Norway's Royal Succession
A Historical Chronicle of Sovereignty and Statehood.
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The Norwegian Monarchy
Enduring Legacy
The Kingdom of Norway boasts one of Europe's oldest continuous monarchies, tracing its traditional establishment to the unification following the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872. For over 1,100 years, a succession of monarchs has guided the nation through periods of consolidation, union, and independence.
A Continuous Lineage
The official list enumerates monarchs dating back to Harald Fairhair. The current sovereign, King Harald V, who ascended the throne in 1991, represents the 64th monarch in this distinguished lineage. Throughout its history, Norway has experienced periods of rule by various regents during interregna.
Dynastic Shifts
The Norwegian throne has been held by several prominent royal dynasties. Key among these are the Fairhair dynasty, the House of Sverre, the House of Oldenburg (which includes branches like Holstein-Gottorp and Glรผcksburg), and the House of Bernadotte. These shifts reflect significant political and historical junctures.
Key Royal Dynasties
Fairhair Dynasty
The foundational dynasty, established by Harald Fairhair, who unified Norway. Its reign marked the beginning of a singular kingdom.
Reign: c. 872โ970
House of Sverre
A significant medieval dynasty, known for its long rule and influence during a period of consolidation and conflict.
Reign: 1184โ1319
House of Oldenburg
A long-ruling house that governed Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, often through personal unions, and later returned to the Norwegian throne.
Reign: 1450โ1481, 1483โ1533, 1537โ1818, 1905โPresent
House of Bernadotte
Established in the 19th century, this dynasty continues to reign in Sweden and has historical ties to the Norwegian throne.
Reign: 1818โ1905
A Chronicle of Sovereigns
The following table provides a structured overview of Norway's monarchs, categorized by dynasty and reign type.
Early Monarchs
Fairhair Dynasty (c. 872โ970)
Harald I Fairhair
c. 872โ932
Eric I Bloodaxe
c. 932โ934
Haakon I the Good
c. 934โ960
Harald II Ericsson
c. 961โ970
Viking Age & Early Medieval
House of Gorm/Earl of Lade (c. 961โ1035)
Harald Bluetooth (D)
961โc. 980
Haakon Sigurdsson (R)
970โ995
Olaf I Tryggvason
995โ1000
Sweyn Forkbeard (D)
1000โ1013
Eric Haakonsson (R)
1000โ1015
Sweyn Haakonsson (R)
1000โ1015
Cnut the Great (D)
1028โ1035
Haakon Ericsson (R)
1029โ1030
Sweyn Knutsson (D)
1030โ1035
St. Olav Dynasty
St. Olav Dynasty (1015โ1028, 1035โ1130)
Olaf II Haraldsson
1015โ1028
Saint Olav.
Magnus I Olavsson
1035โ1047
Magnus the Good.
Harald III Sigurdsson
1046โ1066
Harald Hardrada.
Magnus III Olavsson
1093โ1103
Magnus Barefoot.
Sigurd I Magnusson
1103โ1130
Sigurd the Crusader.
Civil War Era
Gille Dynasty (1130โ1161)
Magnus IV Sigurdsson
1130โ1135
Magnus the Blind.
Harald IV Magnusson
1130โ1136
Harald Gille.
Sigurd II Haraldsson
1136โ1155
Sigurd Munn.
Inge I Haraldsson
1136โ1161
Inge the Hunchback.
Eystein II Haraldsson
1142โ1157
Magnus V Erlingsson
1161โ1184
Medieval Period
House of Sverre (1184โ1319)
Sverre Sigurdsson
1184โ1202
Haakon IV Haakonsson
1217โ1263
Haakon the Old.
Magnus VI Haakonsson
1257โ1280
Magnus the Law-mender.
Haakon V Magnusson
1299โ1319
Union Monarchs
House of Bjรคlbo (1319โ1355)
Magnus VII Eriksson
1319โ1355
House of Bonde (1449โ1450)
Charles I
1449โ1450
House of Griffin (1442โ1448)
Eric III
1442โ1448
House of Palatinate-Neumarkt (1442โ1448)
Christopher
1442โ1448
Modern Era
House of Oldenburg (1537โ1814, 1905โPresent)
Christian III
1537โ1559
Frederick II
1559โ1588
Christian IV
1588โ1648
Frederick III
1648โ1670
Christian V
1670โ1699
Frederick IV
1699โ1730
Christian VI
1730โ1746
Frederick V
1746โ1766
Christian VII
1766โ1808
Frederick VI
1808โ1814
Christian Frederick
1814
Haakon VII
1905โ1957
Olav V
1957โ1991
Harald V
1991โPresent
Union & Transition
House of Holstein-Gottorp (1814โ1818)
Charles II
1814โ1818
House of Bernadotte (1818โ1905)
Charles XIV John
1818โ1844
Oscar I
1844โ1859
Charles IV
1859โ1872
Oscar II
1872โ1905
Periods of Union
Kalmar Union
A personal union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, established in 1397. Norway was part of this union until 1523.
Monarchs: Margaret I, Eric III
DenmarkโNorway
Following the dissolution of the Kalmar Union, Norway entered a long union with Denmark, lasting from 1537 until 1814.
Monarchs: House of Oldenburg (various branches)
SwedenโNorway
After the Napoleonic Wars, Norway was ceded to Sweden, forming a personal union that lasted until Norway's peaceful dissolution in 1905.
Monarchs: House of Bernadotte (Charles XIV John to Oscar II)
Royal Titles and Styles
Evolving Styles
Between 1450 and 1905, Norwegian monarchs held numerous additional titles, reflecting territorial claims and political influence. These included titles such as King of the Wends, King of the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Duke of Holstein, Prince of Rรผgen, and Count of Oldenburg.
Forms of Address
Historically, monarchs styled themselves as Konge til Norge ("King of Norway") with the style His Royal Majesty. The introduction of constitutional monarchy in 1814 briefly saw the style extended to "by the Grace of God and the Constitution". The current style is simply Norges Konge ("Norway's King") with the style "His Majesty".
Historical Context
Unification and Early Rule
The foundation of the Norwegian monarchy is traditionally linked to Harald Fairhair's victory at the Battle of Hafrsfjord around 872. This marked the beginning of the unification of disparate petty kingdoms into a single realm, laying the groundwork for the Kingdom of Norway.
Medieval Challenges
The medieval period saw periods of internal strife, known as the Civil War era (1130โ1240), where various pretenders vied for the throne, leading to the omission of some rulers from official lists. The subsequent Sverre dynasty and the Hardrada dynasty navigated complex political landscapes.
Unions and Independence
Norway's history is marked by periods of union with its Scandinavian neighbours, notably the Kalmar Union and later unions with Denmark and Sweden. The dissolution of the union with Sweden in 1905 marked a significant step towards modern Norwegian sovereignty, leading to the election of Prince Carl of Denmark as King Haakon VII.
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References
References
- Helle, Knut (1995). Aschehougs norgeshistorieย : 1130รขยย1350. 3ย : Under kirke og kongemakt 1130รขยย1350, p. 14. Aschehoug.
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