Length of reign of British monarchs from the House of Hanover 1714-1901

The House of Hanover is a European royal house that has existed since 1635, and ruled Britain for the majority of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. George I, born in Hanover in 1660, was the first monarch from this house to wear the British crown, after the death of his cousin, Queen Anne of the House of Tudor. The Act of Settlement 1701 prohibited Roman Catholics from inheriting the British throne, and although there were over fifty Catholics with a stronger claim than George I, he was crowned as King of Britain at the age of 54 due to his religion. At the end of his thirteen-year reign, he died and was buried in his hometown of Hanover, and is the last British monarch to be buried outside of Britain.

The decline of the monarchy's power

George II (the last British monarch born outside of Britain) succeeded his father in 1727. During the early Hanoverian period, the power balance between the monarchy and Parliament switched, and the monarchy became more of a ceremonial role, with little real power. George II also had duties to attend to in his native Hanover, and his part in the War of the Austrian Succession also makes him the last monarch to lead an army into battle. Nine years before his own death, George II's son, Frederick, died unexpectedly, therefore he was succeeded by his grandson George III, who was the first native English, Hanoverian king. George III's reign lasted for almost sixty years, during which time Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' and Napoleonic Wars, making them the most powerful world empire (although the King's incompetency greatly contributed to American Independence).

Fluctuating popularity

With George III's illness, his son George IV became King Regent, and later King, of the British Empire. George IV was not very popular due to his lavish lifestyle, wasteful spending and unpredictable personality. He was succeeded by his younger brother William IV, whose personality was viewed more favorably, yet still divided opinions during a time of great change, as his reforms went too far for some, but not far enough for others (although his reputation has become more positive over time). The final Hanoverian monarch was Queen Victoria, arguably the most well-known monarch in history, whose reign lasted for almost 64 years (a record broken only by the current Queen). Her reign, known as the Victorian era, was a time of great industrial, cultural and political change, and Victoria was very popular among her subjects. Her ties to many other royal families earned her the nickname "The Grandmother of Europe", before her death in 1901, at the age of 81, where the Hanoverians were then succeeded by the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Windsor).