Kingdom of Norway
Norway, 872 CE–1397. Draft, not yet reviewed
The unified kingdom of Norway was established in 872 as a merger of petty kingdoms and has existed continuously for over a millennium. A unified realm was initiated by warrior bands that had coalesced around Harald "Shockhead" Hálfdanarson in the 9th century. The civil war era began in 1130 and ended in 1240. The Kingdom of Norway was the second European country after England to enforce a unified code of law to be applied for the whole country, called Magnus Lagabøtes landslov (1274).
Seat of power: Oslo
Rulers
Haakon the Good
Monarch of Norway, 933 CE–961 CE
He was noted for his attempts to introduce Christianity into Norway. Haakon was fostered by King Athelstan, as part of an agreement made by his father.
Portrait of Haakon the Good: Peter Nicolai Arbo, Public domain, file
Olaf III of Norway
Monarch of Norway, 1067–1093
During his rule, Olaf made peace with regard to earlier royal conflicts with the church, strengthened the power of the monarchy, and is traditionally credited with founding the city of Bergen circa 1070.
Portrait of Olaf III of Norway: Stenersen, L. B (1843-1921), Public domain, file
Sigurd the Crusader
Monarch of Norway, 1103–1130
He is regarded to be the first King to take part in a crusade. His rule, together with his half-brothers King Øystein and King Olaf, has been regarded by historians as a golden age for the medieval Kingdom of Norway.
Portrait of Sigurd the Crusader: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC0, file
Eystein I of Norway
Monarch of Norway, 1103–1123
He was King of Norway together with his half-brothers Sigurd the Crusader and Olaf Magnusson, although since Olaf died before adulthood, only Eystein and Sigurd were effective rulers of the country. The sagas portray him as the "peace king" who stayed home in Norway and improved the country.
Portrait of Eystein I of Norway: Unknown author, CC BY 2.5, file
Inge I of Norway
Monarch of Norway, 1136–1161
His reign fell within the start of the civil war era, and he was never the sole ruler of the country.
Magnus V of Norway
Monarch of Norway, 1163–1184
He helped to establish primogeniture in royal succession in Norway. He was the first Norwegian king to be crowned.
Sverre of Norway
Monarch of Norway, 1184–1202
He assumed power as the leader of the rebel party known as the Birkebeiner in 1177, during their struggle against King Magnus Erlingsson. Differences with the Church, however, led to his excommunication in 1194.
Portrait of Sverre of Norway: Alexander Bugge (1870–1929), Public domain, file
.jpg){kind=link}
Haakon IV of Norway
Monarch of Norway, 1217–1263
His reign lasted for 46 years, longer than any Norwegian king since Harald Fairhair. He put a definitive end to the civil war era when he had Skule Bårdsson killed in 1240, a year after Skule had himself proclaimed king in opposition to Haakon. Under Haakon's rule, medieval Norway is considered to have reached its zenith or golden age.
Portrait of Haakon IV of Norway: Drawing by Hakon Thorsen (d. before 1924), Public domain, file
Magnus VI of Norway
Monarch of Norway, 1263–1280
One of his greatest achievements was the modernisation and nationalisation of the Norwegian law-code.
Portrait of Magnus VI of Norway: Alexander Bugge (1870–1929), Public domain, file
.jpg){kind=link}
Eric II of Norway
Monarch of Norway, 1280–1299
Magnus died before this could be arranged, and Eric became sole king and was crowned at Bergen in the summer of 1280. During his minority, the kingdom was ruled by a royal council consisting of prominent barons and probably also his mother, Queen Ingeborg.
Portrait of Eric II of Norway: Alexander Bugge (1870–1929), Public domain, file
.jpg){kind=link}
Haakon V of Norway
Monarch of Norway, 1299–1319
During his reign, Haakon sought to strengthen royal authority and the central administration, while Oslo grew in importance as a royal and administrative centre.
Portrait of Haakon V of Norway: Alexander Bugge (1870–1929), Public domain, file
.jpg){kind=link}
Magnus IV of Sweden
Monarch of Norway, 1319–1355
He was King of Sweden from 1319 to 1364 and King of Norway as Magnus VII from 1319 to 1355. His long reign saw major legal and administrative reforms, including a law code intended to apply throughout the Swedish countryside.
Portrait of Magnus IV of Sweden: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
.jpg){kind=link}
Haakon VI of Norway
Monarch of Norway, 1355–1380
He was the younger son of Magnus Eriksson, king of both Norway and Sweden. Haakon was made king of Norway in his father's lifetime.
Portrait of Haakon VI of Norway: Drawing by Hakon Thorsen (d. before 1924), Public domain, file
Margaret I of Denmark
Monarch of Norway, 1388–1412
She founded the Kalmar Union, which joined the Scandinavian kingdoms together for over a century. She was known as a wise, energetic and capable leader.
Portrait of Margaret I of Denmark: Jacob Truedson Demitz assisted by Emil Eikner for Ristesson, Public domain, file
_effigy_2010_(2).jpg){kind=link}
Eric of Pomerania
Monarch of Norway, 1389–1442
On 8 September 1389, he was hailed as King of Norway at the Ting in Trondheim. He was ultimately deposed from all three kingdoms of the union.
Portrait of Eric of Pomerania: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Culture
- Leif Erikson, an Icelander of Norwegian origin and official hirdman of King Olaf I of Norway, explored America 500 years before Columbus.
- At the peak of Norwegian expansion before the civil war (1130–1240), Sigurd I led the Norwegian Crusade (1107–1110).
- Norway's overseas possessions had been settled by Norwegian seafarers for centuries before being annexed or incorporated into the kingdom as 'tax territories'.
Picture
Urnes Stave Church is a 12th-century stave church at Ornes, along the Lustrafjorden, in Luster Municipality in Vestland county, Norway.
Image: Leo-setä, CC BY 2.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.