1. A former kingdom and province of northwest Germany. It was an electorate of the Holy Roman Empire from 1692 to 1805. The kingdom lasted from 1815 to 1866, when Hanover became a province of Prussia (later Germany).

2. A city of northwest Germany southeast of Bremen. Chartered in 1241, it became part of the Hanseatic League in 1386. Hanover was badly damaged during World War II but has been extensively rebuilt.