# Hanoverian Army > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hanoverian_Army > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hanoverian_Army.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanoverian_Army > Source revision: 1347061693 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Standing army of the historic Kingdom of Hanover}} {{Use British English |date=October 2025}} {{Use dmy dates |date=October 2025}} {{Use shortened footnotes |date=October 2025}} thumb|The Flag of Hanover. The '''Hanoverian Army''' ({{langx |de |'''Hannoversche Armee'''}}) was the [standing army](/source/standing_army) of the [Electorate of Hanover](/source/Electorate_of_Hanover) from the seventeenth century onwards. From 1692 to 1803 it acted in defence of the electorate. Following the [Hanoverian Succession](/source/Hanoverian_Succession) of 1714, this was in conjunction with the [British Army](/source/British_Army) with which it shared a monarch. Hanoverian troops fought in the [War of the Austrian Succession](/source/War_of_the_Austrian_Succession), [Seven Years' War](/source/Seven_Years'_War) and [American War of Independence](/source/American_War_of_Independence) during the eighteenth century. After [Napoleon](/source/Napoleon)'s invasion and incorporation of Hanover into the [Confederation of the Rhine](/source/Confederation_of_the_Rhine) in 1803, many exiled members of the army served in Britain's [King's German Legion](/source/King's_German_Legion). In 1813 the Hanoverian Army was reformed under [Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge](/source/Prince_Adolphus%2C_Duke_of_Cambridge) and took part in the final defeat of Napoleon at the [Battle of Waterloo](/source/Battle_of_Waterloo).{{sfnp|Field|2022|p=100}} Following the [Congress of Vienna](/source/Congress_of_Vienna), Hanover was elevated into a [kingdom](/source/Kingdom_of_Hanover). It continued to be directly tied to Britain until 1837 when, after the death of [William IV](/source/William_IV), Hanover's [Salic Law](/source/Salic_Law) led it to crown [Ernest Augustus](/source/Ernest_Augustus%2C_King_of_Hanover) in preference to his niece [Queen Victoria](/source/Queen_Victoria). The Hanoverian Army was defeated in 1866 during the [Austro-Prussian War](/source/Austro-Prussian_War) and Hanover's independence ended. Hanoverian troops were subsequently incorporated into the [Imperial German Army](/source/Imperial_German_Army). The symbol of the army, incorporated into many of its uniforms and banners, was the [White Horse of Hanover](/source/White_Horse_of_Hanover). The term "Hanoverian Army" is also sometimes used after 1714 to refer to British forces supportive of the [House of Hanover](/source/House_of_Hanover) against their [Jacobite](/source/Jacobitism) opponents, particularly during the [1715](/source/1715_Jacobite_Rising) and [1745 Jacobite Rising](/source/1745_Jacobite_Rising)s.{{sfnp|Newman|Brown|1997|p=189}} The term '''Army of Hanover''' may refer to a French military formation centred on Hanover during the [Napoleonic Wars](/source/Napoleonic_Wars). ==Background== {{Main|Electorate of Hanover}} [[File:George I as Prince of Hanover.jpg|thumb|200px|[George, Prince of Hanover](/source/George_I_of_Great_Britain) led Hanoverian troops during the [Siege of Vienna](/source/Battle_of_Vienna) (1683).]] The [Guelph](/source/House_of_Welf) family had a long history in the [Holy Roman Empire](/source/Holy_Roman_Empire). By the seventeenth century a branch of the family reigned over territories in [Northern Germany](/source/Northern_Germany) centred around the city of [Hanover](/source/Hanover), at a lesser level to the [Electors](/source/Prince-elector) who elected the [Emperors](/source/Holy_Roman_Emperors). From Hanover the ambitious [Ernest Augustus](/source/Ernest_Augustus%2C_Elector_of_Hanover) incorporated various hereditary possessions into a larger, single state. Through his wife [Sophia](/source/Sophia_of_Hanover) his children also acquired a distant claim to the [English](/source/Kingdom_of_England), [Scottish](/source/Kingdom_of_Scotland) and [Irish](/source/Kingdom_of_Ireland) thrones as descendants of [James VI and I](/source/James_VI_and_I). The family further consolidated their possessions when Ernest Augustus's son [George](/source/George_I_of_Great_Britain) married his cousin [Sophia Dorothea](/source/Sophia_Dorothea_of_Celle) in 1682. The following year George commanded Hanoverian troops that took part in the successful defeat of Turkish forces at the [Siege of Vienna](/source/Siege_of_Vienna_(1683)).{{sfnp|Hatton|1978|p=43}} In these years an increasing [professionalism](/source/professionalism) marked out the Hanoverian troops, alongside those of another northern [Protestant](/source/Protestant) state [Brandenburg-Prussia](/source/Brandenburg-Prussia). The military support given by Ernest Augustus to the Emperor [Leopold I](/source/Leopold_I%2C_Holy_Roman_Emperor) saw Hanover promoted to effective electoral status in 1692, although this was not fully confirmed by the [Imperial Diet](/source/Imperial_Diet_(Holy_Roman_Empire)) until 1708.{{sfnp|Thomson|2006|p=92}} From 1689 Hanover was a significant part of the [Grand Alliance](/source/Grand_Alliance_(League_of_Augsburg)) formed to check the expansion of [Louis XIV](/source/Louis_XIV), which fought French armies to a standstill in a series of campaigns leading to the [Treaty of Ryswick](/source/Treaty_of_Ryswick). In 1698 Ernest Augustus died, and his son George succeeded him. As well as his multiple German family alliances, George also had a now strong claim to the British throne through his mother due to his Protestant religion which excluded rival [Jacobite](/source/Jacobitism) claimants. ==War of the Spanish Succession== {{Main|War of the Spanish Succession}} In 1701, the [Act of Settlement](/source/Act_of_Settlement) passed in the [Parliament of England](/source/Parliament_of_England) backing the [House of Hanover](/source/House_of_Hanover), and from 1702 they were considered direct successors of Queen [Anne](/source/Anne%2C_Queen_of_Great_Britain). This brought the Hanoverian forces closer to their British allies, particularly after the outbreak of the [War of the Spanish Succession](/source/War_of_the_Spanish_Succession) in 1702 where they both fought against Louis XIV's French forces. During the war, an estimated 16,000 troops raised by Hanover were paid for subsidies by Britain and the [Dutch Republic](/source/Dutch_Republic).{{sfnp|Smith|2006|p=74}} [[File:Jan Peeter Verdussen - The Assault on the Town of Oudenaarde, Belgium.jpg|thumb|Under the Elector's son [Prince George](/source/George_II_of_Great_Britain), Hanoverian troops played a major part in [Marlborough](/source/Duke_of_Marlborough)'s major victory at the [Battle of Oudenarde](/source/Battle_of_Oudenarde) in 1708.]] Early in the war George oversaw an invasion of [Brunswick](/source/Principality_of_Brunswick-Wolfenb%C3%BCttel) a smaller, pro-French neighbouring state.{{sfnp|Hatton|1978|pp=88–90}} Hanover despatched a contingent to serve in the Allied Army under [John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough](/source/John_Churchill%2C_1st_Duke_of_Marlborough), taking part in numerous campaigns including the decisive victory at [Blenheim](/source/Battle_of_Blenheim). Hanoverian hopes that George might become commander of the Allied coalition were unfulfilled.{{sfnp|Hatton|1978|p=100}} In 1707 he was promoted to Imperial [Field Marshal](/source/Field_Marshal) and given command of the [Imperial forces](/source/Army_of_the_Holy_Roman_Empire) along the [Rhine](/source/Rhine), having been praised for his actions against [Marshal Villars](/source/Claude_Louis_Hector_de_Villars) at the head of his Hanoverian forces.{{sfnp|Hatton|1978|pp=101–102}} At a strategy conference held in Hanover April 1708, George believed that he had persuaded Marlborough and [Prince Eugene of Savoy](/source/Prince_Eugene_of_Savoy) to use their armies in [Flanders](/source/Flanders) as a [feint](/source/feint) to tie down French troops while he launched the main assault on the Rhine. However he had been deliberately misled and in fact Marlborough used the threat of George's Imperial army as a diversion to support his own offensive, leading to his victory at the [Battle of Oudenarde](/source/Battle_of_Oudenarde) and the [capture of Lille](/source/Siege_of_Lille_(1708)).{{sfnp|Hatton|1978|pp=102–103}} Hanoverian troops took part at Oudernade with George's son [George Augustus](/source/George_II_of_Great_Britain) distinguishing himself in the fighting. Although George was frustrated by the inactivity on the Rhine, he was still pleased by the Allied victories. His further ambitious plans for the following year involved a drive into [Franche-Comté](/source/Franche-Comt%C3%A9) where it was believed a significant part of the population was opposed to Louis XIV. Once again George's plans were frustrated, as the Emperor [Joseph I](/source/Joseph_I%2C_Holy_Roman_Emperor) in Vienna diverted away troops and crucial resources to other theatres and he was left with too few men to take the offensive.{{sfnp|Hatton|1978|pp=103–104}} Unwilling to continue after the problems of the 1709 campaign he resigned as commander of the army, and retired from active military service. Hanoverian contingents continued to serve to the end of the war. In 1712 they refused an order by their new British commander [Ormonde](/source/James_Butler%2C_2nd_Duke_of_Ormonde) to march away to [Dunkirk](/source/Dunkirk) and remained to support Prince Eugene in his unsuccessful [Battle of Denain](/source/Battle_of_Denain) and the [Rhine campaign](/source/Rhine_campaign_(1713)) of 1713. Due to the withdrawal of British subsidies, Hanoverian forces fought on at their own expense until the [Treaty of Baden (1714)](/source/Treaty_of_Baden_(1714)) brought a final end to the war.{{sfnp|Hatton|1978|p=105}} ==Union with Britain== {{Main|Hanoverian Succession|Personal union of Great Britain and Hanover}} [[File:David Morier (1705^-70) - Grenadiers, Infantry Regiments 1B "Alt Zastrow", 8A "Diepenbroick" and 7B "Hausz" - RCIN 406837 - Royal Collection.jpg|thumb|{{circa|1752}} painting of three Hanoverian Army [grenadier](/source/grenadier)s]] As Queen Anne grew increasingly ill in 1713–14, Hanoverian supporters moved to secure the succession to the [British](/source/Kingdom_of_Great_Britain) throne. The rival claimant [James Stuart](/source/James_Francis_Edward_Stuart) and his [Jacobite](/source/Jacobitism) supporters appeared ready to contest the crown. George issued Marlborough with a warrant to command British troops in the event of Anne's death, which would be reinforced by Hanoverian and Dutch troops. In the event the [Hanoverian Succession](/source/Hanoverian_Succession) passed off without major incident and was secured by British troops alone. The [Jacobite rebellion](/source/Jacobite_rising_of_1715) that broke out the following year was defeated largely by British troops. The succession created a [personal union](/source/personal_union) between Hanover and Britain, and brought the Hanoverian Army into a fixed alliance with their British counterparts. Despite inheriting the throne of the larger [Britain](/source/Kingdom_of_Great_Britain), George remained fixated on the electorate, and particularly wanted to advance Hanover's claims in the [Great Northern War](/source/Great_Northern_War) against Sweden. Over time the engagement of British troops in support of Hanoverian goals became controversial in Britain and came under attack from the [Patriot Whigs](/source/Patriot_Whigs), while in Hanover there was a broad acceptance of subordinating the Hanoverian Army to Britain's foreign policy. In 1719 during the [War of the Quadruple Alliance](/source/War_of_the_Quadruple_Alliance) with Spain, Jacobites attempted to launch [another invasion of Britain](/source/Planned_Spanish_invasion_of_Britain_(1719)). Although Hanoverian units were a significant part of the plan to defend Britain's coasts, bad weather stalled the main invasion and the diversionary attack on Scotland was defeated by local forces at the [Battle of Glenshiel](/source/Battle_of_Glenshiel).{{sfnp|Black|2005|p=76}} Peace was agreed by the [Treaty of The Hague](/source/Treaty_of_The_Hague_(1720)) in 1720. ==War of the Austrian Succession== {{Main|War of the Austrian Succession}} When the [War of Jenkins' Ear](/source/War_of_Jenkins'_Ear) broke out between Britain and Spain in 1740, Hanover was not directly involved. This changed when [Charles VI](/source/Charles_VI%2C_Holy_Roman_Emperor) of Austria died in October of the same year. [George II](/source/George_II_of_Great_Britain), as elector of Hanover and king of Great Britain, took different positions for his respective realms. As elector of Hanover he agreed a treaty of neutrality with France and cast his vote in favour of their successful candidate [Charles Albert](/source/Charles_VII%2C_Holy_Roman_Emperor) of Bavaria, while Britain staunchly supported the new ruler of [Austria](/source/Habsburg_monarchy), [Maria Theresa](/source/Maria_Theresa), who was attacked from several directions, including by George II's [Prussia](/source/Prussia)n nephew [Frederick II](/source/Frederick_the_Great) who [annexed Silesia](/source/First_Silesian_War). In response Britain forged a coalition to support Maria Theresa and hired nearly 16,000 Hanoverian troops to serve in the [Pragmatic Army](/source/Pragmatic_Army) assembled in the [Low Countries](/source/Low_Countries).{{sfnp|Black|2005|p=76}} They also employed [Hessian](/source/Hessian_(soldier)) troops, from the neighbouring [Hesse-Kassel](/source/Landgraviate_of_Hesse-Kassel) which had strong traditional ties to Hanover through marriage and military alliance. The Hanoverian Army fought at the battles of [Fontenoy](/source/Battle_of_Fontenoy) and [Lauffeld](/source/Battle_of_Lauffeld) among others. At the [Battle of Dettingen](/source/Battle_of_Dettingen) the Anglo-Hanoverian forces were commanded by [George II](/source/George_II_of_Great_Britain), the last British monarch to lead his troops on the battlefield. A landing by [Charles Edward Stuart](/source/Charles_Edward_Stuart) in Scotland launched a [fresh Jacobite rising](/source/1745_Jacobite_rising) led to the redeployment of British and allied German troops to counter the threat, which was largely ended at the [Battle of Culloden](/source/Battle_of_Culloden) in 1746. ==Seven Years' War== {{Main|Seven Years' War}}During the Seven Years War, the Hanoverian Army would participate in numerous battles. In 1757, the French army defeated the Hanoverian Army at [Hastenbeck](/source/Hastenbeck). {{Empty section|date=August 2025}} ==American War of Independence== {{Further|American War of Independence|Great Siege of Gibraltar}} {{Empty section|date=August 2025}} ==Napoleonic era== {{Empty section|date=August 2025}} ==Kingdom of Hanover== {{Further|Kingdom of Hanover}} {{Empty section|date=August 2025}} ==Prussian war== {{Main|Austro-Prussian War|Imperial German Army}}During the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, Hanover sided with the bulk of the German Confederation against Prussia. The Hanoverian Army's only engagement was at the [Battle of Langensalza](/source/Battle_of_Langensalza_(1866)). The Hanoverian army was vastly outnumbered by the invading Prussian armies, and so marched to join forces with the [Bavarian Army](/source/Bavarian_Army) to the south. In doing so, the army encountered an advanced Prussian division, which was engaged and defeated, with heavy losses. Thereafter, the Hanoverian Army abandoned its operations and surrendered to Prussia.{{Empty section|date=August 2025}} ==References== {{Reflist |20em}} ==Sources== {{Refbegin |30em |indent=yes}} *{{cite book |last=Black |first=Jeremy |title=The Continental Commitment: Britain, Hanover and Interventionism 1714–1793 |publisher=Routledge |year=2005 |doi=10.4324/9780203013120 |isbn=9780415362924 |lccn=2005000923 |oclc=252743456 |ol=OL3392064M }} *{{cite book |last=Field |first=Andrew W |title=Wellington's Waterloo Allies: How Soldiers from Brunswick, Hanover, Nassau and the Netherlands Contributed to the Victory of 1815 |publisher=Pen and Sword Military |year=2022 }} *{{cite book |last=Hatton |first=Ragnihild |title=George I: Elector and King |publisher=Thames and Hudson |year=1978 }} *{{cite book |last1=Newman |first1=Gerald |last2=Brown |first2=Leslie Ellen |title=Britain in the Hanoverian Age, 1714–1837: An Encyclopedia |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1997 }} *{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Hannah |title=Georgian Monarchy: Politics and Culture, 1714–1760 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2006 }} *{{cite book |last=Thomson |first=Andrew C |title=Britain, Hanover and the Protestant Interest, 1688–1756 |publisher=Boydell Press |year=2006 }} {{Refend}} ==Further reading== {{Refbegin |30em |indent=yes}} *{{cite book |last=Black |first=Jeremy |title=European Warfare in a Global Context, 1660–1815 |publisher=Routledge |year=2007 }} *{{cite book |last=Falkner |first=James |title=Fire Over the Rock: The Great Siege of Gibraltar |publisher=Pen and Sword |year=2009 }} *{{cite book |last=Hofschröer |first=Peter |title=The Hanoverian Army of the Napoleonic Wars |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2012 }} *{{cite book |last1=Simms |first1=Brendan |last2=Riotte |first2=Torsten |title=The Hanoverian Dimension in British History, 1714–1837 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2007 }} *{{cite book |last=Tzoref-Ashkenazi |first=Chen |title=German Soldiers in Colonial India |publisher=Routledge |year=2015 }} {{Refend}} Category:1866 disestablishments in the German Confederation Category:Disestablishments in the Kingdom of Hanover Category:Former armies by country Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1866 Category:History of Hanover (region) Category:Electorate of Hanover Category:Kingdom of Hanover --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hanoverian Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanoverian_Army) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanoverian_Army?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.