Rebel of the Regency: Caroline's Crusading Ancestor, Henry the Lion

Roaring their way into history

I’m writing Rebel of the Regency, a new biography of England’s uncrowned Queen, Caroline of Brunswick (coming at you in early 2026 from Hanover Square Press! Stay tuned for pre-order info!!). If you don’t know who Caroline is, here’s my primer on her scandalous life.

While writing the book, I learned so much extraneous information that didn’t fit in the book. Because as much as I love a tangent, this book needs to stay on topic. So consider these newsletters like deleted scenes from a movie.

This week, we’re talking about her ancestor Henry the Lion.

Statue of Henry the Lion in Braunschweig, Germany. Photo by me.

To be clear, Henry the Lion was not really much on my radar when I started writing Rebel of the Regency. I knew that Caroline’s father was the Duke of Brunswick (aka Braunschweig) and so her ancestry likely went back in that region. But it was only when I travelled to Braunschweig, Germany to research my book that I realized how notable this particular ancestor was.

Henry the Lion (aka Heinrich der Löwe aka Henry III, Duke of Saxony aka Henry XII, Duke of Bavaria) is all over Braunschweig. There is not only the above statue of him (with trademark curled-under bob haircut) in the middle of town. There is also a famous statue of a lion (the Brunswick Lion) nearby, representing him. The Brunswick Cathedral, created and designed by him, is a major part of the town square. You can buy a Playmobil set of Henry at the Cathedral and tourism office (did I buy one, yes of course I did), and lion imagery roars throughout the city. He is basically, The Guy in this region. Meaning that our girl Caroline was descended from an incredibly important Medieval guy (with his own signature hairstyle).

Henry the Lion Playmobil set, purchased by me in Braunschweig. Photo by me.

Caroline’s life is often looked at through her connections to the British royal family, which are considerable. Her mother, Augusta, was the sister of “The Madness of” King George III. Caroline, unfortunately, married her first cousin George “The Regent” IV. And most of her adult life was spent battling against the toxic forces of that family. But half of her DNA was from the Henry the Lion side of things, and when facing struggles she often found strength in her identity as a Brunswick lioness.

So who was Henry the Lion?

Henry was born in circa 1129. He was a member of the House of Guelph, one of the Holy Roman Empire’s oldest and most important aristocratic lines. The Guelphs are the older branch of the House of Este, which was founded in Italy three hundred years earlier.