The Hanover Black Rose

The Hanover Black Rose was used to designate members of the House of .Hanover while on the throne of Great Britain (1714-1837). The Hanoverian rule began in 1714 when George I landed in England. His claim to the English throne was based on the fact that his mother, Sophia, was a grand- daughter of James I of the Stuart line. During the period from 1689 to 1714, the English throne was occupied by King William and Queen Mary, contested by William's Brother, James, "The Great Pretender'', and finally, occupied by their sister, Anne. When she died in 1714 none of her 17 children survived her.

George I was brought from Hannover Province in Prussia upon Anne's death by Parliament in an effort to establish a Protestant ruling house and, more importantly, to place a weak monarch on the throne in order to assure the continuance of Parliament's power. George I and his son, George II were Prussian-born and, in fact, never spoke English. George III was English- born as were his sons George IV and William IV. The Hanoverian line ceased when Queen Victoria, still of Hanoverian lineage, married Albert of Saxe-Coburg,

All members of the Hanover family, as well as their servants, wore the Hanover Rose to denote their lineage. In 1978, the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce adopted the rose as part of an insignia to represent the community. Abbreviated forms of the Rose are available at the Chamber office in the form of appliqués and pins.