17-18th Cent. George I, King of Great Britain and Ireland.

 George I, King of Great Britain and Ireland.

Prince George Louis of Brunswick-Lüneburg was born on 28 May 1660, in Osnabrück, Hanover, Germany. He was the son of Sophia of the Rhineland Palatinate (14 October 1630 - 8 June 1714) and Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Elector of Hanover (20 November 1629 - 23 January 1698). His maternal grandparents were Elizabeth Stuart and Frederick V, Elector Palatine. His paternal grandparents were Anne Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt and George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. George's parents were married on 30 September 1658. His siblings included: Friedrich August of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1661-1691), Maximilian Wilhelm of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1666-1726), Sophia Charlotte of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1668-1705), Karl Philipp of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1669-1690), Christian of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1671-1703) and Ernst August II of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1674-1728). George of Brunswick-Lüneburg married Sophia Dorothea of Celle (15 September 1666 - 13 November 1726) in 1682. She was the daughter of Eleonore d'Esmier d'Olbreuse, Countess of Williamsburg (3 January 1639 - 5 February 1722) and George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (26 January 1624 - 28 August 1705). Sophia Dorothea gave birth to their first child, a son, George on 10 November 1683.

The Children of Sophia Dorothea of Celle and George I:

George II (10 November 1683 - 25 October 1760) Married Princess Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach in 1705.
Princess Sophia Dorothea of Hanover (16 March 1687 - 28 June 1757) Married Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg in 1706.

George soon took a mistress, Melusina von Schulenburg. His wife, Sophia Dorothea met on 1 March 1688, Count Philip Christoph von Königsmarck. In 1689, the English Throne was accepted by Lady Mary (1662-1694) and William. George had two daughters with his mistress, Melusine von der Schulenburg in 1692 and 1693. In 1694, Count Philip Christoph von Königsmarck disappeared. The marriage between George and Sophia Dorothea was dissolved. Sophia Dorothea was imprisoned in the Castle of Ahlden, in Celle. Mary II died of smallpox in 1694. His father, Ernest Augustus died on 23 January 1698, at Herrenhausen. George Louis succeeded him as Duke. In 1701, under the Act of Settlement, his mother Sophia was nominated Heiress to the English Throne. In August 1701, George was invested with the Order of the Garter. William III died on 8 March 1702. Anne was crowned Queen, on 23 April 1702. His son, Georg August married Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1 March 1683 - 20 November 1737) on 22 August 1705, in Hanover. She was the daughter of Duchess Eleonore of Saxe-Eisenach and Johann Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach. His daughter, Princess Sophia Dorothea married Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg on 28 November 1706. His mother, Sophia died on 8 June 1714. Queen Anne died on 1 August 1714, at Kensington Palace, in London. George was proclaimed King of Great Britain and Ireland. He was crowned on 20 October 1714, at Westminster Abbey. In February 1716, James, the Pretender fled to France. In 1717, George I contributed to the creation of the Triple Alliance, with France and the United Provinces. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) played Water Music for the King, on 17 July 1717, on a Royal barge trip on the Thames. In 1718, the Holy Roman Empire was added and it became known as the Quadruple Alliance. Sophia Dorothea died on 13 November 1726. In May 1727, she was moved to be interred beside her parents in the Stadtkirche, in Celle. George I died aged 67, on 11 June 1727, in Osnabrück, Hanover. He was interred on 4 August 1727, in Herrenhausen, Hanover. He was succeeded by his son, as George II.