a Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruled over the Principality of Calenberg (with its capital Hanover) subdivision of the duchy. He was also the Prince-Bishop of the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück. Ernest Augustus inherited part of his father's territories in 1679, Calenberg, with the Principality of Göttingen included; thus, he succeeded to the title of Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
In 1683, against the protestations of his five younger sons, Ernest Augustus instituted primogeniture, so that his territory would not be further subdivided after his death, and also as a pre-condition for obtaining the coveted electorship.
