. Hahnsche Buchhandlung, Hannover 1977- (Veröffentlichungen the Historischen Kommission für Niedersachsen und Bremen, 36) {{DEFAULTSORT:List of the rulers of Luneburg Lüneburg Heath Luneburg Lüneburg (district) Lists of German nobility