House of Hanover

The House of Hanover can trace its origins back to the prestigious German families of Brunswick and Welf, the latter of which produced the influential Henry the Lion during the 1100s. These families' steady rise over the coming centuries eventually culminated in the elector George I becoming head of the British monarchy, a connection which would result in the most prestigious period in British history. Through their network of benefits as part of the Holy Roman Empire, including a key alliance with the Prussians, the Hanoverians transformed Britain into the world’s leading superpower that would reach its apex by the Victorian Era, a period sometimes referred to as Pax Britannica, for the record-shattering size of the British Empire during the long reign of Queen Victoria. The combined German Legion and British Army saw generations of great military victories, most notably the Battle of Waterloo of 1815, in which the renowned Royal Scots Greys cavalry led a decisive charge that put an end to the ambitions of Napoleon. Reaping the lucrative benefits of their partnership, the Hanoverians ultimately developed their own kingdom following the demise of the Holy Roman Empire at the start of the 1800s and would rule much of their native Germany for several decades. Despite–and indeed as a result of–producing the largest maritime empire in world history, the unique relationship between the Hanoverians and the British also contributed to the divestment of British royal powers in favor of a constitutional monarchy, setting the precedent for the decentralized system of politics that dominates most of Europe today.

From the game's History encyclopedia, AoE3: DE 100.19.18309.