Scandinavia is a region in Northern Europe named after the Scandinavian Peninsula. ... The Scandinavian Mountains, in Swedish Skanderna, Fjällen (The Mountains) or Kölen and in Norwegian Kjølen, with the two latter meaning the Keel, are a mountain range that runs through the Scandinavian Peninsula. ... The Scandinavian Peninsula is in northeastern Europe, consisting principally of the mainland territories of Norway and Sweden. ... The Viking Age is the name of the period between 793 and 1066 AD in Scandinavia and Britain, following the Germanic Iron Age (and the Vendel Age in Sweden). ... The Varangians (Russian: Variags, Варяги) were Scandinavians who travelled eastwards, mainly from Jutland and Sweden. ... For other uses, see Viking (disambiguation). ... A thing or ting (Old Norse and Icelandic: þing; other modern Scandinavian: ting) was the governing assembly in Germanic societies, made up of the free men of the community and presided by lawspeakers. ... The Kalmar Union flag. ... The Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, consisting of Denmark and Norway, including Norways possessions Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, is a term used for the two united kingdoms after their amalgamation as one state in 1536. ... Sweden and Norway 1888 The Union between Sweden and Norway refers to the kingdoms of Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union, following the Convention of Moss, on August 14, and the Norwegian constitutional revision of November 4. ... The Scandinavian Monetary Union (Swedish: Skandinaviska myntunionen, Danish: Skandinaviske møntunion) was a monetary union formed by Sweden and Denmark on May 5, 1873 by fixing their currencies against gold at par to each other. ... A Scandinavian defense union that would include Sweden, Norway and Denmark was planned between the three countries after World War II. Denmark and Norway had been occupied by Germany between 1940 and 1945, while Sweden, having escaped the horrors of occupation it had, still felt the effects of the war. ... The history of Scandinavia is the common history of the Scandinavian countries— Denmark, Norway and Sweden. ... The Royal League logo The Royal League is an annual Scandinavian football tournament, starting after the end of the regular domestic seasons of Norway and Sweden. ...

Etymology

Modern etymologists believe the country's name means "the northward route" (the way north), which in Old Norse would be nor veg or *norð vegr. The Old Norse name for Norway was Nóregr, in Anglo-Saxon Norþ weg, and in mediaeval Latin Northvegia. The present name of the Kingdom of Norway in Norwegian Nynorsk is "Kongeriket Noreg", which is only a couple of letters removed from the original "northern way"; "Nor(d)-(v)eg". Etymology is the study of the origins of words. ... Old Norse or Danish tongue is the Germanic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the Nordic countries (for instance during the Viking Age). ... Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Norwegian is a Germanic language spoken in Norway. ...

However, some sources suggest Norway may be from Old Norse nor-ay "northern island". Old Norse or Danish tongue is the Germanic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the Nordic countries (for instance during the Viking Age). ...

Earliest times 10 000 BC -

Recent archeological finds (2005) have it that hunters from the south - most likely the Hamburg culture - in summer time could travel far north along the Norwegian coast line as early as the start of Holocene, 12 000 years ago, when the icecap was still on the highland. Temporary settlements and traces of tipis have been found as far north as the Alta region. Bremsnes-hulen, a cave near Kristiansund and Fosna north of Trondheim are the earliest sites. The clue to travel the coastal tundra dryshod was the sea level being 50 m lower than today. The Hamburg culture (12400 BP-12100 BP, C14-years) was a late Upper Paleolithic culture of reindeer hunters during the last part of the Weichsel Glaciation. ... The Holocene epoch is a geological period that extends from the present back about 10,000 radiocarbon years. ... Nez Perce tipi A tipi (also teepee, tepee) is a conical tent originally made of skins and popularised by the American Indians of the Great Plains. ... Bremsnes is a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. ... County Møre og Romsdal Landscape Nordmøre Municipality NO-1503 Administrative centre Kristiansund Mayor (2004) Dagfinn Ripnes (H) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 426 23 km² 22 km² 0. ... The Fosna culture was a mostly coastal stone age culture of hunter-gatherers that existed in mid-western Norway from around 8000 BC. The culture is named after the old name of the small city Kristiansund, where one of the major sites was discovered in 1909 (near Kvernberget mountain). ... County Sør-Trøndelag District Municipality NO-1601 Administrative centre Trondheim Mayor (2005) Rita Ottervik (AP) Official language form Neutral Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 258 342 km² 322 km² 0. ...

Settled since the end of the last ice age, modern-day Scandinavia contains finds from the Stone age and Bronze age, such as rock carvings. From the time of the Roman Empire until about 800 AD, Scandinavia is known for its Iron Age culture. Many stone inscriptions can be found, written in Runes. Then Scandinavia became famous in the Middle Ages for its fearless warriors, explorers and traders, the Vikings. Between AD 800 and AD 1100, the Vikings discovered and settled Iceland and Greenland, and conquered parts of Britain, and Ireland, and were also known to travel as far as Constantinople, Greece, Northern Africa and Newfoundland. By utilising their excellent boats and organisation they became master traders and warriors. Variations in CO2, temperature and dust from the Vostok ice core over the last 400 000 years For the animated movie, see Ice Age (movie). ... Scandinavia is a region in Northern Europe named after the Scandinavian Peninsula. ... Stone Age fishing hook. ... The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ... The Roman Empire was a phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by an autocratic form of government. ... Iron Age Axe found on Gotland This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age, for the mythological Iron Age see Iron Age (mythology). ... Technical note: Due to technical limitations, some web browsers may not display some special characters in this article. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... The name Viking is a loan from the native Scandinavian term for the Norse seafaring warriors who raided the coasts of Scandinavia, Europe and the British Isles from the late 8th century to the 11th century, the period of European history referred to as the Viking Age. ... Map of Constantinople. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... Newfoundland —   (stress on final syllable; for mispronunciations, see Newfoundland travel guide from Wikitravel)— (French: , Irish: ) is a large island off the east coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ...

In the 12th and 13th centuries, several history works, known as the kings' sagas were written in Norway and Iceland, the best known of which is Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla (c. 1220). These provide our main sources for the early history of Norway. However, their accuracy for the earliest period is uncertain, and a much debated topic among modern historians. The stories about the earliest times are partly legendary in nature, and are not taken as accurate history by modern historians. The Kings sagas are Norse Sagas which tell of the lives of Scandinavian kings. ... Snorri Sturluson (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ... Heimskringla is the Old Norse name of a collection of sagas recorded in Iceland around 1225 by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson (1179-1242). ...

The Viking kings

See also: Viking Age

By the time of the first historical records of Scandinavia, about the 700s AD, Norway was divided into many petty kingdoms. A number of small communities were gradually organised into larger regions in the 9th century, and in 872 King Harald Fairhair unified the realm and became its first supreme ruler. King Harald had many children, and his heirs ruled Norway with short interruptions until 1319. Religious influence from Europe (especially England and Ireland) led to the adoption of Christianity. Central in this was King Olav Haraldsson ("The Holy") who died in the Battle of Stiklestad on July 29, 1030. He became Norway's patron Saint Olav, and his tomb at Nidaros cathedral Trondheim became the most important pilgrimage destination in Northern Europe. The archdiocese of Nidaros was established in 1153. Between 1130 and 1240 Norway underwent a period known as the civil war era. Around 1200, the Norwegian king ruled over land from Man in the Irish Sea to the Kola Peninsula in the east. Greenland and Iceland were incorporated as dependencies in 1262. The Viking Age is the name of the period between 793 and 1066 AD in Scandinavia and Britain, following the Germanic Iron Age (and the Vendel Age in Sweden). ... Centuries: 7th century - 8th century - 9th century Decades: 650s - 660s - 670s - 680s - 690s - 700s - 710s - 720s - 730s - 740s - 750s Years: 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 Events: Categories: 700s ... Petty kingdoms were prominent before the formation of many of todays nation states. ... As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was that century that lasted from 801 to 900. ... Events Battle of Hafrsfjord in Norway, Harald Finehair first king of Norway. ... Harald I (b. ... Events Magnus VII ascends the throne of Norway and unites the country with Sweden. ... Olaf II Haraldsson (995 – July 29, 1030), king from 1015–1028, (known during his lifetime as the Stout and after his canonization as Saint Olaf), was born in the year in which Olaf Tryggvason came to Norway. ... The Battle of Stiklestad (Old Norse Stiklarstaðir) in 1030 is one of the most famous battles in the history of Norway. ... July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining. ... Events July 29 - Battle of Stiklestad in Norway. ... In several forms of the church of Christianity, but especially in Roman Catholicism, a patron saint has special affinity for a trade or group. ... County Sør-Trøndelag District Municipality NO-1601 Administrative centre Trondheim Mayor (2005) Rita Ottervik (AP) Official language form Neutral Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 258 342 km² 322 km² 0. ... Pilgrim at Mecca A pilgrimage is a term primarily used in religion and spirituality of a long journey or search of great moral significance. ... In some Christian churches, the diocese is an administrative territorial unit governed by a bishop, sometimes also referred to as a bishopric or episcopal see, though more often the term episcopal see means the office held by the bishop. ... Nidaros was the old name of Trondheim, Norway, in the middle ages. ... Events January 6 - Henry of Anjou arrives in England. ... Events February 13 - Innocent II is elected pope An antipope schism occurs when Roger II of Sicily supports Anacletus II as pope instead of Innocent II. Innocent flees to France and Anacletus crowns Roger King. ... Events Batu Khan and the Golden Horde sack the Ruthenian city of Kyiv Births Pope Benedict XI Deaths April 11 - Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, also known as Llywelyn The Great Prince of Gwynedd Monarchs/Presidents Aragon - James I King of Aragon and count of Barcelona (reigned from 1213 to 1276) Castile... Norwegian longship The Civil war era of Norwegian history (Norwegian borgerkrigstida) is a term used for the period between 1130 and 1240 in the history of Norway. ... Motto: Quocunque Jeceris Stabit (Latin: Whithersoever you throw it, it will stand) Anthem: Isle of Man National Anthem Capital Douglas Largest city Douglas Official language(s) English, Manx Government Crown Dependency (UK)  - Lord of Mann Elizabeth II  - Lieutenant Governor Paul Haddacks  - Chief Minister Donald Gelling  - First Deemster Michael Kerruish  - President... The Irish Sea (Irish: Muir Éireann) separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. ... Location of Kola south of the Barents Sea. ... Dependency has a number of meanings: In project management, a dependency is a link amongst a projects terminal elements. ... Events Strasbourg becomes a Free City of the Holy Roman Empire First Visconti become the lord of Iceland swear fealty to the king of Norway, bringing an end to the Icelandic Commonwealth Births Ladislaus IV of Hungary Deaths Monarchs/Presidents Aragon - James I King of Aragon and count of Barcelona...

Norwegian petty kingdoms ca. 820 AD at the death of Gudrød the Hunter. The most important kingdoms were Vestfold (red), Hålogaland (purple), Alvheim (yellow) and Agder (green).	Petty kingdoms ca. 860 AD at the death of Halfdan the Black. In red is the kingdom inherited by Harald Fairhair.	Petty kingdoms ca. 872 AD (the unified kingdom shown in red) before the defining Battle of Hafrsfjord.	King Harald I's division of the kingdom ca. 930 AD.. The yellow areas are petty kingdoms, the purple is the domain of the earls of Lade, orange is the domain the earls of Møre.
The division of the kingdom after the Battle of Svolder (1000) between Sweden (yellow), Denmark (red) and the earl of Lade (purple).	Unified Norway during the reign of Saint Olav ca. 1020 AD. In pale red the Finnmarken ("Marches of the Sami") most of which paid tribute to the kings of Norway.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1417x2502, 617 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): History of Norway Harald I of Norway ... A petty kingdom is an independent realm recognizing no suzerain and controlling only a portion of the territory held by a particular ethnic group or nation. ... Gudröd the Hunter (Old Norse: Guðröðr veiðikonung, Modern Icelandic: Guðröður veiðikonung, Norwegian: Gudrød Veidekonge) is a mythological character of thirteenth century Iceland was the son of Halfdan the Mild of the House of Yngling and of Liv Dagsdotter of Vestmar, according to... County NO-07 Region Østlandet Administrative centre Tønsberg County mayor   Area  - Total  - Percentage Ranked 18 2,224 km² 0. ... Tromsø, by Peder Balke, 1804–1887. ... Agder is: A traditional district of Norway, see Agder, Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1134x2002, 406 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): History of Norway Harald I of Norway ... Halfdan the Black Gudrødsson (820AD – 860AD) (Old Norse: Hálfdan svarti, Norwegian: Halvdan Svarte) was the father of the first King of Norway Harald I and of the House of Yngling. ... Harald I (b. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1134x2002, 401 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): History of Norway Harald I of Norway ... The Battle of Hafrsfjord has been a very central event in the history of the unification of Norway. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1134x2002, 395 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): History of Norway Harald I of Norway ... LADE - Lineas Aereas Del Estado is an airline based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. ... Møre is a diocese in the Church of Norway which geographically consists of Møre og Romsdal county, Norway, and has its bishop residing, and cathedral located, in the county administrative center, Molde. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1134x2002, 404 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): History of Norway Harald I of Norway Eiríkr Hákonarson Sveinn Hákonarson ... The naval Battle of Svolder or Swold took place on 9 September 1000 in the western Baltic Sea, between Norway and the other Scandinavians. ... LADE - Lineas Aereas Del Estado is an airline based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1134x2002, 390 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: History of Norway Harald I of Norway Olaf II of Norway Counties of Norway ... Olaf II Haraldsson ( 995 – July 29, 1030), king from 1015–1028, called during his lifetime the Stout and afterwards known as Saint Olaf, was born in the year in which Olaf Tryggvasson came to Norway. ... County NO-20 Region Nord-Norge Administrative centre Vadsø County mayor   Area  - Total  - Percentage Ranked 1 48,618 km² 15. ... Mark or march (or various plural forms of these words) are derived from the Frankish word marka (boundary) and refer to an area along a border, e. ... Sami flag The Sami People (there are other names and spellings including Sámi, Saami and Lapp) are an indigenous people of northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia, covering a total area in the Nordic countries corresponding to the size of Sweden. ... A tribute (from Latin tribulum, contribution) is wealth one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often case in historical contests, of submission or allegiance. ...

The Kalmar Union and the union with Denmark

After the Black Death Norway entered into a period of decline. The Royal line died out and the country entered into two unequal unions from 1396 until 1814; this period was called "the 400-year-night" by Henrik Ibsen during the national romantic period as Norwegian national awareness was rediscovered in the 19th century. It can be broken into two main periods: Illustration of the Black Death from the Toggenburg Bible (1411). ... Events September 25 - Bayazid I defeats Sigismund of Hungary and John of Nevers at the Battle of Nicopolis. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Photo of Henrik Ibsen in his older days Henrik Johan Ibsen (March 20, 1828 – May 23, 1906) was an influential Norwegian playwright who was largely responsible for the rise of the modern realistic drama (dubbed the father of modern drama). It is said that Ibsen is the most frequently performed...

• The union of all Scandinavia referred to as the Kalmar Union, and
• The Danish Period or Union with Denmark.

The Kalmar Union (1396–1536)

Main article: Kalmar Union The Kalmar Union flag. ...

King Haakon V died without male heirs in 1319. His daughter married a Swedish prince, whose son Magnus Eriksson inherited both kingdoms. Magnus's son Haakon VI and his infant son Olav IV were Norway's last native kings until Harald V ascended to the throne in 1991. Margrethe, the queen mother, succeeded in uniting Norway with Denmark and Sweden in the Kalmar Union (1397–1523), which ended after 180 years when Sweden seceded in 1536. Norway's power was weakened during this period by the loss of a large part of the population during the Black Death pandemic of 1349–1351. Haakon V Magnusson was king of Norway from 1299 until 1319. ... Sigillum ad causas for Magnus II of Sweden Magnus II Ericson, Magnus VII of Norway, (1316–1377), King of Sweden, Norway and Terra Scania, son of Duke Eric and Ingeborg, daughter of Hakon V of Norway. ... Haakon VI Magnusson (appr. ... Olaf IV Haakonsson, (1370 - August 23, 1387), King of Norway and Denmark, son of Haakon VI of Norway and Margaret of Denmark. ... Harald V, King of Norway, (born February 21, 1937), a title he assumed upon his fathers death on January 17, 1991. ... Queen Margaret I for Queens Margaret of Denmark, see Queen Margaret of Denmark, and for a namesake queen consort of Scotland, see Margaret of Denmark Margaret Valdemarsdotter (1353 – October 28, 1412) was Queen of Norway, Regent of Denmark and of Sweden, and founder of the so-called Kalmar Union which... Events February 10 - John Beaufort becomes Earl of Somerset. ... Events April - Battle of Villalar - Forces loyal to Emperor Charles V defeat the Comuneros, a league of urban bourgeois rebelling against Charles in Spain. ... Illustration of the Black Death from the Toggenburg Bible (1411). ... A pandemic (from Greek pan all + demos people) is an epidemic (an outbreak of an infectious disease) that spreads worldwide, or at least across a large region. ... // Events January 9 - The Jewish population of Basel, Switzerland is rounded up and incinerated, believed by the residents to be the cause of the ongoing bubonic plague. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Suko of Japan, third of the Northern Ashikaga Pretenders Start of the reign of Emperor Go-Kogon of Japan, fourth of the Northern Ashikaga Pretenders May 1 Zürich joins the Swiss Confederation. ...

The Union with Denmark (1536–1814)

Main article: Denmark-Norway The Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, consisting of Denmark and Norway, including Norways possessions Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, is a term used for the two united kingdoms after their amalgamation as one state in 1536. ...

Map of Norway from 1668

The elite in Norway was so weakened that it was not able to resist the pressures from the Danes. More and more decisions were taken in Kopenhagen and the Norwegian Riksråd was eventually disbanded. The Danish crown was represented by a governor styled Statholder, but it was always important for the King to maintain Norway's legal status as a separate hereditary kingdom. The Danish period can be separated into subperiods: Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2658x3092, 3313 KB) Summary 1668 Map of Norway by G. Sanson - French Map was scanned at the U.S. Library of Congress. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2658x3092, 3313 KB) Summary 1668 Map of Norway by G. Sanson - French Map was scanned at the U.S. Library of Congress. ...

• The Reformation in Norway (1536–1596): Norway's power was further weakened by the dissolution of the independent Norwegian church in the reformation of 1537.

• The Northern Wars (1596–1720): A period of virtually continual war and preparation for war, including the Kalmar War (1611–1613), the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), the Northern War (1655–1658), the Gyldenløve War (1675–1679) and culminating in the Great Northern War (1700–1721).

• The Period of Peace and Economic Growth (1721–1770): During the 18th century, Norway enjoyed a period of great prosperity and became an increasingly important part of the united kingdoms.

• National Reawakening and Preparation for Independence (1770–1814): This period was built on the strong natural independence of the Norwegian farm culture, combined with awareness of the American Revolution (1775–1783) and the French Revolution (1789–1799), building the natural national assertiveness, and culminating in the constitutional convention of 1814.

The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ... Events January 6 - Alessandro de Medici assassinated August 25 - The Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, and the second most senior, was formed. ... Kalmar War The Kalmar War lasted from 1611 to 1613. ... The Thirty Years War was a large conflict early modern European history. ... Northern War and Norway (1655 to 1658) From 1655 onward, Charles X of Sweden’s reign was expansionistic and is a history of war. ... Denmark initiated the Gyldenløve War (1675 – 1679) ( referred to as the Scanian War in Danish history) by marching a Danish army of 16,000 men into Mecklenburg in an effort to redress the losses of the pervious years. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Great Northern War. ... Norwegian Farm Culture or bondekultur was a rural civilization which assumed a form in Viking Age Norway retained with little change into the age of firearms, and in many respects even to the early 20th Century. ... The American Revolution was a political movement that ended British control of the south-eastern coastal area of North America, resulting in the formation of the United States of America in 1776 and sparking the American Revolutionary War. ... The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a pivotal period in the history of French, European and Western civilization. ... Artists rendition of the Norwegian constitutional assembly in 1814 1814 was a pivotal year in Norwegian history. ...

Union with Sweden

Main article: Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway Sweden and Norway 1888 The Union between Sweden and Norway refers to the kingdoms of Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union, following the Convention of Moss, on August 14, and the Norwegian constitutional revision of November 4. ...

Constitution Day celebration march in Narvik, 2005.

In 1814 Denmark-Norway was defeated in the Napoleonic wars and the king was forced to cede Norway to the king of Sweden in the Treaty of Kiel (January 14). Owing to an omission in the treaty, the Norwegian dependencies Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands were kept by Denmark. In an attempt to retain control over Norway despite the treaty, the Viceroy and hereditary prince of Denmark-Norway encouraged representatives of various social and political factions to gather at Eidsvoll to declare independence, adopt a constitution and elect hereditary prince Christian Frederik as king. May 17 is still celebrated as the day of the new democratic constitution of independent Norway. Sweden responded later the same year by waging war on Norway. In the peace negotiations, Christian Frederik agreed to relinquish claims to the Norwegian throne and return to Denmark if Sweden would accept the democratic Norwegian constitution and a loose personal union. The Norwegian parliament (Stortinget) then elected the Swedish king as king of Norway on November 4, 1814. The Swedish crown was represented by a governor-general styled Stattholder, often noble, repeatedly even the Crown Prince (then called Viceroy). Image File history File links Description: Norwegian Constitution Day celebration march in Narvik, Norway. ... Image File history File links Description: Norwegian Constitution Day celebration march in Narvik, Norway. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, consisting of Denmark and Norway, including Norways possessions Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, is a term used for the two united kingdoms after their amalgamation as one state in 1536. ... Combatants Allies: • Great Britain (until 1801)/United Kingdom(from 1801) • Prussia • Austria • Sweden • Russia • Portugal • Spain • and others • France • Denmark-Norway • Poland Casualties Full list The Napoleonic Wars comprised a series of global conflicts fought during Napoleon Bonapartes rule over France (1799 - 1815). ... The Treaty of Kiel, was a settlement between Sweden and Denmark-Norway on January 14, 1814, whereby the Danish king, a loser in the Napoleonic wars, ceded Norway to the king of Sweden, in return for the Swedish holdings in Pomerania. ... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, consisting of Denmark and Norway, including Norways possessions Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, is a term used for the two united kingdoms after their amalgamation as one state in 1536. ... County Akershus Landscape Romerike Municipality NO-0237 Administrative centre Sundet Mayor (2005) Arild Sandahl (Ap) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 222 457 km² 385 km² 0. ... Christian VIII (September 18, 1786 – January 20, Denmark and Norway, the eldest son of the crown prince Frederick and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg_Schwerin, was born in 1786 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. ... May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... The Moss Ironworks main office - where the Convention of Moss was negotiated and signed The Convention of Moss was a cease fire agreement, signed August 14, 1814, between the Swedish King and the Norwegian Storting. ... This article is part of the Politics of Norway series. ... November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

The union was peacefully dissolved in 1905 after several years of political unrest when Sweden recognised Norwegian independence. The parliament offered the throne to Prince Carl of Denmark, who accepted it after a referendum confirmed the monarchy and rejected a republican form of government. On November 18 he ascended the throne under the Norwegian name of Haakon VII. 1905 (MCMV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... King Haakon VII King Haakon VII of Norway, Christian Frederik Carl Georg Valdemar Axel (August 3, 1872 - September 21, 1957) was the first King of Norway after the dissolution of the personal union with Sweden in 1905. ...

See: Separation of Norway from Sweden in 1905 Postcard with photo of Prince Carl of Denmark, candidate for king. ...

Independent Monarchy

Norway's kings (Norges Konge is the official style) in modern times, with periods of reign, are:

• Haakon VII (1905-1957)
• Olav V (1957-1991)
• Harald V (1991-present)

Haakon VII of Norway, born as Christian Frederik Carl Georg Valdemar Axel or Prince Carl of Denmark (August 3, 1872 – September 21, 1957), was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. ... 1905 (MCMV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... His Majesty King Olav V (July 2, 1903 - January 17, 1991) reigned as King of Norway from 1957 to 1991. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Harald V, King of Norway, (born February 21, 1937), a title he assumed upon his fathers death on January 17, 1991. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Norway in World War I

Norway remained neutral during World War I. However, 1,156 Norwegian sailors were lost during the U-boat war. Despite their neutrality, the Norwegian government went to considerable lengths to accommodate Britain, on account of both British pressure and an anti-German sentiment. These accommodations came in the form of the very large Norwegian merchant fleet, who delivered essential supplies to Britain, who in return supplied Norway with vital coal. This led to Norway occasionally being called The Neutral Ally. Combatants Allied Powers: United Kingdom France Italy Russia United States Serbia Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Commanders Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Ferdinand Foch Georges Clemenceau Nicholas II Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Wilhelm II Reinhard Scheer Franz Josef I Conrad von Hötzendorf İsmail Enver Ferdinand I Casualties... U-boat is also a nickname for some diesel locomotives built by GE; see List of GE locomotives October 1939. ... Norway is at times referred to as The Neutral Ally. During World War I, while theoretically a neutral country, British pressure and anti-German sentiment in the population enabled the government to highly favour Britain in matters concerning the large Norwegian shipping fleet and vast fish supplies. ...

Norway in World War II

Main Article: Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
See also: Norwegian Campaign, Norwegian resistance movement, and Legal purge in Norway after World War II Starting with the invasion of April 9, 1940, Norway was under military occupation of German forces and civil rule of a German commissioner in collaboration with a Pro-german puppet government. ... German battle cruisers in a Norwegian port in June 1940 The Norwegian Campaign led to the first direct confrontation between the military forces of the Allies — United Kingdom and France against Nazi Germany in World War II. The primary reason for Germany seeking the occupation of Norway was Germanys... Norwegian resistance to the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany from 1940 to 1945 took several forms: Asserting the legitimacy of the exiled Norwegian government, and by implication the lack of legitimacy of the Quisling regime and Terboven administration The initial defense in Southern Norway, which was largely disorganized, but... Following the general capitulation of Germany in Europe and in Norway on May 10, 1945, the legitimate Norwegian government moved quickly to prosecute individuals who were suspected of treason or war crimes during the German occupation. ...

As World War II erupted, Norway insisted on remaining neutral despite warnings from some political factions that the country's strategic importance was too great for Nazi Germany to leave it alone, and attempts from the same factions to obtain political consensus to build up sufficient defences to withstand an invasion long enough for Allied reinforcements to arrive from France and Britain, (the specially raised British Independent Companies, who were the immediate forerunners of the Commandos). This article is becoming very long. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... The British Commandos were first formed by the Army in June 1940 during World War II as a well-armed but unregimented raider force employing unconventional and irregular tactics to assault, disrupt and reconnoitre the enemy in mainland Europe and Scandinavia. ...

In a surprise dawn attack on April 9th, 1940, Germany launched Operation Weserübung. The German forces attacked Oslo and the major Norwegian ports (Bergen, Trondheim, Kristiansand and Narvik) and quickly gained footholds in those cities and the surrounding areas. The Norwegian Army, manning a fort in the Oslofjord, sank the German cruiser Blücher using cannons and torpedoes. This delayed the Nazi German invasion long enough for King Haakon, his government and the parliament to escape the city with much of the treasury, and to resist the invaders. Despite the strength of the German invaders and the lack of air support, the Norwegian armed forces, together with allied British, French and Polish forces, kept up an organized military resistance for two months, longer than any other country invaded by Germany, except for the Soviet Union. Eventually, on June 7 the Norwegian forces had to surrender and King and government left Norway to form a government in exile in London. Many servicemen, and civilians who would join them, also escaped to Britain where they served invaluably with the British Forces and the Special Operations Executive (SOE). April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Operation Weserübung was the German codename for Nazi Germanys assault on Denmark and Norway during World War II and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign. ... County Oslo NO-03 District Viken Municipality NO-0301 Administrative centre Oslo Mayor (2004) Per Ditlev-Simonsen (H) Official language form Neutral Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 224 454 km² 426 km² 0. ... County Hordaland District Midhordland Municipality NO-1201 Administrative centre Bergen Mayor (2004) Herman Friele (H) Official language form Neutral Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 215 465 km² 445 km² 0. ... County Sør-Trøndelag District Municipality NO-1601 Administrative centre Trondheim Mayor (2005) Rita Ottervik (AP) Official language form Neutral Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 258 342 km² 322 km² 0. ... County Vest-Agder District Sørlandet Municipality NO-1001 Administrative centre Kristiansand Mayor (2004) Jan Oddvar Skisland (KrF) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 287 277 km² 259 km² 0. ... County Nordland Landscape Ofoten Municipality NO-1805 Administrative centre Narvik Mayor (2004) Olav Sigurd Alstad (Ap) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 29 2,023 km² 1,905 km² 0. ... Ranks Norwegian military ranks The Norwegian Army (Norwegian: Hæren) is Norways military land force. ... Oscarsborg festning is a coastal fortress in the Oslofjord, close to the small city of Drøbak. ... The Oslofjord (Oslofjorden) is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from Færder in the south to Oslo at the head. ... The German heavy cruiser Blücher ¹ was the German Kriegsmarines newest ship at the outbreak of World War II. The Blücher is most notable for being sunk on April 9, 1940, less than three years after her launch, on the first day of the invasion of Norway (Operation... June 7 is the 158th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (159th in leap years), with 207 days remaining. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Special Operations Executive (SOE), sometimes referred to as the Baker Street Irregulars after Sherlock Holmess fictional group of spies, was a World War II organization initiated by Winston Churchill and Hugh Dalton in July 1940 as a mechanism for conducting warfare by means other than direct military engagement. ...

The Norwegian national socialist politician Vidkun Quisling attempted a coup the same day, but was met with such strong resistance from the people that Nazi Germany deposed him within a week and installed a bureaucratic administration in lieu of a government. In September of 1940 the German Reichskommissar Josef Terboven formed a cabinet with himself presiding, and with most ministers recruited among members of Quisling's Nazi party, plus some independent collaborators. In 1942 this administration was replaced with a semi-independent puppet government headed by Quisling, who was promoted to "minister president" by the Reichskommissar. Quisling's name has come to mean "traitor" in several languages. Vidkun Quisling Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling (July 18, 1887 – October 24, 1945) was a Norwegian fascist politician and officer. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Josef Terboven Josef Antonius Heinrich Terboven (May 23, 1898 - May 8, 1945) was a Nazi leader most known for his brutal leadership during the Nazi occupation of Norway. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ...

King Haakon and his government fled to Britain on June 7th, the same day the allied forces that had retaken Narvik abandoned it and the French forces returned to a quickly disintegrating France. The continued existence of a legitimate Norwegian government gave the exiles considerably more room for action than the French. The worldwide operations of the large Norwegian merchant fleet was a material aid to the Allies. Haakon VII of Norway, born as Christian Frederik Carl Georg Valdemar Axel or Prince Carl of Denmark (August 3, 1872 – September 21, 1957), was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. ... June 7 is the 158th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (159th in leap years), with 207 days remaining. ... County Nordland Landscape Ofoten Municipality NO-1805 Administrative centre Narvik Mayor (2004) Olav Sigurd Alstad (Ap) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 29 2,023 km² 1,905 km² 0. ...

The Norwegian resistance movement began on a small scale right after the invasion, but gained in strength, especially after the installation of Quisling's puppet government in late 1940 and its attempt to enforce the native brand of fascism (see the next paragraph), and to enroll labour, teachers and officials in its organizations (for an anecdote of Norwegian civil resistance, see paper clip). A resistance movement is a non-military group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to fighting an invader in an occupied country through either the use of physical force, or nonviolence. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Fascism is a radical political ideology that combines elements of corporatism, authoritarianism, nationalism, militarism, anti-anarchism, anti-communism and anti-liberalism. ... Small metal paperclip Another example of a paperclip. ...

The resistance became very active towards the end of the war, closely and continuously supported by the British SOE. Norwegian resistance, (generally termed the 'Home Front'), and its military branch (milorg) kept many German divisions tied down in occupation duty, and Norwegian spotters contributed to the destruction of numerous German warships and installations. The Norwegian resistance also smuggled people in and out of Norway during the war, (typically to Scotland via the 'Shetland Bus', and to neutral Sweden), and, with the SOE, managed to destroy much of the world's supply of heavy water and cripple the Vemork heavy water plant at Rjukan, thus perhaps preventing Germany from developing an atomic bomb (Operation Gunnerside). The Special Operations Executive (SOE), sometimes referred to as the Baker Street Irregulars after Sherlock Holmess fictional group of spies, was a World War II organization initiated by Winston Churchill and Hugh Dalton in July 1940 as a mechanism for conducting warfare by means other than direct military engagement. ... Milorg was a secret military organization under World War II in Norway. ... The Shetland bus was the popular name of the escape route and supply route established between occupied Norway and the Shetland Islands (Scotland), operated initially by a large number of small fishing boats and later by three US made submarinechasers; HNoMS Vigra, HNoMS Hitra and HNoMS Hessa. ... Heavy water is dideuterium oxide, or D2O or 2H2O. It is chemically the same as normal water, H2O, but the hydrogen atoms are of the heavy isotope deuterium, in which the nucleus contains a neutron in addition to the proton found in the nucleus of any hydrogen atom. ... Map showing the position of Rjukan between lakes Møsvatn (West, upstream) and Tinnsjø (East) Rjukan is the centre of Tinn municipality in Telemark, Norway. ... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, 1945, rose some 18 kilometers (11 mi) above the hypocenter. ... The Vemork hydroelectric plant, site of the heavy water production In World War II, Nazi Germany investigated the possibility of building an atomic bomb. ...

Not all Norwegians sided with the legitimate government in exile. Some became members of Quisling's National Socialist party (Nasjonal Samling – NS), some out of misguided idealism. Numerous opportunists joined his movement initially, while Germany seemed to be winning the war. Several thousand young Norwegians joined German Waffen-SS divisions to fight against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Nasjonal Samling (Norwegian for National Gathering or National Unification) was a fascist party in Norway before and during World War II, founded on May 17, 1933 by Vidkun Quisling and Johan Bernhard Hjort. ... Waffen-SS recruitment poster; Volunteer to the Waffen-SS The Waffen-SS was the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel. ...

Following the 1941 raid by British Commandos on the minor port of Vaagsoy, Hitler further reinforced Norway, mistakenly thinking that the British might invade northern Norway to put pressure on Sweden and Finland. By the end of the war the German garrison was 372,000 strong (the Norwegian population at the time numbering a little over 3 million)[1]. In May of 1945 when the milorg was advised they no longer need act covertly, they were found to number some 50,000 members. This article is about the year. ... The British Commandos were first formed by the Army in June 1940 during World War II as a well-armed but unregimented raider force employing unconventional and irregular tactics to assault, disrupt and reconnoitre the enemy in mainland Europe and Scandinavia. ... During World War II, Operation Archery was a British Combined Operations raid on December 27, 1941 against German positions on Vaagso(Vågsøy), Norway. ... Hitler redirects here. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ...

During the entire occupation, the German authorities built the so called Festung Norwegen. Innumerable bunkers, pillboxes, air strips and submarine hangars dotted the coast to fend off any invaders. Coupled with the large number of German soldiers in Norway, the Allies (especially the Norwegian government in exile) were worried that the remnants of the Nazi party would flee to Norway and make their last stand there. They could probably have held out for months, which would have devastated Norway. Fortunately, the Wehrmacht commander Böhme saw that resistance was futile, and surrendered on the order of Hitler's successor Dönitz on the May 8. May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ...

The Norwegian merchant ships that were in Allied waters at the time of invasion were requisitioned by the exiled Norwegian Government in London. The Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission was established in London shortly thereafter, and the name abbreviated to Nortraship, following a suggestion from the British Postal Services. The main duties were those of war transports, supply services etc. including the supply of food, ammunition and reinforcements to the front lines, besides evacuating the wounded. Nortraship had 1,081 ships with 33,000 sailors. 570 ships were lost (these numbers vary according to source), along with 3,734 sailors. The Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission (Nortraship) was established in London in April 1940 to administrate the Norwegian merchant fleet outside German controlled areas. ...

By the end of the war, Norwegian naval vessels were also fighting alongside the British. Norway was counted among the victors in World War 2 and was a founding member of the United Nations. The first UN Secretary General, Trygve Lie, was a Norwegian. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The United Nations Secretary-General is the head of the Secretariat, one of the principal divisions of the United Nations. ... Trygve Halvdan Lie (July 16, 1896 – December 30, 1968) was a Norwegian politician. ...

A side effect of the large German garrison was the birth of up to 12,000 children born to Norwegian women and German soldiers. Most of these women suffered recriminations after the war, as did their children, who were called "German children" or "Nazi children". Many of these children were abused throughout their childhood, some were sexually abused.^{[1] [2]} Norwegians who publicly regretted instances of maltreatment were occasionally accused of being too conciliatory. A war child refers to a child born to a native parent and a parent belonging to a foreign military force (usually an occupying force, but also soldiers stationed at military bases on foreign soil). ...

After the liberation, active members of the National Socialist party and those who had collaborated with the enemy were prosecuted and sentenced. Twenty-five Norwegians, including Quisling, were executed for treason and/or war crimes, and 12 Germans were executed for war crimes. Vidkun Quisling Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling (July 18, 1887 – October 24, 1945) was a Norwegian fascist politician and officer. ... In the context of war, a war crime is a punishable offense under International Law, for violations of the laws of war by any person or persons, military or civilian. ...

After the war the Norwegian government forced German prisoners of war to clear minefields. When the clearing ended in September 1946, 392 of them had been injured and 275 had been killed. Meanwhile only 2 Norwegians and 4 British mine-clearers had sustained any injuries. Many of the Germans were killed through their British guards' habit of chasing them criss-cross over a cleared field to ensure that no mines remained. The Geneva Convention, Relative to the treatment of prisoners of war which states that it is forbidden to use prisoners for harmful or dangerous labor proved to be of no value as it was circumvented by the Norwegians claim that the German prisoners were Disarmed Enemy Forces.^[3] Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... The Geneva Convention (1929) was signed at Geneva, July 27, 1929. ... Disarmed Enemy Forces is a designation for captive enemy soldiers. ...

Post-war Foreign and military policy

See main articles on Foreign relations of Norway, Military of Norway, and Norway and the European Union Norway supports international cooperation and the peaceful settlement of disputes, recognizing the need for maintaining a strong national defense through collective security. ... Norway has mandatory military service for males (6-12 months of training) and voluntary service for females. ... One of the most important and divisive issues in Norwegian political and economic debate since World War II has been the countrys relationship with the European Union. ...

In 1949 Norway became a member of NATO. The discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in 1972 and on November 28, 1994, Norway rejected joining the European Union, though it remains associated with it through being part of the wider European Economic Area. NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation[1] (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... Map of the EEA countries. ...

Militarily, while Norway and Britain both maintain independent forces, some common defence policies evolved as well as certain integration of training and deployment of both nations' Special Forces. Special forces or (sometimes colloquially and incorrectly) special operations forces (general term) are military units formed and trained to conduct missions of unconventional warfare, counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, direct action, and foreign internal defense. ...

Post-war Economic development

See also Economy of Norway Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, Norway Although sensitive to global business cycles, the economy of Norway has shown robust growth since the start of the industrial era. ...

Norway is today one of the world's primary oil exporters (behind Saudi Arabia). The national economy is heavily based upon oil. The nation's shipping fleet is on a decline, after being the largest in the world during the 1980's and 1990's.

Post-war Social policy

Norway has advanced in its standard of living beyond many of its European counterparts, in large part to its affluent economy. As a result, for the last several years the United Nations has ranked Norway as having the highest standard of living in the world. This ranking compares nations' level of education and income, combined with expected length of life. The Standard of living refers to the quality and quantity of goods and services available to people and the way these services and goods are distributed within a population. ... World map showing Europe Political map (neighboring countries in Asia and Africa also shown) Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... World map of life expectancy Life expectancy is a statistical measure defined as the expected (mean) survival. ...

Norway also ranked 2nd in a study conducted by World Economic Forum on the gender gap in 58 nations based on measuring the level of equality with men in five areas: Economic participation, economic opportunity, political empowerment, educational attainment, and health and well-being.[2] [3] The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Geneva-based foundation whose annual meeting of top business leaders, national political leaders (presidents, prime ministers and others), and selected intellectuals and journalists is usually held in Davos, Switzerland. ... The article previously named gender gap has been moved to gender differences A gender gap generally refers to the systemic differences in the social and economic position of men and women, or boys and girls. ...

See also

• List of Norwegian monarchs
• List of Norwegian Prime Ministers
• List of Norwegians
• Norwegian Golden Age

This article is a list of rulers of Norway up until the present, including: The Norwegian kingdom (with the Faroe Islands) The Union with Iceland and Greenland (1262-1814) The Norwegian kingdom (with Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands 1262-1814) The Union of Sweden and Norway (1319-1343) The... This is a list of Viceroys (Rigsstatholder) and Prime Ministers (statsminister) of Norway. ... This is a list of notable people from Norway. ...

Notes

Sources and External links

• Norway - Article from the 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia which details much about Norway including history.
• History of Norway - Overview to Norwegian history.
• History of Norway: Primary Documents
• WorldStatesmen - Norway
• Historical Atlas of Norway
• Det rike landet
• V.Malstøm: Norway before the Vikings
• Map showing regions of Medieval Norway