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The Royal House of Norway
Post by admin on Sept 15, 2005, 11:44pm



The tradition of Norwegian kingship in various forms stretches back more than a thousand years. In more recent times the country was united with Denmark from 1381 to 1814 and with Sweden from 1814 until 1905 when it once more became independent under Haakon VII of Norway.

Early kings
The list of kings begins with Harald Fairhair (c.865-c.933) who was acclaimed king of all Norway, according to Snorre Sturlason, the Icelandic saga-writer and historian. At all events the unification of Norway under one ruler was under way. A landmark in Norwegian history, Olav II Haraldsson, king from 1015 to 1030, is the country´s patron saint He went in for Christianity with great zeal, but was killed in battle while still young. The cult of Olav spread and soon the world had many churches dedicated to St.Olav.

Later Middle Ages
In the later Middle Ages the Law of Succession of 1163 simplified succession and strengthened the power of the crown. The accepted institution of the ting (an assembly of lawmen drawn from the population) also made it easier to adminster and enforce the law. As undisputed king, Haakon IV (1217-63) was able to increase the prestige of the monarchy and gain respect for Norway among the nations of Europe. His son Magnus VI introduced a national code of laws which remained in force for over 400 years.

The king had thus become a figurehead representing law and order, a recognizable symbol of authority whose likeness appeared on coins and seals as a guarantee of their worth. This was a promising moment in Norway´s history for both high and low. However, instead of a period of peace and prosperity, the country suffered the ravages of the Black Death which left it totally destitute. In the 14th century the old royal lines in all three Scandinavian kingdoms ended with the death of Olav IV. His mother, Margrete Valdemarsdatter, the only queen-regnant Norway has ever had, succeeded in forging the Kalmar Union, with her nephew as king of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. It was a consolidation of assets which long helped to protect the northern countries from Hansa domination, but it ended with the north divided into two camps: Denmark-Norway and Sweden-Finland.


Denmark-Norway
The 1500s and 1600s were hard years for Norway under the remote Dano-Norwegian kings who regularly gave away Norwegian estates and offices to their Danish subjects and who were almost unknown in their northern kingdom. One exception was Christian IV who made the long journey to Norway many times. He was responsible for the revised law-book known as `Christian IV´s Norwegian Law´ and for many Norwegian ventures in construction (including Christiania, which only re-acquired the name of Oslo in 1924). Central administration was most marked in the period of absolute monarchy from the late 17th century, though Norway´s fate was neglect rather than oppression. Then in the Napoleonic wars Denmark sided with France. The resulting English blockade caused the twin kingdom much hardship, and Norway was particularly bitter.



Towards constitutional monarchy
By the time of the Kiel peace treaty of 1814 the Danish Prince Christian Frederik, heir to the throne of Denmark-Norway, was already on the scene He objected to Norway being handed over to England´s ally, Sweden. He also said the treaty invalidated his right of succession to the Norwegian throne, adding that if Norway wanted him as king he would have to be elected - which he knew would strengthen his position. The pro-independence assembly at Eidsvold elected him king on 17 May, the day the Constitution was adopted - still a day of national celebration for all Norwegians. But Sweden claimed Norway as agreed in return for Finland and opened hostilities. Military confrontation was not Christian Frederik´s strong point, and when it was clear the Norwegian throne would go to Sweden, he abdicated and left Norway. Christian Frederik has been blamed for bungling events until Norway had no other choice but union with Sweden. However, he had few options. His importance lay in his role as a rallying-point for the men of Eidsvold when they drew up the Constitution. This alone secures Christian Frederik's short reign its place in Norway's constitutional history.



*~*The Royal House of Norway Website *~*

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The Royal House of Norway
Post by admin on Sept 25, 2005, 9:37pm


( HM King Harald V., HM Queen Sonja, HRH Crown Prince Haakon, HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit )



HM King Harald V.
Born 1937
King of Norway from 1991 Married
1968 Sonja Haraldsen. Two children.



HM Queen Sonja
Born 1937
Queen of Norway Married 1968 the future
King Harald V of Norway. Two children.







HRH Crown Prince Haakon
Son of King Harald and Queen Sonja
Born 1973
Crown Prince of Norway
Married 2001 Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby.
Two children.




HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit
Wife of Haakon!
Born 1973
Crown Princess
of Norway
Married 2001
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.



Crown Princess Mette-Marit
and Crown Prince Haakon's Daughter below



Princess Ingrid Alexandra
was born January 21st, 2003.
Princess of Norway

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The Royal House of Norway
Post by admin on Dec 4, 2005, 3:01pm


Royal boy born

Crown Princess Mette-Marit gave birth to a boy on Saturday morning. The child is third in line to the throne.





Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have become parents for the second time.

The boy was born at Norway's national hospital, the Rikshospitalet University Hospital in Oslo, at 10:45 a.m.

All is well with both mother and son, according to a press release from the palace.

Crown Prince Haakon will hold a press conference later in the day. He will inform about the birth, the child's vital statistics and most likely reveal the name the couple have chosen for their son.


Here's the first Christmas photo of the new little Norwegian prince born on Saturday, Dec 3, 2005. Prince Sverre Magnus. With his Older Sister and his parents HRH and HRH of Norge!

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