Guelphic Legion
Encyclopedia
The Guelphic Legion was a Hanoverian
paramilitary unit maintained by at the expense of George V
, claimant to the throne of Hanover
from 1866 to 1870. In the fall of 1866, a large number of Hanoverian soldiers left Hanover for Holland at the behest of King George V and his newly established court at Hietzing
near Vienna
. After raising a sizable force, the Legion migrated to Switzerland
in 1867, where its numbers swelled to 700.
George V, who never abandoned his claim to the Hanoverian throne, maintained the Legion at his own expense while abroad in France. In February 1868, the Guelphic Legion moved from Switzerland to France, at the same time that George V and his wife celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. In 1869, the Prussian lower chamber passed a law sequestering the funds of the former King of Hanover in retaliation of his support of the Guelphic Legion.
The Guelphic Legion was formally dissolved on April 15, 1870. Each of the 1400 legionnaires received 400 francs upon discharge and additional traveling money as needed. Many returned to Hanover, some traveled to America, or other points in Europe.
Kingdom of Hanover
The Kingdom of Hanover was established in October 1814 by the Congress of Vienna, with the restoration of George III to his Hanoverian territories after the Napoleonic era. It succeeded the former Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg , and joined with 38 other sovereign states in the German...
paramilitary unit maintained by at the expense of George V
George V of Hanover
George V was King of Hanover, the only child of Ernest Augustus I, and a grandchild of King George III of the United Kingdom. In the peerage of Great Britain, he was 2nd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, 2nd Earl of Armagh...
, claimant to the throne of Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
from 1866 to 1870. In the fall of 1866, a large number of Hanoverian soldiers left Hanover for Holland at the behest of King George V and his newly established court at Hietzing
Hietzing
Hietzing is the 13th municipal District of Vienna . It is located west of the central districts, west of Meidling...
near Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. After raising a sizable force, the Legion migrated to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1867, where its numbers swelled to 700.
George V, who never abandoned his claim to the Hanoverian throne, maintained the Legion at his own expense while abroad in France. In February 1868, the Guelphic Legion moved from Switzerland to France, at the same time that George V and his wife celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. In 1869, the Prussian lower chamber passed a law sequestering the funds of the former King of Hanover in retaliation of his support of the Guelphic Legion.
The Guelphic Legion was formally dissolved on April 15, 1870. Each of the 1400 legionnaires received 400 francs upon discharge and additional traveling money as needed. Many returned to Hanover, some traveled to America, or other points in Europe.